Three Team Chicago teams invaded Buffalo Grove this past weekend showing off an array of skills, abilities, and even a flair for celebrations as both age groups had a Team Chicago team in the championship game.
In the* U14 Girls division, Team Chicago-Academy-Ponte Preta* started off on Friday night under the lights against Schwaben’s U13 Nationals team. Being the first game of the season for both teams, it was a one where chances were tough to come by. The majority of Ponte Preta’s attack came along the flanks with their best chance being thwarted by a questionable no-call in the box.
The second half was more of the same until Schwaben played a nice combination through the middle before a 30 yard chip surprised everyone for the eventual game-winner. The rest of the game was a tense contest of Ponte Preta’s ability to score versus Schwaben’s stubborn defense anchored by their young and small but athletic goalie. The final score left Ponte Preta down 1-0 and with a taste for revenge.
The second and third group games were tougher than expected and proved to be good tests for the girls. 10 minutes into its game versus CFJ North Red, Ponte Preta was up 2-0 and looking for closure but they found the crossbar and the goalie, but not a goal to put the game out of reach. Proving the adage that a 2-goal lead is the most dangerous, Ponte Preta had a dogfight on its hands after letting up a goal in the second half. Thankfully, the defense held up. The last group game needed only a tie against a depleted Berwyn Blazers Swiss team, and TC squeezed through with a sub-par performance to a 1-1 draw.
Sunday’s final was a repeat of Friday’s game against Schwaben Nationals. Ponte Preta played an open game and attacked the wings, but this left them vulnerable to counter attacks. After a couple Ponte Preta errors, Schwaben was able to take advantage to get the go-ahead goal, and rode their ability to defend until the last minute. Credit to the Ponte Preta girls for their team never-say-die attitude as they pushed for a tying goal, but the touch of genius or good fortune never came.
In the end, all three Team Chicago teams left their mark on the Northwest suburbs through their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Congratulations and thanks to all the players and their families who helped make this weekend’s fall kickoff possible.

Three Team Chicago teams invaded Buffalo Grove during Labor Day weekend showing off an array of skills, abilities, and even a flare for celebrations as both age groups had a TC team in the championship game.
In the U9 boys division, Fluminense got Saturday off to a flying start beating Lindenhurst Academy 10-0 followed by a preview of the final against Lemont Raiders. In a very heated and emotional game, the boys came out on top 4-3 despite an advanced physical and tactical U8 Raiders team, putting them in the drivers seat to the final.
On the other side of the groups, with a very difficult draw, and despite the score, the TC Brasil Boys stuck to their guns dribbling and beating defenders using many of the moves Team Chicago is known for. Their highlight was pushing the U9 Lemont Raiders team to a tense 4-2 loss.
Fluminense’s last group and semifinal games were good tests of the boys’ versatility. Playing mostly out of position, the boys dispatched Schwaben Nationals and Hickory Hills Eagles 7-0 and 7-3 respectively. As a rematch, the final versus U8 Lemont Raiders was a testament to why the game is not played on paper.
Hoping for a cleaner game, Fluminense got anything but. They started off on the wrong foot going down 2-0 by halftime, one on a laser from well outside the box and the other on a dangerous low-driven cross from the end line which led to an own goal. The second half was dominated by the boys, but credit is owed to Lemont’s defense, specifically their goalie. They stifled Fluminense’s multi-versed attack, which even included a PK, long enough to get a decisive 3rd goal off a sloppy free kick to finish the game 3-0.
All 3 TC teams left their mark on the northwest suburbs through their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Congratulations and thanks to all the players and their families who helped make this weekend’s fall kickoff possible.

The U11 Team Chicago-Cyclones had a fantastic weekend in the NSR Gold Cup this past weekend finishing as runners-up.

The girls started off slowly with a disappointing loss to CSA 3-1 in their opening match. However, the Cyclones turned it around for their next 2 matches ripping thru Jogo Bonito 3-0, then destroying NSA 7-0. Both Lauren Sweda and Rachel Parrish were outstanding in goal for both matches along with an unbelievable defensive effort by Ryann Parrish, Brooke Miller, and Brooke “Cookie” Nelson.

