Stamford Youth Soccer Team Competes In Championship

From Stamford Youth Soccer League: The players on the Stamford Youth Soccer League’s (SYSL) Stamford FC U12 Boys Elite team are about to live out their dream. The U12 boys won the State Cup on June 4, 2017, earning the #1 rank in the State, and will compete in the distinguished US Youth Soccer Region I Championships, one of the oldest and most prestigious national youth soccer tournaments, June 29 through July 4, in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

In the Regional Championship, the Stamford FC U12 Boys Elite will face the top teams from 13 east coast states. The Stamford U12 Boys Elite is the first team in the history of the Stamford Youth Soccer League, founded in 1977, to win a premier State Cup, and the first team since 2002 to advance to the Regional Championships.

During the State Cup tournament, the Stamford FC U12 boys’ team defeated four premier teams: Game 1, at West Beach in Stamford vs Bridgeport Premier FC (5-2); game 2 in Rocky Hill vs CFC North Wolves Black 05 (4-3); game 3 in Wilton vs CT Rush Central Boys 05 (1-0). In the final, the team played Connecticut Football CFC Real, and won 4-0 with all goals scored in the second half. Goals were scored by Darsein Gabriel (2 goals), Edwin Medina (1 goal) and Luke Vander Kolk (1 goal). In goal the team was led by Will Herckis who earned the shutout victory. The defense was held strong by Oscar Gonzales, Lyon Atencia, and Sebastian Caltenco. And the midfield play was controlled by Arian Recinos, Will Anderson, Johnny Couch, Lucas Fernandez, Antonio Ninivaggi, and Massimo Costa.

The Stamford FC U12 Boys Elite have won several prestigious tournaments during the last six months, leading up to their State Cup Win and #1 ranking. Most recently, the team played in the EDP Spring Cup tournament May 28 – 29, 2017 in Hammonton, New Jersey, and went undefeated, playing against New Jersey premier club teams, and defeating Connecticut’s FC 05B Navy in the final (5-4).

In March 3-5, 2017, the Stamford FC U12 Boys Elite rose to the #2 ranking in the State of Connecticut after defeating three premier teams from New York and one from Connecticut, to win the Manhattan Soccer Club Kick-Off Classic. In the final game, the then Stamford FC U12 Boys Premier (then CT rank #5) defeated Everton America CT 2005 Boys NPL Blue (then CT rank #2) with a final score of 4-2, to become the #2 ranked team in the State of Connecticut.

In December 2016, the team played in the Tottenham America Trophy Tournament, in Ellicott City, Maryland, where two players received “Man of the Match,” and were identified by Hotspurs coaches, and selected to train with the UK’s Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in its player development program in London. Darsein Gabriel and Arian Recinos, were chosen based on their display of technical ability, leadership and overall attitude. Both boys have played soccer since ages three and four, respectively, and both have played with the SYSL travel teams since 2013-2014. Residents of Stamford, Gabriel attends Cloonan Middle School, and Recinos attends Scofield Magnet Middle School.

The Stamford FC Boys U12 Elite team is comprised of 13 players, a majority of whom have played together since U9, with their Head Coach, Jason Segovia, of Quality Touch Soccer Academy (QTSA), which provides exclusive professional training to the SYSL. In the fall of 2015, the then Stamford Hurricanes White U11 Boys won the 2015 CT Cup from a field of 80 teams. They finished the season in first place with a 9-1-0 record.

In 2016, the team turned premier, and ended its spring and fall 2016 seasons undefeated. In the spring of 2017, the team advanced to its current elite status.

Since 2015, under the coaching of QTSA, SYSL has developed four elite boys teams (U12, U14, U18, U20), and two premier boys teams (U13, U18). In addition, there are 29 boys and girls travel teams from U8 through U20.

The SYSL is raising funds to cover the estimated $14,000 needed to cover travel, lodging, tournament fees and other expenses related to the participation of the Stamford FC U12 Boys Elite in the Region 1 Championship. Donations can be made online on the SYSL website at: Stamford.Soccer or checks made be sent to: SYSL, 146 Gaymoor Drive, Stamford, CT 06907. Contributions are tax deductible.

Images Courtesy of SYSL