PRESS RELEASE - The Springfield Soccer Club 91/92 Girls travelled to Memphis, TN this past weekend to participate in the GIT Select College Showcase December 12-13, 2009. The girls came away from the event with lots of college exposure from the numerous coaches in attendance and also a perfect 3-0 record.
“It was a fantastic weekend for the girls. Really a bit unbelievable when you consider how we won the games. We battled hard under some adverse weather and field conditions and in all three games found a way to walk away with a win. said Jeremy Alumbaugh Director of Soccer Operations for the Springfield S.C. “Each year we attend this event for the high level of competition against teams that we don’t typically see at a showcase and for the college exposure.” The GIT Select Showcase typically draws over 180 teams on the weekend.
In the first game of the day on Saturday the girls matched up against a Chicago based club in NSA Premier. The game finished in a 2-1 favor for Springfield Soccer Club. In the evening game which was played under a constant drizzle and dropping temperatures the girls were under heavy pressure right from the beginning against CFC Ambassadors from Ohio. “We constantly had to defend a very athletic team in the first half. In the second half we settled down and created a few more chances. We bent but did not break and that is difficult to do against a quality opponent.” said Alumbaugh. Off of a set piece in the final third Alix Opfer served in a ball that Ann Marie Banasik saved and played to Andrea Parker who finished it right under the goalkeeper. The goal occurred in the last 30 seconds of the game to give the girls a 1-0 victory.
On Sunday after a day and evening full of rain the fields had become very difficult with water and mud on the once nice bermuda grass surfaces. The opponent in the final game was GSA Phoenix out of Georgia. The girls found an early goal only to give up the equalizer right before half. Once again some late game heroics as Shelby Hatz put away a Jessica Bowman cross for a 2-1 result.
Team members for the weekend were: Brittany Dunn, Jacinda Lemons, Alix Opfer, Rebecca Mayus, Andrea Parker, Veronica Renner, Erin Fitzgerald, Jayme Braun, Jessica Bowman, Shelby Hatz, Mandy Bailes, Jordan Banasik, Emily Ortega, Katie Lynn and Ann Marie Banasik.
29. January 2010