It was a final to remember, even if the RDA’s 2005 Girls came up on the short end.
The Hounds made it all the way to the championship game of the 14U Super Group at U.S. Club Soccer’s National Cup XVIII in Commerce City, Colo., but defending champion Fever United of Dallas came out on top, 3-1, after the game progressed to extra time tied 1-1.
The loss snapped a streak of eight consecutive wins for the Hounds girls, who won four straight at the Southeast Regional last month to qualify before going 3-0 in pool play and winning their semifinal at the National Cup. Despite the setback, coach Scott Gibson said his squad had much to be proud of over the final month of their season.
“Although we lost after two extra time periods in the national final, I’m delighted at the girls and the journey they had to get there. We deserved to win the final, but it just wasn’t our day in the end,” Gibson said. “The girls will grow and learn from this, and we will use the experince next season in the ECNL.”
The Hounds trailed 1-0 in the final, but Bella Vozar tied the game by scoring off a Fiona Mahan corner kick. A late penalty won by Ava Boyd gave the Hounds the chance to win in regulation, but a save by the goalkeeper of the high-quality Fever side sent the game to extra time.
Lola Abraham nearly put the Hounds ahead in the extra period, but her shot struck the bar. Finally, the Fever broke the deadlock with a free kick before adding an insurance goal late in the match.
“Everyone at the club is proud of (the 05 Girls’) efforts. The event was extremely competitive and a great advert for the U.S. Club (Soccer) National Cup,” Gibson said.
To reach the final, the Hounds got a win in the semis over regional foe Players Development Academy (N.J.) behind goals by Eliana Davin and Sophia Spatafore. The RDA girls also defeated clubs from California, Texas and Oklahoma in their pool play wins, and Boyd finished with a team-high four goals in the competition.