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Soccer Academy U-19 boys win first in Atlanta Cup, girls place second
Sep 10, 2009 9:37 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington School Soccer Academy’s U-19 and U-17 boys’ and U-19 girls’ teams were among more than 800 who competed in the Atlanta Cup over Labor Day weekend Sept. 5-7.
As the city of Atlanta sought to show the world and the U.S. Bid Committee that it is ready, willing and able to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022, the Soccer Academy had a different goal in mind – to play hard and win. The U-19 boys did just that, sweeping their division and beating teams like finalist FC Atlanta Silverbacks U-17, which is currently ranked in the Top 30 nationwide. Darlington’s U-19 girls finished No. 2 to the Alpharetta Ambush 92 Elite, and the U-17 boys made it to the semifinal round.
“Both the semifinal game and the final for the U-19 boys went to penalty kicks, and senior Stefan Dill came up with some very big saves,” said Chad Liddle, Soccer Academy director. “They came from behind twice to tie up the final game to send it into overtime and never, never quit. The U-19 girls had a great effort. They outshot and out possessed their opponents in the final game against the Alpharetta Ambush, but unfortunately came up short on the scoreboard, losing 0-1. The U-17 boys were semifinalists; they went 3-0 in group lay and then lost 0-1 to the eventual champions.”
This year marked the first time Darlington School Soccer Academy competed in the Atlanta Cup event because U.S. Club Soccer teams had not been allowed to compete in previous years. To prepare for this important tournament, players trained daily and played friendlies against Reinhardt College and Shorter College as well as nationally ranked club teams the Concorde Fire and CESA.
“We always look for the toughest competition we can find,” Liddle said. “The club teams like Concorde Fire are expected to be a National Championship contender. These top club teams and our college-level competitors are the best sources to prepare us for large tournaments and events. We have a diverse group of players that really work well together; this year, the Soccer Academy has around 35 boarding students from all over the U.S.A. and the world. This is a unique group of talented young people who have been able to come together quickly and compete and win against clubs with 3,000 to 5,000 players and teams that been together for years.”
Senior Blake Gardner has played with the Soccer Academy for two years, and says he is most impressed with the level of play and the competition they face. “We play more which improves our game,” said Gardner, who has verbally committed with Creighton University, ranked No. 2 in the nation in NCAA Division I soccer. “The coaches have us doing the right things to improve our touch and skill.”
According to Liddle, college placement for Soccer Academy players is a big part of his focus. “Since 2007, we have visited more than 65 college campuses and helped place 96 percent of our alumni in a college or professional soccer program. These students have earned over $1.9 million in scholarships, and we look forward to continuing this tradition of success.”
The Soccer Academy will travel to Greenville, S.C., Sept. 18-20 to play in the CESA Challenge against several prominent club teams. In October, they will play in a showcase and visit college campuses in Virginia Beach. In November, they will host teams at Darlington, and December will bring the Nike Cup and the NCAA Final Four Showcase. The Academy is still awaiting word on whether they have been accepted into the prestigious Disney Showcase.
“The Atlanta Cup was a gold level tournament, so we are hoping our performance will get us into the Disney Showcase,” Gardner said. “I am also looking forward to competing in the Final Four Showcase in December and the Mayor’s Showcase in Las Vegas in February.”
As the city of Atlanta sought to show the world and the U.S. Bid Committee that it is ready, willing and able to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022, the Soccer Academy had a different goal in mind – to play hard and win. The U-19 boys did just that, sweeping their division and beating teams like finalist FC Atlanta Silverbacks U-17, which is currently ranked in the Top 30 nationwide. Darlington’s U-19 girls finished No. 2 to the Alpharetta Ambush 92 Elite, and the U-17 boys made it to the semifinal round.
“Both the semifinal game and the final for the U-19 boys went to penalty kicks, and senior Stefan Dill came up with some very big saves,” said Chad Liddle, Soccer Academy director. “They came from behind twice to tie up the final game to send it into overtime and never, never quit. The U-19 girls had a great effort. They outshot and out possessed their opponents in the final game against the Alpharetta Ambush, but unfortunately came up short on the scoreboard, losing 0-1. The U-17 boys were semifinalists; they went 3-0 in group lay and then lost 0-1 to the eventual champions.”
This year marked the first time Darlington School Soccer Academy competed in the Atlanta Cup event because U.S. Club Soccer teams had not been allowed to compete in previous years. To prepare for this important tournament, players trained daily and played friendlies against Reinhardt College and Shorter College as well as nationally ranked club teams the Concorde Fire and CESA.
“We always look for the toughest competition we can find,” Liddle said. “The club teams like Concorde Fire are expected to be a National Championship contender. These top club teams and our college-level competitors are the best sources to prepare us for large tournaments and events. We have a diverse group of players that really work well together; this year, the Soccer Academy has around 35 boarding students from all over the U.S.A. and the world. This is a unique group of talented young people who have been able to come together quickly and compete and win against clubs with 3,000 to 5,000 players and teams that been together for years.”
Senior Blake Gardner has played with the Soccer Academy for two years, and says he is most impressed with the level of play and the competition they face. “We play more which improves our game,” said Gardner, who has verbally committed with Creighton University, ranked No. 2 in the nation in NCAA Division I soccer. “The coaches have us doing the right things to improve our touch and skill.”
According to Liddle, college placement for Soccer Academy players is a big part of his focus. “Since 2007, we have visited more than 65 college campuses and helped place 96 percent of our alumni in a college or professional soccer program. These students have earned over $1.9 million in scholarships, and we look forward to continuing this tradition of success.”
The Soccer Academy will travel to Greenville, S.C., Sept. 18-20 to play in the CESA Challenge against several prominent club teams. In October, they will play in a showcase and visit college campuses in Virginia Beach. In November, they will host teams at Darlington, and December will bring the Nike Cup and the NCAA Final Four Showcase. The Academy is still awaiting word on whether they have been accepted into the prestigious Disney Showcase.
“The Atlanta Cup was a gold level tournament, so we are hoping our performance will get us into the Disney Showcase,” Gardner said. “I am also looking forward to competing in the Final Four Showcase in December and the Mayor’s Showcase in Las Vegas in February.”
