Minnesota teams win eight top-level championships at Schwan’s USA CUP soccer tournament

BLAINE, Minn. (July 26, 2009) –Schwan’s USA CUP, presented by puma, ends with championship games Saturday

Championship games for all divisions of 25th annual Schwan’s USA CUP, presented by puma , were played on Saturday, July 25, at the National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine, Minn., 20 minutes north of Minneapolis/Saint Paul.

Minnesota teams won eight of the 12 top-level championship divisions, the best showing by Minnesota teams in USA CUP championship games in years. Last year, the host state won four titles. Included in the Minnesota haul were four championships by teams from a single club, the Minnesota Thunder Academy in the Twin Cities. Oklahoma racked up two championships, and other titles were won by teams from Costa Rica and Wisconsin.

This year’s tournament featured over 13,000 athletes on 841 teams from 26 states and 12 countries, making it the largest youth soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere. The weekend and week-long tournaments together will generate an estimated $17.5 million in out-of-state economic impact.

Here are the scores for Saturday’s games, in the highest flight for each age group:

• 13 boys: Blitz United Navy, Tulsa, Okla. 2, Lichterfelder FC, Berlin, Germany 1.
• 13 girls: Dakota Rev Rampage, Rosemount, Minn. 5, Edmonton Strikers, Alberta 0.
• 14 boys: Minnesota Thunder Elite 95, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, North Mississauga Panthers, Mississauga, Ontario 0.
• 14 girls: Minnesota Thunder Elite 95, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, Tonka United, Minnetonka, Minn. 1.
• 15 boys: Brujas FC, Escazu, Costa Rica 5, Clarlea Westview SC, Scarborough, Ontario 1.
• 15 girls: Minnesota Thunder Elite 94, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, Dakota Rev Fury, Rosemount, Minn. 0.
• 16 boys: Tulsa Nationals, Okla. 4, Eagan Armanda Azul, Minn. 0.
• 16 girls: Wayzata Rage, Minn. 3, Baerums Verk IF, Oslo, Norway 0.
• 17 boys: Westside Reds, Minneapolis, Minn. 1, York Jets, Toronto, Ontario 0.
• 17 girls: St. Croix, Stillwater, Minn. 4, MBSA Chaos, Maple Grove, Minn. 0
• 19 boys: Minnesota Thunder  Academy, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, River Rats, Ramsey, Minn. 1.
• 19 girls: Milwaukee Kickers, Wisc. 4, Backarnas  FF SE, Malmo, Sweden 2.

Championship games were held in many other divisions on Saturday as well. Scores and brackets for all divisions can be found on the Schwan’s USA CUP website.

Here are game summaries for Saturday’s top-level championship games:

13 boys: Blitz United Navy, Tulsa, Okla. 2, Lichterfelder FC, Berlin, Germany 1.
These two teams faced off last Wednesday in the pool play portion of the tournament with Blitz United winning 9-1. But in the championship Saturday, Lichterfelder fought gamely, despite fielding an injury and illness decimated roster of only 11 players.

Blitz United struck early on a Conner Marth goal in the fifth minute. Austin Ford added what would become the game-winner when he chipped a shot over LFC goalkeeper Pascal Kuehn in the 20th minute.

Lichterfelder bounced back when Alexander Zipp broke free in the 64th minute and drove a bullet past a diving Ronald Comeau to close the score to 2-1. But Blitz United was able to hold on for the final six minutes to bring the championship home to the Sooner State.

13 girls: Dakota Rev Rampage, Rosemount, Minn. 5, Edmonton Strikers, Alberta 0.
The 13 girls championship game started off with both teams having chances.  Dakota Rev had a near goal in the 13th minute when Kylee Carr hit the left post.  Minutes later, Edmonton countered with their own good chance when Charlotte Rath crossed the ball in and the shot was toward the goalie.  Dakota Rev received the only yellow card of the game when Claire Pueschner was carded in the 30th minute for recklessness.

