FYSA State Cup 1998FYSA State Cup 1998Several Bay area soccer clubs made it to the Final Four of the Florida Youth Soccer Association’s State Cup, and some came back winners. Cup champions move on to the regional tournament in Columbus, Georgia, on June 24-28.
The Tampa Bay Kickers won their division of the State Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Parkland Predators on Sunday, after downing the Brevard Blaze 3-1 in the semifinals. Danny Anderson scored twice for the Kickers, including the game-winner in overtime. Tampa’s Jeff Brattain, who was FYSA coach of the year in 1995, coached the Kickers.
The Countryside Lightning lost 2-1 in the semifinals to the Miami Lakes Waves on Saturday.
The Clearwater Chargers won 1-0 over their old rivals, the Coral Springs Storm. The Chargers scored early on a defensive mistake by the Storm. Sarah Wright crossed to the middle, but the Storm’s sweeper could not clear the ball. Chargers midfielder Gabriela Sarkassalvy stole the ball and planted in the far right corner for the victory. Chargers GK Diana Wabnitz was stellar in the final and a 1-0 semifinal win over the Seminole (County) Ice.
The Clearwater Chargers easily defeated the Brevard Blaze 4-0 in the semifinals but fell in what Chargers coach Peter Mannino called an "unlucky" final 1-0 to FC America Kumba of Orlando.
In a battle pitting two teams coached by former Tampa Bay Rowdies, the Northdale Rangers shocked the Blackwatch Lightning 4-2 in overtime. The Rangers scored on a pair of free kicks by Cameron MacGregor and Lonnie Houston to take their first win over Blackwatch this year. Former Rowdie Perry Van Der Beck coaches the Rangers, and Steve Wegerle leads the Lightning. Northdale advances to the regional tourney in Columbus. Meanwhile, Wegerle’s Blackwatch squad is heading to Europe to play in a club tourney. In the semifinals, Northdale beat Team Boca Gunners 2-1 in one semifinal, and Blackwatch topped the Bayside Express 2-1 in the other.
Largo Heather beat Manatee Magic 4-2 to win the State Cup. Largo topped the Central Florida United Miss-Fits 4-1 in the semifinals.
Temple Terrace Spirit was shut out 5-0 against Margate Shasta Blitz. The Blitz had topped Countryside Lightning 3-0 in one semifinal on Saturday, and Temple Terrace beat Miami Strike Force 3-1 in the other.
The Temple Terrace Spirit fell in an exciting match 4-3 to Orlando’s FC America Omni. The Spirit had topped the Clearwater Chargers 4-2 in Saturday’s semifinals and Omni beat the Countryside Lightning 4-0 in the other semifinal.
Brandon FC Blast fell in the semifinals 6-2 to a strong Miami Strike Force team.
Countryside Lightning won 2-1 in an emotional double overtime victory over FC America Kumba (Orlando) on a goal by East Lake’s Julie Lechner. The Lightning had defeated Clay County United 4-1 in Saturday’s semifinals. Sweeper Cecily Noblit, who will attend University of North Florida in the fall, came up big on defense for Countryside.
The Clearwater Chargers lost a 1-0 squeaker to the Lighthouse Lasers of North Palm Beach. The Chargers had defeated the 1997 U-18 champion Plant City Lancers 4-2 in the semifinals.
Tampa Bay Heather won an all-Tampa final 1-0 over Blackwatch Stirling. In Saturday’s semifinals, Tampa Bay dropped the Clearwater Chargers 3-0, and Blackwatch beat the East Orange Lady Lions 3-2.