SEASON 16 HITS THE BOOKS, OR IS
IT 17?
Yeah we know it is hard to review a season that half way finished, but we are getting ready for the future. So far, with the exception of the 04-05 U14 Blues National Run, things have been pretty normal. We begin the season with the end of their's, along with the new season for most of the other Blues (05-06) teams. Confused? So are we.
2004-05
U14 BLUES INVADE ORLANDO
WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
| ELMER EHLERS CUP |
 |
Saturday
the 23rd the U14 Blues took off across country to compete for the US
Youth Soccer National Championship. The girls arrived tired Saturday
evening had a heavy training session on Sunday morning followed by an
extensive trip to the Wide World of Disney which may have been enjoyed
more by the parents than the kids. Monday and Tuesday it was back to
business preparing for their first match on Wednesday. Soon there will
be some wild 
photos posted as several of the kids along with their folks
had digital cameras.
Blues News also just signed a contract with U14 team member Alix Morris
who submitted her personal account of the team's experience. Oh minor
details, the team won the National Championship defeating the awesome
Edmond Soccer Club team from Oklahoma 3-2 in the final moments of the
match in a game that easily could have gone either way.
Of course the competition in Orlando Florida throughout the Nationals was fierce facing the three regional champions from the North, South, and East. To make matters worse the girls had to overcome 90 degree heat and summer humidity which leaves no dry spot on the uniform. Complete National Championship results can be found on the US Youth Soccer Web Site. Other than that please check out Alix Morris' account of events by clicking on her face (right).
JETIX
WORLD CHAMPIONS
While
last year's U14 Blues were getting it done in Orlando, we had some other
Blues travelers representing our club. A group of U12, current U13 Blues
were competing for the Jetix Kids Cup and having won the local competition,
they went onto regionals in California, then onto the National and International
tournament held in conjunction with the MLS All Star game in Chicago.
Read all about it and check out Kelly McKormick's
account of how things went down.
In conclusion of last season; with three teams in state cup finals (U13, U14, U18), two teams in state cup semifinals (U16 & U17), two state champs (U9 & U10), one regional finalist (U18), and one regional and national champion (U14), it was an awesome 2004-2005 on the field performance by all the Blues teams. Yet with all the success on the fields, once again keeping our energies focused on our mission as a club; the best thing to happen this past season was another outstanding class of graduates (2005). Below you can see the upcoming graduating class of 2006 and their college choices as they are made. It is important to once again note that the Blues do not accept credit for the development of players rather believing players not coaches deserve the credit for putting in the hard work and sacrifice to develop themselves over the years. Some of these girls have been with our club for their entire youth soccer careers, some for many years, and others for a short period of time. We list them here to celebrate their success and because regardless of the number of seasons, we are proud they have chosen to graduate as part of our club.
Blues Alumni (1999) and Princeton Grad Jessica Krause from Laguna
Niguel has come full circle and joined the Blues coaching staff.
We are not sure what to think of her career move given her level
of education? 
Early
in June Chito started the summer tournament season off with a championship
at the Arsenal Route 66 Tournament winning the U9 Championship. The
U16 Blues went back to back at the Pegasus Cup at UC San Diego defeating
a tough and physical Canadian team. Randy
got in the books with his U17 team as they were crowned champs
of the Slammers Tournament. Rob
Rennie's U11 and Randy Dodge's U13 Blues teams took the Pats Cup.
The first major tournament of the season was the Surf Cup at the end
of July and beginning of August. Of course last year's CYSA-South Girl's
Coach of the Year Mary Naimie's defending State Championship U9/U10
team won the tournament (Above Bottom Right) while Blues News was
busy in Orlando.
Congratulations
to all involved, this season's 
On
a side but no less important note, Blues Cup would like to recognize
Blues Mom Paula Coxe for spearheading efforts to raise funds for Hurricane
Katrina disaster relief through the Red Cross. Paula was the driving
force behind placing and then collecting Red Cross donation cans at all
Blues Cup Tournament Venues. Her efforts were instrumental in collecting
over $1700 for the Red Cross. Paula, thank you for your compassion and
generosity, along with all those who contributed to her effort.
