Joliet soccer/futsal club wins National Championship

During the winter months soccer players refine their skills by competing in futsal. Futsal is a fast paced indoor 5v5 soccer match on a hard surface, usually a basketball court. It has continued to grow in popularity year after year. Cadence Futsal Club in Joliet is the futsal program for the soccer club WCOB FC. Cadence qualified five teams for US Youth Futsal Nationals by placing first or second in a Michigan regional qualifier this past winter. The national championship tournament is played over the summer in Kansas. "We took five teams this year and was extremely successful. Two semi-finalists, two finalists and one National Champion! I am extremely happy for all our players." said Coach Preto Almeida. Semi-finalist age groups included 2010 and 2007, finalists age groups included 2016 and 2014. Cadence won a National title in the 2015 age group. The 2015 age group competed last year in nationals and were knocked out in the group stage rounds. Their road to the finals was not easy with having to get through the same team they lost to last year beating them 7-4 this time around. With an impressive amount of shooting power, the team managed to score 43 goals in 5 matches at this tournament. "This team has everything. It's one of the most dominant group of players I have ever coached" said Coach Gui. "This win is just the beginning for these boys." In the final match the team went up 4-1, only to lose the lead 5-4. With 2 minutes remaining, the coach pulled their goalie and ran a power play, scoring the game tying goal and sending the game into penalty kicks for the win. Congratulations to the club Cadence FC as well as the players on bringing Joliet home a national title!

Photo: Coach Preto Almeida, Julian Hartwell, Joey Pecora, Antoni Korczak, Dylan Cordero, Oliver Contreras, Oba Garcia, Jesus Presa, Armando Workman, Jeremiah Alvarez, Coach Daniel Marquez, Coach Gui Nunes.