U-17 Boys Chesco Premier II win EPYSA President's Cup State Championship
On Mother’s Day, a remarkable gift was given to the mom’s of the Southern Chester County Soccer Association U-17 Boys team.
The Boy’s U-17 travel team, Chesco Premier II, won the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) President’s Cup State Championship.
SCCSA has been teaching soccer to local kids in the Southern Chester County area since 1978. This is the first team to earn the opportunity to represent EPYSA in the United States Youth Soccer Region I Championships.
SCCSA’s team is made up of five boys from Kennett High School: Greg Danchik, Daniel Dicce, Joe Meola, Roberto Silva and Jake Tully; two boys from Oxford Area School District: Eric Olvera and Marco Bedolla; eight boys from Unionville High School: Andrew Carlino, Peter Clark, Matt Cortez, Huston Firment, Denton Jocums, James Kelly, Drew Sommer and Alex Sommer and two boys from Downingtown: Josh Harrison and Brian Nelson. Andrew Carlino, when interviewed by EPYSA, noted that, “we are all friends and I think that contributes to our success.”
The boys played through the state’s group stages defeating teams from York, LehighValley and West Chester before meeting Philadelphia’s Fox Chase in the finals. SCCSA had met Fox Chase on four previous occasions, losing three times.
However, this Mother’s Day Sunday, the boys from SCCSA would not be denied. An opening goal from Roberto Silva was quickly followed by a well earned penalty kick by Drew Sommer. The first half was closed out with a second goal from Roberto Silva.
Fox Chase came out strong to open the second half and was able to pin SCCSA deep in their own half. Drew Sommer was played in on the far side line and scored a very quick and well taken goal, his second of the day, which effectively ended the attempted come back.
Second half goals were subsequently scored by Jake Tully (2), Denton Jochums and Alex Sommer.
Andrew Carlino noted that the team had started out slowly over the course of the year and that is true. After the first six games, the team’s record stood at 3 wins and 3 losses. However, an excellent winter campaign and the spring season now sees the team’s record stand at eleven wins, four losses and two draws.
“It was a tough game, but we came out ready to fight”, said Roberto Silva. “We needed to come out strong and ready to attack.” Fox Chase was well known for its very effective defensive pressure.
The team now moves on to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. YSA Regional I Tournament to be held in Saratoga Springs, New York, Memorial Day Weekend.
