Our GU14 White team is a new AAA team that was promoted from AA-A after an undefeated season last Fall. One would think, however, that they would be doing their best to keep up with the experienced AAA teams they will soon be playing. But Coach Ray Clermont set his goals much higher. He researched which tournaments the Presidio Premier teams and CSL Gold & Silver Elite teams would be playing in to really test his team. Coach Clermont has a lot to be proud of because, even while having a rather short roster & missing several players throughout the Summer due to track, injuries/illness & camp; his team pulled off tieing a CSL Gold team, the top CSL Silver Elite team and coming within 1 goal of a number of Premier / Silver Elite teams.

That is until their last tournament, this past weekend. While other AAA teams were playing in Rotary Cup, Coach Clermont looked for a tournament that would give him another good challenge to finish off the Summer & prepare the girls for Season. He chose SD United's Summer Challenge whose host team is a seasoned Premier team. GU14 White started off with a 0-0 tie against the Premier team, but unfortunately lost a starting defender, Olivia Martinez, due to an ankle injury. This called for some changes in the line-up, but the team did fine .. better than fine .. because they ended winning the bracket undefeated, with 5 goals & all games being shutouts! Defenders Rachael Augustine, Rachel Dibbins, Shelby Ingersoll, midfielder Rebecca Fernando who filled in for Olivia in defense along with the 2 goalkeepers, Alyssa Rollo and Lauren Maes, kept a strong backline the whole tournament.

The Final pitted SD United's Premier Black team against GU14 White again -- this time without Olivia and Corina Rodarte, who had been the team's top scorer during this tournament. After a very exciting game on both sides of the field, GU14 White's team captains, Samantha Elvin and Rachel Dibbins, stepped up to score the 2 goals to secure the 2-1 Championship win in regulation.

The other goalscorer for the White team this tournament was Alyssa Rollo, a forward who was called upon to play goalkeeper for the majority of the tournament.

Thanks also go to the great transition play and offensive strikes by the midfielders: Lexi Bennett, Mariajose Ceja, Erin McDannold, Gina Tedrow and forwards Gabriella Meraz, Hannah Sander. This was indeed a Team Win!! Great Job, Girls!

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