As Seen On FYSA Website:
Team Profile -- ICSA Crocs U16 Girls
Young Athletes to Be Proud Of…
Inspirational
stories surrounding the world of athletics have become a part of
American culture. From the "miracle on ice" of the 1980 US Olympic
Hockey team to the New York Giants stirring upset of the New England
Patriots in Super Bowl XLIII. Americans have come to thrive on the
endeavors of athletic perseverance and the overcoming of long-shot odds
to triumph. To
find such inspiring stories, we often turn to the world stage of
professional athletics or even fictional characters, such as Rocky
Balboa. However, such a story exists among us within 13 teenage girls.
These young people are
athletes in every sense of the word. At stake was not the world
championship, not an Olympic gold medal or million dollar sports
contract. Up for grabs was a life lesson in never say quit, in never
bowing down to those who say it can’t be done, of believing in oneself
and each other. It has become increasingly common within youth
competitive soccer that a win-at-all-costs attitude prevails. More
often than not this attitude leads to dissension and strife within a
team environment. Individual play begins to trump team play. Injuries
begin to mount, personal problems magnify, and the caustic players and
parents begin their assault. The love of the game is battered and the
team is consumed from within. Only a shell remains. But what about the
ones who remained after the dust settled? What about those who have
walked the hard mile? What about those few who dared to step forward
again after so much adversity? What did they do? They smiled…
Thirteen
athletes whose love of the game and for each other refused to go
quietly into the night. They, as one, chose to remove the obstacles in
front of them and play on. And play they did…with less overall
talent, shorthanded, and nothing to lose, the remaining team members
entered into a State College Showcase tournament. Out-gunned and
out-manned, they shocked all who watched them as they battled goal for
goal with some of the best teams in the country. They played with
courage. They played with passion. They played every second with a
belief that more can be accomplished with a hand up, than a push down.
While they didn’t win the tournament…they walked away from it with more
than any other team. For this team now knows that the winning trophies
will collect dust, but the rewards of a sisterhood will last forever...
Three
weeks after this they continued their journey by winning their Florida
Region C Cup. In true form yet again, they were down by a goal with two
minutes to play, playing with only ten players to their opponents
eleven. They tied the game and won it in overtime. They then moved on
to play in the FYSA President’s Cup where they went unscored upon to
capture the Championship. Their journey continues as they will now
represent Florida at the US Youth Region III President’s Cup in Greer,
South Carolina this June. This "never say quit" attitude and devotion
to each other brings great credit to themselves, the Island Coast
Soccer Alliance and the Florida Youth Soccer Association.