Team Chicago-Lightning tasted success at the Midwest Cup hosted by Campton United over the Memorial Day weekend. Playing in the U9 Premiership division, Lightning opened the tournament against Chicago Magic. Despite dominating possession the first half, the team found themselves behind 1-0 at the half. However, as would become a theme over the weekend, Lightning stormed back in the second half with 4 goals after a blast from Alex Das opened the floodgates, finishing with a 4-1 victory.

Game 2 was against the host Campton United. Again Lightning fell behind at the half, this time 2-0, and again they dominated the second half. This time they could only muster 2 goals, the second on a brilliant run by Sam Nichols, and finished with a 2-2 tie. Needing a victory in the third game to advance to the finals, Lightning faced off against a physical NSA Blackhawk team. This time Lightning opened the scoring when Ryan Mauder tapped in a rebound off a shot by Alex Stadnyk that caromed off the crossbar. Moments after NSA tied the score at 1, Stadnyk took care of things on his own with a perfectly placed shot in the upper corner. A second half goal off a corner kick by Luke Macaluso completed the scoring and sealed a 3-1 victory.

The final match-up was against an undefeated Addison United squad that had not surrendered any goals in the tournament. Play was even in the first half, but the bounces went Addison’s way as they netted 2 goals off loose balls in the box, while Lightning only found the crossbar again on a shot by Nik Juarez. Lightning owned the second half once more, dominating possession, and finding the back of the net midway through the period when Ryan Mauder burst through the defense and cut the lead to 2-1. Despite constant pressure and a number of close calls, the tying goal did not come and with only minutes left and Lightning pressing everyone forward, Addison countered on a breakaway to complete a 3-1

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro beat FC United 4-0 to finish its round-robin group with a perfect 3-0-0 record and a 10-1 goal-difference, advancing to the IYSA State Cup Semi-Final against Campton United Saturday 5/31 at Noon at the Naperville Polo Grounds.

Needing at least a tie to win the group, Cruzeiro was in complete control from the opening minute. Most of the first half was played in the FC United half, and several chances went begging before Jamie Goralski ran onto a Sarah Avery throw-in, beat two defenders, and calmly wrong-footed the FC United GK for the eventual game-winner.

Needing at least two goals to turn its fortunes around, FC United came out with much greater intensity at the beginning of the second half. The Cruzeiro defense was a little rattled, but a brilliant 40-yard through-ball from Jordan King found a streaking Jamie Goralski in behind the FC United defense, and she scored her second goal to put the game out of reach.

Halfway through the second half Alyssa Bombacino turned on her defender at the top of the 18 and buried a shot behind the GK after a great passing sequence from Erin Sweda and Jordan King. And a few minutes later Jamie Goralski put on a dribbling clinic as she picked up the ball just inside her own half, nutmegged her defender, beat 2 more defenders before striking a good shot which the GK could only parry into the path of Alyssa Bombacino who easily tucked her second goal away for the final 4-0 score.

Bailee Witt earned her second shutout in a row in IYSA State Cup play.

Team Chicago Academy-Bahia traveled to Libertyville in the hopes of advancing to the IYSA State Cup Final Four weekend. The first half saw both teams struggling to deal with the field conditions but as the half progressed Bahia started creating chances. Paige Miller made a great run down the right side and served a ball to the back post where Jeff (Jennifer) Pochyly just missed getting on the end of it. Later in the half Sophia Majher’s dribbled two players, but her attempt on goal was denied when it hit the cross bar.

In the second half Libertyville would get on the score board first, but Bahia responded within minutes. Paige Miller took a direct kick and hit a great shot over the goal keeper to tie it 1-1. The last ten minutes were very intense with Bahia needing to win the game to advance. Unfortunately, with all their efforts they could not get the game winner. Congratulations to Bahia on playing some great soccer and finishing with 11 goals for and only 1 against. Great job girls!

Team Chicago is excited to announce the hiring of Herb Schuler for the 2014-15 season. Herb is a USSF B-licensed coach who comes to us from his current position as the Youth Development Coordinator at Chicago Fire Juniors West.

Herb played collegiately at Central Methodist University and had a stint as a player with the Illinois Piasa in the PASL Pro Division after college. Herb also served as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (DI), Illinois Wesleyan (DIII), Concordia University Chicago (DIII), and William Woods University (NAIA).

In addition to serving as the Youth Development Coordinator at the Chicago Fire Juniors West, Herb has also served as an Elite Staff Coach at St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the country.

Herb’s primary role will be coaching and overseeing the U12, U13, and U14 boys’ teams for the 2014-15 season. We are very excited about this development, and look forward to having Herb run tryouts for the boys next week.

Herb is married to Nikki Schuler who coaches the U10 Team Chicago-Huskies.

Team Chicago Academy-Bahia got off to a great start in the IYSA State Cup round-robin play with two consecutive shutouts. Bahia opened with Oswego Panthers last Friday at home with a convincing 8-0 win. In the 2nd minute Lauren Douglass played a ball over the top to Paige Miller who beat her defender to serve a ball into the run of Natalie Massa who calmly placed her shot past the GK for the eventual game-winner.

However, the second goal did not come as easily with Oswego employing an offside trap. Once Bahia started to figure how to beat the trap the floodgates opened. Sarah Davies followed up on a Molly Grant shot that the keeper deflected to dribble past the keeper to finish her chance. Goals were also scored by Paige Miller, Sophia Majher, and Jennifer Garcia. The balance of the goals came from Emma Crosswaite who recorded a hat-trick. All three of her goals were great finishes with multiple players involved in the build-up.

Bahia traveled to face Oak Brook in the second game of the, and came away with a 2-0 win against a defensive-minded side. Oak Brook consistently had all their players in their own half trying to make things difficult for Bahia. Although Bahia dominated possession they came up empty in the first half and the score was tied at 0-0.

The second half started where Bahia left off with domination in possession. The first goal started with a great run out of the back by Carolena Lund who then served a perfect ball forward. Carolena continued to support the attack and played a combination with Paige Miller with a perfect ball in behind the defense to spring her. Paige took care of the rest coming in from the left hand side and buried her shot past the keeper to the far post. The second goal was a clinical finish from Sophia Majher. The play started with Paige Miller beating her player down the left side and driving to the end line before she found Sophia at the top of the box. The ball sat up perfectly and Sophia took it in stride and hit the ball first time from the top of the box to the right-side netting.

Bahia will finish out the round-robin play at Libertyville FC 1974 tonight. A win will advance Bahia to the IYSA State Cup Semi-Final.