June 27, 2012
REGION II CHAMPIONSHIPS
Girls finals recaps

SAGINAW, Mich.---The Under-14 Girls final matched up KCU Rangers 97/98 (KS) and Ambassadors FC (OH-N). Sarah Krause put Ambassadors up in the 54th minute with her tournament-leading 7th goal on the week.

In the final moments of the game, Ambassadors conceded a penalty in the box and Hannah Miller stepped up with confidence to bury the kick for KCU and send the game into overtime. Neither team could convert in extra time and the U-14 Girls champion was decided by penalty kicks. Ambassadors showed its championship mettle, rose to the occasion and claimed the title.

In U-15 Girls play, Internationals 96 Red (OH-N) started its game against Lake Country United Red 96/97 (WI) better than hoped, with a Hannah Ludwig goal in the 2nd minute. Jenna Dorchock would add a second goal for Internationals before half and complete her double in the 43rd minute. Merin Mundt pulled one back for Lake Country United in the 62nd minute, but it wasn’t enough as Internationals won 3-1.

Internationals (OH-N) had also advanced to the U-16 Girls final, where they faced fellow Ohio north team, Cleveland United White. After a scoreless first half, Alex Manoa found the net in the 65th minute. The decisive goal was Manoa’s second on the tournament. A staunch defensive effort kept the clean sheet for Cleveland United and secured the Region II Championships.

U-17 Girls champs Team Chicago Academy Botafogo (IL) showed balance and determination in the final game, as they beat North Shore United (WI) 3-0. Three different players found the net for Team Chicago, with Ashley Handwork starting the scoring in just the 6th minute. Bryce Banuelos and Dana Miller added insurance goals in the second half. This team was led in scoring all week by Zoe Swift, who won the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championship and Golden Ball as a member of NSA Premier Fury.

Cincinnati Soccer Alliance Elite (OH-S) capped off its impressive run in the regional championships with a 3-0 victory over Kolping Kicks SC (MO) in the U-18 Girls final. CSA’s leading scorer on the week Morgan Wolcott struck first with a goal in the 28th minute. Kiersten Johnson and McKenzie Hamilton added second half goals to book their team a trip to the national championships.

In the U-19 Girls final, St. Louis Scott Gallagher MO defeated KCFC Intensity 92/93 (KS) 3-1 to claim the regional title. Kathryn Brenner put St. Louis on the board in just the 4th minute, and Abbey Stock would double the lead in the 21st. Caroline Gray would pull one back for KCFC ten minutes into the second half and KCFC continued to press for an equalizer. Rachel Tejada extended Scott Gallagher’s lead in the 66th for the 3-1 win.