Michigan Gators Capture State Soccer Cup

The Michigan Gators FC ’96 Orange, U-16 girls, captured the coveted State Cup, defeating the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Gold, 2-1, in the MSYSA Michigan State Cup Championship game on Oct. 15, at Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac, MI.

The teams battled for scoring chances throughout the first half. The Crew capitalized first after finding some open space and blasting a rocket shot in the upper corner of the
goal with just minutes left in the first half. The Gators came out in the second half with renewed determination and increased intensity, scoring off a throw-in followed by two
quick passes and a well-centered shot to tie the game 1-1.

With 22 minutes left to play, the Gators scored the go-ahead goal when they combined a series of passes, splitting two Crew defenders with a through ball to the corner where it was gathered and then crossed to midfielder Sarah Troccoli who deftly found the back of the net.

The Gators finished the 2012 Michigan State Cup Championship tournament with a 6-0 record. In preliminary matches, the Gators beat Canton Celtic (3-0), SCOR Premier (7-0) and Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Black (3-0). In the quarterfinals, the Gators defeated Vardar North, 5-0; and in the semifinals, the Gators beat Michigan Hawks East 96, 4-2.

As State Cup Champs, the Gators will represent Michigan in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament.

The MI Gators FC 96 Orange team is comprised of: Head Coach Henry Steinwascher, Assistant Coach Dan Troccoli, Caitlin Carroll (Macomb Twp.), Bridget Parise (Shelby Twp.), Madison Duncan (Troy), Sarah Troccoli (Troy), Danielle Manning (Grosse Pointe), Theresa DiCristofaro (New Baltimore), Natalie Siedlakowski (Windsor, Ontario), Amanda Mladenovski (Shelby Twp.), Maria Jaramillo (Windsor, Ontario), Raechel Eck (Sterling Heights), Megan
Moore (Farmington Hills), Frances Weber (Grosse Pointe), Olivia Withers (Grosse Pointe), Annika Johnson (Huntington Woods), Shannon McDevitt (Rochester Hills), Carly Alfano (Belle River, Ontario) and Jordan Newman (Lake Fenton).