U-11 girls’ soccer team takes second in Soccer by the Bay
tourney
Hollister – The Hollister United U-11 girls’ soccer team needed little time to prove that it’s ready for a higher level of competition. In its first games since moving up an age group, the United finished a strong second in the Soccer by the Bay tournament on Aug. 19-20.
“We went to our first tournament and rocked,” head coach Ted Reckas said, “so I think we’re going to have a pretty good season.”
The United finished first in its group of four with a 2-0-1 record to advance to the championship game. Despite taking the action to the MVLA Hurricaines for long stretches in the title game, the United fell 1-0 to complete its runner-up finish in the 12-team tournament.
Reckas was especially encouraged that his girls posted a 1-0 defeat of the Sunnyvale Roadrunners, a Class I team, in their opening game, proving that the United can compete with higher-rated clubs.
“That’s why (the tournament) was so significant,” Reckas said.
The United went on to blast the San Carlos Heat 4-0 and was cruising to a 1-0 victory over the Alpine Menlo Grizzlies before its opponent scored a injury-aided goal. United sweeper Jahkyi Turiello was struck in the head by the ball with four minutes remaining and went down hard. Her teammates, including goalie Kyli Garcia, took their knees in a time-honored soccer tradition, but the Grizzlies played on, scoring a goal the referees allowed that resulted in the 1-1 final.
In the championship game, a game Reckas called “very hard fought,” the Hurricaines scored midway through the first half, a goal that ended up deciding the contest.
“In the second half, basically we dominated them, but we couldn’t put the ball in the net,” the United’s coach said.
Center midfielder Alex Reckas led the United with three goals in the tournament. Garcia also provided stellar play throughout, allowing just one legitimate goal in four games.
The United, which won Watsonville’s Soccer Central indoor championship league as a U-10 team earlier this year, now sets its sights on a strong showing in the upcoming CYSA Delgado Soccer League season. The girls begin play by hosting the North Valley Milpitas X-Girls at Veterans Memorial Park on Sep. 9, with a home contest against the MVLA Hurricaines looming on Sep. 16.
