Soccer teams falls short at nationals

Second-best doesn’t sit well with the Beadling Soccer Club’s 15U boys’ team. That is why, after finishing second in the national tournament for the second straight season, the players are determined, more than ever, to capture a championship.
“Second is good when you consider the grand scale of this,” said Beadling head coach Bob Fabean, “but this group of boys will not rest until they lift that national championship trophy. It’s the reason they are so special.”
The 15U boys’ squad certainly compiled another special season that culminated in a trip to the US Youth Soccer National Championships played in Frisco, Texas. After compiling a 34-0-2 record that featured PA West and regional titles, Beadling opened national tournament action posting a 1-1-1 mark. The team defeated Illinois, 4-1, lost to North Carolina, 4-3, and tied Vegas, 1-1, and advanced out of group play to the Final Four.
In the semifinals, Beadling avenged last year’s championship loss. The squad edged South Carolina, 2-1, to reach the finals for the second year in a row.
“Getting back to the national championships alone is a tough task, to make it to the finals two years in a row says a lot about the character of the players on this team,” Fabean said. “I was extremely proud of the boys.”
In the finals, Beadling lost to Las Vegas, 2-0. With Beadling trailing 1-0, and eight minutes into the second half, the team lost a player when a Red Card was issued because of a hard tackle. For the remainder of the contest, Beadling played one man down.
“Even with that we generated significant scoring chances, but couldn’t’ find the equalizer,” Fabean explained.
“Even after going down a man in the finals, they never quit. We very easily could have tied that game in the second half with the effort that they were giving. It just wasn’t our day.”
Fabean predicts Beadling will “learn” from its experience and “train even harder” as it attempts to make a third-straight appearance at nationals.
“Not many players get to play for a national championship, and very few get the chance to play for two,” Fabean explained.
“I told the players to be proud of what they accomplished and work even harder because I absolutely feel there is a next year because this team stays in tack with only one addition.”
The roster featured forwards Anthony DiFalco and Willard Douglas; midfielders Chad Eldridge, Jaxon Ervin, Anthony Hays, Cyrus Khani, Austin Marmol, Ethan Sanders and Chase Thomas; defenders Mason Fabean, Joseph Fonagy, Owen Maher, Zachary Panza, RJ Stetz, Joseph Pustover and Jake Sciorilli; as well as goalkeeper AJ Getsy.
In addition to Fabean, who has 15 years of experience, the coaching staff also consists of Rob Eldridge from South Fayette and Matt Fonagy.
“I expect us to be playing for a national championship again,” Fabean said. “This team is driven by challenge and the desire to be the best. It would shock me if our level of play did not increase even more next year.”
Century U18 girls
Wait until next year is also the battle cry of the Century V Gold. The U18 girls’ team competed at nationals, too.
Playing for the first time in the national tournament, Century proved a “formidable” opponent even with just using three field subs during 100-degree temperatures.
The Gold, which came close to qualifying for nationals the last two years, went undefeated in league play this season.
After winning the PA-West state cup for the third time in five years, Century V advanced to the semifinals of the Eastern Regional championships, outscoring the opposition, 11-3, in Group A play.
By earning a 4-2 win in the semifinals, Century V defeated Princeton, 1-0, in the finals.
Members of the team included: Ariana Caminos, Natalie Daube, Kiley Dugan, Kate Feczko, Morgan Harding, Catherine Hassett, Sophia Hudson, Julia Lalama, Meghan Lyon, Landy Mertz, Emily Orr, Sophia Rizzo, Krystyna Rytel, Molly Saylor, Myla Sharpless, Sarah Sinnott, Sydney Snyder and Jessica Wilhelm.
Many of the players on the team, which finished ranked No. 7 in the nation, fourth in the region and first in the state, are playing soccer in college or have committed to compete at universities beyond their scholastic careers.
Among them are: Caminos (New Jersey Institute of Technology), Dugan (Valparaiso), Harding (Behrend College), Hassett (Pitt), Hudson (Lafayette), Lalama (Lehigh), Lyons (Slippery Rock), Mertz (Dayton), Orr (Allegheny), Rizzo (Duquesne), Rytel (Pitt), Saylor (NJIT), Sharpless (Florida Atlantic), Snyder (Canisius) and Wilhelm (Elon).