EPSC NEWS

EPSC 2009 Girls Red - USA Cup Adventure

Article Released Friday, September 6th

After a great season where the group won a MN Cup, showcased successfully in Indianapolis, and competed at high level in the NPL-Premier Division of TCSL, there were looking to cap it off with a good showing at USA Cup. Their previous 3 USA Cups had yielded very little success with a 1/4 Final knockout in 2023 against eventual winners - Jahbat - the best showing for the group.

Game #1 – Group Stage

EPSC 09G Red 1-0 FC Lake County Elite, Illinois 

First up was a very talented team from Illinois who showed that the level of competition was going to be extremely high in the 15U Girls Bracket.  A sweltering hot day, made even hotter playing on the stadium turf, did not stop the two teams from playing a high-level game at a frantic pace.  FC Lake County were the better team in the 1st half and created several very good chances, only to be thwarted by good goalkeeping from Quinn Bille as well as some brave last ditch defending.  EPSC found their rhythm in the 2nd half and scored an excellent goal with about 10mins to go.  Peyton Penney, who was to make a big impact at the USA Cup, made an excellent run into the left channel, cut inside and laid a perfectly weighted pass into Ashley Towey who fired the ball into the top right-hand corner from outside the penalty area.  EPSC saw out a nervy last 10mins and claimed a huge result to start out their USA Cup campaign.


Game #2 – Group Stage

EPSC 09G Red 4-0 Tydell Park Thunder, Canada

After the high of a fantastic result earlier in the day, it was back to action in the evening.  The girls faced off against Tydell Park Thunder from Winnipeg, Manitoba and did an excellent job of taking care of business on a tricky grass field.  Mirabella Jiovanazzo scored the game’s opening two goals after great work down the left and 2 very composed finishes, assists provided by Britta Gatchell and Olivia Alfred. A 2-0 lead at half time, EPSC had the game under control, but were looking to continue building momentum to carry through the tournament.  Ayla Sandbo (Parker Sweezo assist) put the game out of reach of Tydell Park Thunder.  Then with the last kick of the game, Nadia Guidarinislotted home after great work by Abby Bye driving into the box.


Game #3 – Group Stage

EPSC 09G Red 5-3 Lindenhurst ASC Premier, Illinois

Saturday at USA Cup Weekend is always the key day with teams finishing up group play and entering the knockout stages of the tournament.  EPSC girls sat pretty at the top of their group, but wanted to go into the playoffs with the best seeding possible.  Lindenhurst from Illinois were next opponent and EPSC were on the board in the first 3mins with Ayla Sandbo playing a lovely ball in behind for Peyton Penney to slide a composed finish past the goalkeeper.  A second goal followed shortly afterwards with Julia Ziesel finishing past a shell-shocked Lindenhurst goalkeeper after good work from Alana Richards. Lindenhurst pulled a goal back after a long-distance strike, but EPSC were back on the board soon after with Ashley Towey notching her 2nd goal of the tournament after been played in by Ayla Sandbo.  Two more goals followed shortly after half time with Julia Ziesel heading in from a Hailey Thompson corner, followed by an Ashley Towey strike after more good work from Abby Bye.  Lindenhurst added 2 late goals, but the damage was done and EPSC were onto the ¼ finals.

Celebrating a well-worked team goal

Game #4 – Quarter Final

EPSC 09G Red 4-1 Lindenhurst ASC Premier, Illinois

With EPSC finishing top of Group A and Lindenhurst finishing 2nd in group B, the ¼ final match was a repeat of the morning game.  From the opening whistle, Lindenhurst had a plan of setting a high line and not allowing set pieces.  Peyton Penney broke the deadlock in the first half after staying onside and finishing cooly past the goalkeeper.  Lindenhurst stunned EPSC and bagged a goal from distance before half time and showed that they were going to make things difficult.  Julia Ziesel settled the nerves after poking in an Ayla Sandbo corner from close range.  Peyton Penney made it three after being played through by Parker Sweezo.  Olivia Alfred (assist Peyton Ishaug) iced the game with a brilliant goal to send EPSC into a semi final showdown on Sunday morning.

Peyton Penney scoring her 2nd goal of the game

Game #5 – Semi Final

EPSC 09G Red 1-0 Tonka United, Minnesota

Felt like blink and you were now in the semi finals of one of the biggest competitions in the country.  Local rivals Tonka United were the semi final opponents and both teams wanted the bragging rights over each other.  A hot day, on turf, with 4 games in the legs, made for a slow start from both teams with very few goalscoring opportunities for either side.  One moment of quality from someone was going to win the game and Peyton Penney (Mirabella Jiovanazzo with the assist) provided that moment when she cut in from the left and bent a right footed shot past the goalkeeper with about 15min left.  EPSC defended brilliantly and booked their place in a USA Cup Final!!

Game #6 - Final

EPSC 09G Red 2-3 Thunder Bay Chill, Canada

The stage was set and the opponent was Thunder Bay Chill who were coming off a double overtime win in the semi-final.   Thunder Bay Chill play some really nice soccer and have 3 incredibly dangerous attacking players who had torn teams to shreds throughout the event.  The defenders from EPSC who had combined to only concede 4 goals in the previous 5 games had their work cut out for them (Sadie Haugen, Parker Sweezo, Hailey Thompson, Allie Lawler, Julia Ziesel, Britta Gatchell).  Even with 5 games in the previous 48hrs, it was an electric start for both teams with EPSC coming close to getting the opening goal.  However, with Thunder Bay’s first real attack of the game, they pounced on a loose ball to go up 0-1.  EPSC girls did not panic and marched right down the field to score a beautifully crafted goal with Ayla Sandbo beating her player and crossing a lovely ball for Peyton Penney to nip in front of her defender and smash home her 5th goal of the tournament. There were chances for both teams before the end of the half, but all square at the break.

The same pattern continued in the 2nd half with EPSC the team controlling most of the game, but Thunder Bay looking dangerous going forward with their front 3.  And it was Thunder Bay who went ahead about mid-way through the 2ndhalf.  EPSC were pushing and it felt like time was going to run out, but up stepped Parker Sweezo to hammer a freekick from 25yds out to send the game to overtime. 

Parker Sweezo’s goal to tie the game up in the second half

Even with 5min overtime halves, there was more than enough time for plenty of action with Thunder Bay hitting the crossbar twice and EPSC having a ball cleared off the line.  Ultimately, it was Thunder Bay who claimed victory with the last kick of the game.  A perfect in-swinging corner evaded everyone and was bundled home by a Thunder Bay player at the back post.  Heartbreaking for EPSC who were the team pushing at the end and looked the more likely team to win it.  Regardless, it was an incredible achievement for the group and a fantastic weekend to cap off what has been memorable 2023/24 Season.

2nd Place Trophy and Medals

Article written by Chris Bagshaw, coach of 2009 Girls Red team

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