West Pines U18s Win State Cup

5/20/07

The West Pines United U-18 boys team took top honors this past week-end in Fort Myers when they won the 2007 Florida State Cup in exciting fashion. The character of the team was tested when, trailing by two goals against Kendall Coalition with less than 30 minutes remaining in regulation play the boys, urged on by a large contingent of WPU coaches and fans, rallied to pull one back when mid-fielder Brian Cardozo struck the net just before the second water break. West Pines took control of the game with 20 minutes to play, missing several scoring opportunities before striker Michael Garzon leveled the score in the 89th minute, sending everyone into wild celebration.
 
 More missed opportunities in overtime play led to the dreaded penalty shootout. Successful strikes from Tyler Mosko, Andre McCreath, Jose Rico, Andre Mittoo, Nigel Blair and Garzon saw the score tied at six goals apiece after the first seven kicks. Kendall went wide right with their eighth attempt and it was left to Nicholas Lue Young to end years of frustration at the State level.
 
 Losing semi-finalists in their first try at U-14's in 2003 had been followed by three unbelievable years when the team, losing only one game in State Cup competition during that time, failed to see Final 4 action, finishing 5th in each of those years.
 
 A low driving shot to the keepers left by Lue Young and those years became a faint memory as West Pines players and supporters erupted in wild celebration as the 2007 Florida State Cup Champions.
 
 The team had finished second in First Round play with 2-1 and 5-1 victories over First Coast KYX and last year’s semi-finalist and #3 ranked Brandon, respectively. A 2-3 loss to defending champions and #1 Clearwater Chargers on a windy day sent West Pines to the Second Round in Jacksonville where they defeated both Lakeland and #10 ranked Deltona Crusaders by 2-0 margins to advance to the single elimination Round of 16.
 
 Striker Anthony “AJ” McNab, son of Jamaican soccer legend Ali McNab, was unstoppable during these early rounds of play and the magnificent solo dribble through and around five opponents by mid-fielder Jose Rico to score a brilliant goal will long be remembered by all who witnessed it. Led by Blair, the strong defensive work of Darien Roach, Oshane Moodie, Carlos Bernal, Anthony Garcia, Lue Young and goalkeeper Joel Martinez was the key to advancing to the Round of 16.
 
 Trailing by a goal in the first game, West Pines rallied to eliminate #10 ranked Cape Coral by a score of 3-1 led by a blistering rocket from the left foot of midfielder Jaisen Labrada. With excitement at fever pitch, the team turned their focus to the quarterfinals and their former teammates at #4 Weston. The boys were not to be denied and, though missing a number of scoring opportunities, swept into the Final 4 round with a 3-1 victory courtesy of McNab, Maaloo and McCreath. The tireless work of mid-fielders Justin Williams, Cardozo and Mosko throughout the tournament was again displayed. Though unspoken, there was a feeling of vindication in the air.
 
 With their sights clearly set on winning the Cup, West Pines demolished Central Florida United, victors over defending champions Clearwater, with an incredible 3-0 performance and looked forward to meeting their most intense South Florida rivals, Kendall Coalition, in the final. It was the first time the teams would meet for the season as their 2006 League game was declared a forfeit in favor of WPU when Kendall was under League suspension at the time.
 
 Head coach Anthony “Tony” March had this to say. “ Its really incredible what these boys have accomplished this season when you consider that the team was almost dismantled last Summer.

 After the disappointment of failing to make the Final 4 in 2006 they were able to overcome difficulties that would have destroyed most other teams ".
 
 He further added. “It is always said that the game of soccer is a microcosm of life and this fact has been brought to the forefront this season”
 
 Losing three core players to college with six others persuaded to jump to cross town rivals Weston had sparked rumors that the team was no longer a viable operation. Convinced by coach March that they could rebuild and be as competitive as they had been for the past five years if the remaining core players stood together, the task of rebuilding got underway.
 
 The team suffered further set-backs when team captain and ace defender Nigel Blair went down to an injury during Super Y-League play. The team’s decision to allow two of its former members to return from Weston was welcomed but injuries to midfielder Jose Rice and new striker Badum Maaloo continued to hamper the rebuilding process. A further set-back occurred when National Team selectee Andre Mittoo, suffered a season-ending injury at the Super Y-League National Championships.
 
 SFUYSA Early Season play saw the team play most of its matches with 8 or 9 players, putting a full squad on the field in a few games courtesy of guest players Jamel Johnson and Jonathan Salazar from our U-17 squad. Players were encouraged to guest play for other teams at major showcase events as the team continued its rebuilding program, and when Late Season play began there were 28 players competing for a spot on the squad. Winning its group the team posted a 2-1 semi-final victory over Renegades leading to the much awaited showdown with Weston in the League finals. In a game that will long be remembered West Pines recovered from a 2-0 deficit in the first half to win the championship in the 13th round of penalty kicks.
 
 Coach March has attributed the team’s success not only to the players’ determination to succeed but also to the respect they have for each other, their coach and their opponents. The fact that, for the first time, the team was able to prepare properly during the last two weeks on a full-sized, level field, courtesy of the Miramar Regional Park authorities he felt was also a major contributing factor.
 
He added. “They have competed at the highest level in the State and beyond since they were U-13's, playing in over 300 games over the past six years, winning on many occasions, losing on others. During that time the team was penalized with only TWO game ejections. Both involved a game play and both were highly questionable calls. Adding a State Cup Title to that record and their other achievements over the years makes me so proud of these young men”.
 
 The defining moment for this team occurred in the State final when, trailing by a goal late in the game, West Pines captain Nigel Blair, aided by teammates Nicholas Lue Young and Badum Maaloo, tended to the Kendall Coalition player who had gone down with cramps on the field.
 
“I will never forget that,” coach March declared. “It was the stuff of TRUE CHAMPIONS “At that moment I knew the Cup was ours. That
 what more could a coach ask for?”