But in the second half, the floodgates opened for Dakota Rev. After the opening goal in the 43rd minute, a Kylee Carr penalty kick made the score 2-0.  Carr was not done for the day, scoring after a dashing run down the middle of the field in the 62nd minute.  A beautiful cross and a wonderful finish by Kealie EspindaBanick in the 70th minute put the score to 4-0.  Finishing off the scoring in stoppage time, a deflected shot fell right to the feet of EspindaBanick who put it in the back of the net for her second goal and the team’s fifth.

14 boys: Minnesota Thunder Elite 95, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, North Mississauga Panthers, Mississauga, Ontario 0
Passions ran high in this 14 boys matchup. Minnesota Thunder player LoLue Yang scored the team’s first goal on an early header inside the goal box. Ryan Herold would score the second unanswered goal for Minnesota Thunder off a penalty kick.

The North Mississauga Panthers moved the ball down the field well, but didn’t capitalize on any chances to score, with their closest shot ricocheting off the crossbar. Competition heated up in the second half, and Yang received a soft red card for persistent misconduct. Still, the Thunder was able to maintain control of the score and clinch the game.

14 girls: Minnesota Thunder Elite 95, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, Tonka United Strikers, Minnetonka, Minn. 1.
In an all-Minnesota championship match-up, the Minnesota Thunder Elite 95 team defeated Tonka United, of Minnetonka 2-1 in a very competitive, entertaining game.
Midfielder Lauren Lawler put MTA in front after taking a centering pass and driving the ball past Tonka goalkeeper Elizabeth Crist.

The Strikers tied the game just three minutes into the second half on a well-executed dribble and shot by forward Alexis Gannon. But Jenna Roering countered with the winning goal off a centering pass, just past the fingers of diving keeper Crist for the winning goal.

15 boys: Brujas FC, Escazu, Costa Rica 5, Clarlea Westview SC, Scarborough, Ontario 1.
The 15 boys championship game started fast and was evenly matched. Both teams came out fast, fierce and ready to win. Brujas Diego Urena scored the 1st goal of the game and a few minutes later Clairlea forward Sam Moody retaliated. This even play seemed like it would continue, but quickly changed when Brujas kicked it up a level with their fancy footwork and spot-on passing. Brujas scored three more goals in the first halftaking a 4-1 lead into halftime.

The second half proved Clairlea Westview could continue steady pressure and competition for Brujas, but couldn’t produce any goals. The speed and ball handling of the Brujas was just too much. Eventually both teams were starting to look a little tired, but then Brujas fan-favorite Marco Alcazar managed to get in the last goal of the game. This pushed the Costa Rican Brujas to a 5-1 championship win over Clairlea Westview from Ontario.

15 girls: Minnesota Thunder Elite 94, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, Dakota Rev Fury, Rosemount, Minn. 0.
The Dakota Rev Fury, champions in the Weekend A Flight after defeating the Tonka Tundra 2-0 in the final game, fell today to the more aggressive Minnesota Thunder Elite. The Minnesota Thunder pulled ahead fast, with a goal from Gaby Arnquist within the first five minutes. Unable to drive the ball down the field and away from their own goal, the Dakota Rev would leave the goal unanswered.

Anna Solheim put the Minnesota Thunder further ahead with a second goal coming in the opening minutes of the second half. The Dakota Rev did not put up a convincing offense and were unable to push the ball toward the Thunder goalie, finishing the game scoreless.

16 boys: Tulsa Nationals, Okla. 4, Eagan Armanda Azul, Minn. 0.
After finishing second in their pool, the Tulsa Nationals picked up their game in the playoffs, winning three straight games on their way to a 16 boys championship.
Tulsa put on pressure early, with many chances against Eagan’s goal keeper, Derrick Mora.  After a misclearance in the 18th minute, Mora was forced to make a tremendous save.

Tulsa’s pressure finally paid off in the 25th minute when Adam Schmoker passed it to his twin brother, Jordan Schmoker who buried the ball deep into the lower left corner for the first goal of the game.  Just minutes later, Samuel Zsiga made the game 2-0 off a corner kick clearance.

