STC

Currently the Clifton Stallions U14 Girls soccer team plays on the JAGS - Premier league. It has been a very good year for the team; they have competed in tournaments in July at the DISNEY INTERNATIONAL YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENT and also in October at the PARSIPPANY PRIDE where they became the semi-finalist. In August 2008 they became champions at the Roxbury Kickoff Classic and the Randolph Labor Day Blast. One of the teams wish was to win the NJ Youth Soccer STATE CUP, and on Sunday November 2nd, 2008 their wish came true. The State Cup competition is one game elimination process with each of the winning teams moving on to the next round. In the Stallion’s first game they scored a 1-0 victory against Freehold United and although the girls played hard, it wasn’t a 100% effort and the coaches warned them that they would have to come together more as a team in order to continue advancing. Woodrow Wilson Middle School hosted the next game for the Stallions against the Somerset Hills Wildfire for the quarter final round. This well advertised game brought to the field a large number of people there to support the girls. One Stallion player was reported to have said, “I have never had this many people at any of our games!” The Stallions went on to beat the Wildfire with a score of 2-1 and moved up to the semi-finals. In a previous MAPS Tournament the Stallions fell to the Hibernia Xcel 2-1 and tied 4-4 in a JAGS Tournament so they were extremely excited and confident to meet again in such an important game of the semi-final round on Saturday, November 1. The Stallions scored the first goal, gained more confidence, and continued to pressure on the Xcels who came on strong to tie the game but the Stallion’s defense held on. During the second half the Stallion’s scored the second goal which provided some relief and more confidence as the end of the game approached. The Clifton Stallions U14 girls defeated the Hibernia Xcel 2-0! The team had no chance to rest as the final game was scheduled to be played the day after, Sunday Nov the 2nd against the Monroe Lady Braves whose own semi-final match went into overtime and penalty kicks. The Stallions team arrived on Sunday at Mercer County Park to play the final game…..emotions were running high and the coaches could see the players were ready and anxious to play the final game. The TEAM went on that field prepared to play the championship match vs. Monroe Lady Braves, a team they were unfamiliar with and had never played. The Clifton Stallions U14 Girls soccer team played that game as the previous 2 games AS A TEAM. They dominated the Monroe Lady Braves scoring first and then a second goal. The Monroe Lady Braves managed to get one goal in but it wouldn’t be enough. The Clifton Stallions came back and scored the last goal to win the final game and the NJ State Cup 3 – 1. It was a very exciting experience for the coaches, the players, and the parents for the team to become the NJ YOUTH SOCCER STATE CUP CHAMPIONS. The coaches, Al Guzman and Tom Pasquale are very proud of the team and want to congratulate their players on such a big accomplishment. The players left to right: Briana Miller, Victoria Rodio, Sarah Kelly, Jennie Hornstra, Brooke Miller, Kaitlyn Lima, Brittany Ferreira, Nicole Queliz, Courtney Major Delana Pasquale, Stephanie Rosenberg, Caroline Kohl (CK), Amanda Millerferli, Shannon Guzman, Jaime Sommerhalter, Annette Malysa and on the floor Kelly Egan Coach Al Guzman - Left, Assistant Coach Tom Pasquale - Right

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