United FA 96 Gold Crowned RIII President's Cup Champions
RE-ISSUED with updates 6-19-2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 17, 2010
Cumming, GA
United FA Soccer Team Makes History and Heads to Nationals
By Caroline Angle with
Linda Ebert
[Cumming, GA] The United FA ’96 Black (formerly
Forsyth Fusion ’96 Gold) U-14 girls’ soccer team, coached by Phoday Dolleh (FD)
made history last weekend by becoming the first team from Georgia to win the
President’s Cup Region 3 tournament and advance to represent Georgia and the
Southern Region at the National tournament in July.
After winning the prestigious state-level President’s
Cup tournament for the second year in a row, the United FA girls went on to
compete in the Region 3 tournament in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Teams from twelve
southern states competed in the tournament this past weekend. The United FA
girls were the only team to represent Forsyth County.
In their first game, the United FA girls competed
against the ‘96 Claremore Freedom squad from Oklahoma. A very close match led
to a 0-0 tie. After this game, the team advanced to play against the JIYSA
‘95/96 Girls Red team from South Carolina. Despite a rough game with a lot of
penalty calls, the United FA girls achieved a 2-0 victory on goals by Casey
Baker and Taylor Kemmeling. Madison Swank scored on a free kick to net a 1-0
win against the Houston Express ‘96 Navy team from Houston, Texas guaranteeing
their place in the semi-finals.
During the semi-final round, Swank again scored on a
free kick to put UFA ahead 1-0 with 5 minutes to play, but a late goal on a
free kick earned Alabama’s Capital City Streaks 96 a 1-1 tie and led to a
penalty kick shoot-out. The United FA guest goalkeeper Ashley Zambetti saved
the first three of four penalty kicks while players Amy Groth, Casey Moore, and
Taylor Kemmeling all scored on the rival goalkeeper, leading to a 2-1 victory
against Alabama and a place in the final round.
“That win was the pivotal point in the tournament,”
says Delroy Ziadie, Georgia President’s Cup Representative. “As the team came
on the field for the final match, there was such a confidence level that it
changed the spirit on the field. I had no doubt they could win at that point.”
For the final round of the tournament, the United FA
team was matched against the undefeated JASA Coastal Surge team from North
Carolina. A very aggressive first half ended in a 0-0 tie, but the United FA
girls shut down their forward and turned the game around in the second half
with Tara Dambach and Casey Moore each scoring goals on the North Carolina
goalkeeper.
“That was the best second half of soccer I’ve ever
watched,” said United FA parent Bobby Swank.
United FA Coach Phoday Dolleh (FD) is known for his
solid coaching and strong tactical training. “This is a lifetime experience,”
commented Dolleh. “These girls just made history and I am glad to be part of
it. Our greatest asset was the way we bonded like family.”
The United FA team is known for its strong defense.
Lydia Moyer played a vital role in anchoring the back line while goalkeeper
Courtney Hicks has not allowed a goal in nine tournament games. The five strong
regional opponents were only able to score a combined one goal against the
United FA squad. Close-knit ties between
the girls both on and off the field were evident in the team’s play and a key
element in their success.
The United FA ’96 Black team is the first team in
Georgia to win the President’s Cup regional tournament and represent both the
state and the Southern Region in the National tournament to be held in
Murfreesboro, Tennessee the weekend of July 9-11.
(The Forsyth Fusion Soccer
Club and the Atlanta Soccer Academy merged to form the United Futbol Academy.
Visit www.unitedfa.org for information
or to register for soccer. We serve all levels of play for youth – adult,
including a program for youth with special needs.)
CALL OUT:
“They have a very good
chance to win Nationals,” saya Delroy Ziadie, GA Representative for the
President’s Cup. “It’s going to be fun.”
Contact
Information:
Linda Ebert – Communications Director for United Futbol
Academy
www.UnitedFA.org
Ebert Communications LLC
678-296-6768
Linda@ebertcommunications.com
Front row: Blakely
McDonald, Aven Rosario, Kaitlin Karschner, Julia Sienkiewicz, Regen Huffman,
Casey Baker, Madison Swank, Amy Groth
Second row: Stan Hicks (Team Manager),
Lydia Moyer, Sarah Light, Casey Moore, Taylor Kemmeling, Tara Dambach, Jesse
Vaverka, Courtney Hicks, Ashley Zambetti, Jamie Angle, Bethany Blanton, Coach
Phoday Dolleh (FD)