RSL Girls Into Super Y-League Finals
By Nicholas J.E. Murray for the Tampa Tribune

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

TAMPA - Qualification for United Soccer Leagues’ Super Y-League North American Finals ordinarily isn’t a walk in the park. Someone forgot to tell that to RSL Florida’s girl’s under-17 team, which coasted through its qualification schedule that ended on Saturday, August 9.

In 10 games, RSL scored 65 goals, and gave up only six. They did not lose a game and only drew twice, in its final two games after qualification was already assured. In short, there was a lot for Coach Jim Cote to be pleased about.

"The goal is to get the [North American Finals]," Cote said. "The kids have played a lot of soccer with regionals and all that kind of stuff, but we used our pool of players between the 16 and 17’s, used all 26 kids, had 16 at every game, and your goal is to get to the national championships. You want to play in November and compete for a title."

The number of players was a key for Cote. With most of the Super Y-League games being held in the hot Florida afternoons, having 16 players available for each game was critical to the team’s success. Now, his squad will try to better the semifinal berth their predecessor’s achieved in 2007.

2007 RSL U17 Girls
Led by Cote and Jason Streets, the 2007 RSL girls finished the regular season with a record of 9-1-0. During that time the side outscored opponents 61-7. That ability continued during the playoff tournament as the side improved their resume to 12-1-0 on the season by downing fellow regional frontrunners, the Ottawa Fury, 4-1, Triangle FC 3-2, and Schulz Academy 7-0. Their second loss of the season ended RSL’s campaign on Monday, November 19 when the side fell, 2-1 to Southern California Champions Wolfpack Blue. Wolfpack lost to Ohio Elite the following morning, 4-3 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw during regulation.