Not
since Greg Louganis began to dominate competitive diving has the
largest youth sports organization, the Amateur Athletic Union,
held a National Diving Championship. The competition, the first
AAU Nationals in 26 years, took place in Largo, Florida from July
24-31.
So
you want to play college soccer? Well the NCAA Championships were televised.
Wanting to play in college without knowing what it is all about is like
trying to become an accomplished musician and not having heard the Beatles...ok
we are dating ourselves better yet M & M,
yes we know how to spell his name! The semifinal games were on December
2 and the final was on December 4. Watching games
like this is one of the best educational tools an aspiring player has
to better herself. 
One semifinal had Penn State going down in Pk's to Portland with Blues
alumni Lindsey Huie (2001) and Korie Nicholson (2005) while the other
semi will saw Florida State get pounded by UCLA with Blues alumni Michelle
Gleason (2003), Erin Hardy (2005), Stacy Lindstrom (2002), Jenn Sayles
(2004), Caitlin Ursini (2003), Blake & McCall Zerboni
(2005). 
This
year, the Tournament of Roses Royal Court Committee, after interviewing
over 1,100 girls from local high schools and junior colleges,
selected seven princesses to be members of their Tournament
of Roses Royal Court, to attend more than 150 community and
media functions, leading ultimately to the Rose Parade and the Rose
Bowl Game on New Year's Day. Selections were based upon a range of
qualities including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement,
community involvement and personality.
I decided to try out on a whim with a few of my high school classmates; there was virtually no chance of success in this three week process. The process includes interviews of each candidate during a series of five rounds, quarter-final, each round including fewer candidates. The interviews last longer at each round and involve nine judges firing a variety of questions designed to illicit the responses necessary for the judges to make the final choices.
Blues News recently returned from the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia where quite a few cheese steaks were consumed...you don't want to know the rest. Aside from all of the food, one of the major events held at the coaches convention is the annual NSCAA "All American" Luncheon. Three of our youth Blues who play for our U18 team were names all americans along with three Blues Alumni. 
Tesoro
High School finished off one memorable girls soccer season. Not only
did they capture the CIF Division II co championship, several of their
players were also showered with individual awards. The frightening thing
about all this is that it appears the majority of their championship
squad will be returning next season, although rumor has it they will
be moving up a division and will face even tougher competition. 
ORLANDO
(April 16, 2006) - Southern California Blues won the inaugural US Club
Soccer Champions Cup title on Easter Sunday, April 16 at Disney's Wide
World of Sports Complex. The country's elite clubs brought their U13, U15
and U17 teams to Orlando, Fla. April 13-16 to determine the top clubs by
competing on the field. Final Champions Cup club standings, results and
photos of the victors are all available at
penalty
box with seven minutes remaining in the second extra 10-minute period.
Teammate Taylor Thompson powered her header past the CASL goalkeeper, who
got a hand on the ball but couldn't keep it from crossing the goal line
to give the Blues the inaugural Champions Cup title (click photo on right
to enlarge).
A
few weeks ago, before we started getting this rain, the U10 & U11 Blues brought
home the club's 24th & 25th State Championship. If you haven't seen it,
David Naimie...oh he is Mary's husband, put together a wonderful video for
the U10's and you can see it right here. You will need the Real Player plug-in;
hopefully you have cable because the file is big and could take some time
to load.
In
a huge state cup surprise the Rob Rennie's U12 Blue team upset high ranked
opponents throughout as they battled their way to the finals. It was in the
finals vs a strong West Coast team that the Cinderella dream came to an end
losing a tough overtime match in penalty kicks. Chris Vaught's Blues U12
went down in windy Lancaster in the round of 16. Joining them in their early
exit at the round of 16 were both U13 Blues teams.