Offensively, the Cyclones were unstoppable with combinations and 1v1’s followed by some great finishing. Sarah Epstein, Nikki Handwork, Emma Webb, Lily Espinoza, Emi Magno, and Krystal Diaz were sensational in the attacking 3rd. Megan McCarthy, Brenna Young, and Mikayla Lambert controlled the midfield and slotted some beautiful passes through the opponents’ back line.

On Championship day, Team Chicago and CSA would meet again in the final. It was a hard fought game by both teams. The Cyclones were able to hold CSA to one shot on goal during regulation time while the Cyclones created several opportunities, but no one could find the back of the net. Despite Team Chicago getting the better of the play the game headed into OT. The teams were exhausted mentally and physically, but the Cyclones gave up two early goals in OT resulting in a final score of CSA-TC 2-0.

Congrats on a great weekend!

Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo GK Megan Geldernick was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Megan Geldernick, a redshirt freshman goalkeeper on the Ohio State women’s soccer team, has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. The award is the first Big Ten award for a Buckeye since Nichelle Prince was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week Oct. 21 of last season.

Geldernick, from Aurora, Ill., tallied eight saves in a 1-0 shutout of No. 18 Duke Friday night before making another eight stops in a 1-0 defeat at No. 4 North Carolina Sunday. The 16 total stops were the second-most in the Big Ten through the first weekend of play and the eight saves made in each game marked the most for a Buckeye since Katie Baumgardner made eight saves in an NCAA third round match at Duke Nov. 20, 2011.

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro winger Kerry Abello has been called up for the U17 Women’s National Team trip to South Korea August 25th-September 4th.

Congrats Kerry! We are so proud of you.

Below is the U.S. Soccer press release:

CHICAGO (Aug. 14, 2014) – U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow has named 20 players for a trip to the Korea Republic from Aug. 25-Sept. 4 where the squad will play multiple matches against the host.

South Korea won the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that was played in Trinidad & Tobago. Asia teams have won three of the four FIFA U-17 tournaments contested so far with Korea DPR winning the inaugural event in 2008 and Japan taking the title in 2014.

This will be the first international trip for this group of players at the U-17 level. The U-17s last gathered for a domestic training camp from June 15-22 in Chula Vista, California.

The U.S. roster represents 10 different states. There are six players from California, the most of any state. Colorado has three and no other state has more than two.

The age cut-off for the next U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2016, which is currently scheduled to be played in Jordan, is Jan. 1, 1999. Seventeen players on the roster are 1999s, with three born in 2000.

U.S. U-17 WNT Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Hilary Beall (West Coast FC; Laguna Beach, Calif.), Brooke Bollinger (Space Coast United Storm; Indialantic, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (5): Kerry Abello (Team Chicago; Aurora, Ill.), Joanna Harber (Eastside FC; Bellevue, Wash.), Brooke Redington (South Bay Force; Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Karina Rodriguez (So Cal Blues; Torrance, Calif.), Sydney Zandi (Penn Fusion; West Chester, Pa.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Jaelin Howell (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.), Rachel Jones (Tophat SC; Lawrenceville, Ga.), Kiara Pickett (Eagles; Santa Barbara, Calif.), Izzy Rodriguez (Michigan Hawks; Canton, Mich.), Ashley Sanchez (So Cal Blues; Monrovia, Calif.), Taryn Torres (Solar Chelsea SC; Frisco, Texas), Kali Trevithick (Crossfire; Redmond, Wash.)
FORWARDS (6):Tess Boade (Colorado Rush; Castle Rock, Colo.), Rachel Dorwart (Penn Fusion; Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Civana Kuhlman (Colorado Rush; Littleton, Colo.), Tara McKeown (Eagles; Newbury, Calif.), Alexa Spaanstra (Michigan Hawks; Brighton, Mich.), Frankie Tagliaferri (PDA; Colt Neck, N.J.)