Soccer Champs Crowned

BY TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation youth soccer championships have concluded and five teams remain standing with city championships in hand. The 9-and-under Cheetah Girls completed their undefeated season with a 9-0 record and a city crown. The team included four members of the undefeated state champion 8U Rockets basketball team - Simone Vallot, Emily Post, Ailene Rodarte and Kaylee Rodarte, along with assistant coach Nick Tanner. “We went undefeated for the season and scored 33 goals and conceded seven for the whole season,” said Tanner. “Four of the girls also played on the 8U basketball team (Rockets) who also went undefeated and won the state championship, so these four girls were on two undefeated teams back-to-back. The Girls went 7-0 in the regular season, earning three shutouts along the way before outscoring their opponents 8-0 in the playoffs. They defeated the Twisters 6-0 in round one and blanked the Kick Chixs 2-0 in the semifinals. The Chix (4-5) beat the Lady Ninjas 2-1 in round one to earn a spot in the semis. The Lady Ninjas finished the season 3-4-1 and the Twisters finished the season 0-7-1. In the 9U boys’ division, the Inferno survived the 10- team division to claim the crown. They ended the season with a 8-1 record. After receieving a firstround bye due to record, the Inferno receievd a second bye due to a forfeit. In the semifinals, they downed Team Brandon before downing Velocity F.C. 4-1 for the 9U crown. The finals standings after the playoffs were as follows Inferno (8-1), Velocity F.C. (8-2), Thunder (5-3), Cyclones (4-3-1), Brandon (4-4- 0), Creepers (3-4-2), Rebels (3-4-2), Titans (1-4-3), Mean Green (1-7-0) and Earthquakes (0-8-0). The biggest shake-up of the playoffs came in the seven- team 12U boys’ division. Both frontrunners – Blazes (5-3-1) and Chelsea (5-3) – were knocked out in the early rounds. Chelsea was ousted 3-0 by the previously winless Phenomz (2-7-1) in the opening round and the Warriors (7-3) downed the Blazes 2-1 in the semis. The final standings for the 12U boys were as follows: Warriors (7-3), Blazes (5-3-1), Chelsea (5-3), Real Madrid (5-2-2), Comets (3- 5), Strykers (2-6) and Phenoms (2-7-1). In the 12U girls’ division, the Mustangs and Hurricanes battled for the division crown on Tuesday with the Hurricanes pulling out the 4-2 win. They ended the season with a 5-3-1 record and the 12U girls’ title. In the 15U coed division, the Gators (8-0-1) completed their undefeated season with a shutout win, 2-0, over the Tytanz in the championship game. The Gators also earned a shutout over the Spartans 1-0 in the opening round. The Tytans (6-3) defeated the TWrecks SC 6-3 in the opening round. The T-Wrecks SC finished the season 1-5-1 and the Spartans finished 1-7.