Published
7/30/2008 8:21:18 PM
by
staff
from
soccermogul
The Solar 89 boys capped a dominate performance from North Texas sides at the 2008 USYSA Youth National Championships as Texas teams took 7 of the 12 titles.. Solar 89 has been in the national title game three times in their storied career. In each of the previous finals, Solar fell short. Looking to keep the trend, Kansas City Wizards Juniors aspired to etch their name in the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest youth sports trophy (established in 1935).
"I've heard a lot of people say, if you are going to win one; this was the big one to win. So maybe it was meant to be all along. I didn't think so at the time, but now I do," said Kevin Smith, Director of Coaching for Solar SC. "I'll be old and I'll be sitting on my rocking chair one day and I'll be looking at this (team autographed game ball) and remember this day. It wasn't given to us. We had to earn this all the way. It wasn't given to us on a plate. They had a lot of disappointments but they kept fighting and clawing. They were very confident today and they have been confident for a lot of years. We just got pinned to the post a few times. This is special to me and I will treasure this for the rest of my life."
This match-up was a collegiate all-star game with All-Americans and future professional players on each side. As time neared expiration, Solar earned a free kick from 35 yards out that Hunter Jumper got on the end of and with all of his remaining energy slotted to give Solar their seemingly impossible national crown in their final year of the tournament as Under-19s.
"The fact that we won this and the fact that we are ending on top together just makes everything. The fact that we won means the whole world together," said Hunter Jumper, a freshman at University of Virginia. "It was 90 minutes of intense physical. Everything was 50-50. It was a battle out there for 90 minutes. We were lucky enough to get a free kick in the last 30-45 seconds. It was just great. I hit the ball well; as clean as I wanted to and just happen to be on it. It is the greatest feeling ever."
Published
7/25/2010
by
Shane Barrow
from
soccermogul
Columbus Crew Jrs claimed the McGuire Cup with a 1-0 win over FC Delco at the USYSA National Championships.
Published
4/4/2010
by
William Montero
from
soccermogul
The Dallas Cup XXXI Super Group final finished 4-2 as Cruzeiro defeated CF Monterrey in a game that ended with a huge braw. Video included!
Published
4/2/2010
by
Shane Barrow
from
soccermogul
Sunday's Dallas Cup XXXI Super Group final will pit Cruzeiro of Brazil against CF Monterrey of Mexico.
Published
3/31/2010
by
Shane Barrow
from
soccermogul
After a thrilling feature game with Cruzeiro and Chivas the semifinals are all set for Dallas Cup XXXI Super Group.
Published
3/30/2010
by
Shane Barrow
from
soccermogul
The four semifinal berths for Dallas Cup XXXI Super Group are up for grabs on Wednesday as group play concludes. All four groups are in play as eleven teams are still alive for the four semifinal spots.