Rain started at halftime but that didn’t stop Tulsa’s roll.  A minute after the kickoff, Joshua Cude scored the third goal for Tulsa.  Cude received a yellow card for dangerous play shortly after the goal in the 49th minute.  Tulsa capped the scoring off in the 56th minute with a goal to the bottom right corner by Samuel Guernsey.  Eagan put up a fight with some late corners, but ultimately, couldn’t come back from Tulsa’s early dominance of the game.

16 girls: Wayzata Rage, Minn. 3, Baerums Verk IF, Oslo, Norway 0.
Norway’s Baerums Verk IF U16 Girls had no answer for Wayzata Rage’s Taylor Wodnick who scored two goals and assisted on a third as the Rage won the 16 Girls Championship today at Schwan’s USA CUP 3-0. Wodnick scored two goals within a minute of each other midway through the first half and fed a beautiful cross to teammate Jacqueline Ormsbee in the 57th minute to ensure the victory.

The teams both came into the final having dominated their semifinal opponents. The Rage, who won the Minnesota State Cup earlier this year, beat Glen Shields Sun Devils from Ontario, Canada 7-0; while Baerums Verk dominated California’s Corona Norco Ice 7-1.

There were definite contrasts in play as Wayzata worked to control the midfield and attacked up the wings, while Baerums Verk looked to create scoring chances with quick through balls.

Wayzata won the battle of the midfield and their hard work paid off with Wodnick’s goal in the 20th minute off a cross from the left wing by Hannah Keil. The second goal came less than a minute later on a quick counterattack from Keil that caught the Baerums Verk defense flat-footed. In the meantime, the Wayzata defense locked down Norway’s side and gave them only two real scoring chances in the game.

17 boys: Westside Reds, Minneapolis, Minn. 1, York Jets, Toronto, Ontario 0.
The Westside Reds held the advantage in the first half, and broke through with a goal by Joseph Lave in the 25th minute.
The second half was more evenly played and the Jets had several outstanding chances. Tyler Sanford, Reds goalie, made a huge save on a header with ten minutes left to preserve the 1-0 victory.

17 girls: St. Croix, Stillwater, Minn. 4, MBSA Chaos, Maple Grove, Minn. 0
The game started off evenly with neither team taking control of the game.  Finally, in the 16th minute, St. Croix’s Maria McLeod scored off a corner kick taken by Anna Kouba, putting St. Croix ahead 1-0.

MBSA was able to hold off St. Croix’s attack until the 50th minute when Maria McLeod scored off yet another corner kick by Anna Kouba.  St. Croix gained momentum from this goal as they quickly went back on the attack. Mary O’Brien had a shot that went just over the cross bar and shortly after, Ahna Logan had a shot that hit the crossbar.  Then in the 57th minute, St. Croix scored again.  This time, O’Brien, in a congested box, finished her shot.

After an obstruction call against St. Croix just outside their box, MBSA thought they had scored on the free kick but the referee called the goal back because it was an indirect kick.

St. Croix’s Jessica Taplin added a late goal in the 72nd minute scoring from the corner kick mark.  This made the final score 4-0 in St. Croix’s favor.

19 boys: Minnesota Thunder  Academy, Twin Cities, Minn. 2, River Rats, Ramsey, Minn. 1.
In a championship battle between two local Twin Cities clubs, the Minnesota Thunder Academy, with players from around the Twin Cities, came back from an early one-goal deficit to post a 2-1 win over the River Rats from Ramsey, Minn.

Alex Crosby scored for the River Rats in the 12th minute. Archie Karhu tallied the equalizer for MTA in the 21st minute. After the halftime break, Curt Steinne scored the winning goal in the 44th minute. In the second half the River Rats had a tying goal called back because of offsides.

19 girls: Milwaukee Kickers, Wisc. 4, Backarnas  FF SE, Malmo, Sweden 2.
Becky Schmidt scored twice in the first five minutes of the game, and the Milwaukee Kickers were off to the races. Emily Johnson added two goals of her own in the 58th and 64th minutes to give the Kickers a solid four goal lead. Backarnas rebounded with two goals late in the second half to make the score respectable.