With the Fall 2013 season nearly upon us, I thought I would take the time to reflect on an excellent Spring campaign which saw every player display remarkable improvements and culminated with four of our teams capturing league titles.
The first of these four championships was claimed by our recently formed U12 team in our penultimate game of the season against the previously undefeated and very talented FC Edmonds. With seven of our starters U11s playing up it was always going to be a tough battle against the physically imposing Edmonds players but from the moment the referee blew his whistle our boys showed no sign of their age disparity and fought tooth and nail for every 50/50 ball. Given their superior goal difference, Edmonds only needed a draw to assure them of the title so our guys knew it was win or bust. The solitary goal that would eventually clinch the game and with it the league came from the outstanding Alex M. All season Alex had a knack for arriving at the right moment and following a scramble in the box off a corner, Alex managed to prod the ball past the keeper. Definitely not the prettiest goal ever scored but they all count! Despite throwing everything at us in the second half, Edmonds couldn't find a way past our back line and the win was secured courtesy of a last ditch tackle in the final minute of the game by man-of-the-match Jake Z.
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Seattle Celtic B00 - PSPL U12 Copa League Champions Spring 2013
In their first season together our U9 girls team secured the PSPL title with seven wins and a draw from their eight games. Despite their remarkable record, this one came down to the last game. Taking on the undefeated MVP Rapids, the girls needed a draw to secure first spot. In the early stages things didn't go all our own way and on two occasions we found ourselves behind. Some adjustments to our back line (the colossal Ruby S) to combat their lightning quick striker helped nullify the threat she posed early in the game. Our attacking trio of Ava, Maddy and Jadyn made it look as if they'd been playing together for years rather than months by how they instinctively knew where the other was going to play the ball and by the time the referee had blown his final whistle this trio had combined in some way for nearly all of the twelve goals scored. The Rapids didn't know what hit them! Well done to all the players and hopefully we can take over from where we left off come September!
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| Seattle Celtic G03- PSPL U8/9 League Champions SPring 2013 |
Our U8 boys team playing a year up in the U9 division sealed their first of many titles to come with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Emerald City U9 Blue. Without our main attacking threat and top-scorer Ryan S, the much bigger Emerald City team proved to be a tough nut to crack. Following a few near misses, nerves were settled by a cooly taken finish by Ted. The defense, marshaled by Kallen held firm and with minutes remaining it was Kallen himself who arrived late at the back post to slot home superbly and claim the title for his team.
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| Seattle Celtic B04 - PSPL U9 D3 Champions Spring 2013 |
Last but not least, our U14 boys coming off a disappointing Fall campaign bounced back in the Spring to claim both league and cup honors. Having won the league early in April, the boys headed to Puyallup to compete in the Washington Cup in the hope of claiming silverware at four straight Washington Cups. 2010 and 2011 had seen the guys capture the WA Gold Cup beating MVP Rapids and ISC Gunners A in the finals respectively. In 2012, the guys caused a massive upset by beating Fall 2012 WSPL Champions Wenatchee Fire in the WA Silver final and so it was with high hopes that the boys set off in their attempt at an unprecedented four in a row. Unfortunate to lose 1-0 to one of the best teams in the state Chelsea Academy in the group stages, the guys ultimately progressed to the Silver division. Chelsea would go on to claim the Gold Cup with all their victory margins healthier than our encounter with them.
Hard fought wins against Kajumulo FC and Idaho Thunder in the knock-out rounds saw us paired up with Emerald City A in the final. Following our semi final victory we had an opportunity to watch the Emerald City 6-0 victory over the Rapids in the other semi and there was no doubt who the favorites were for the following day. However Coach Dan as always had a plan and felt that with a bit of luck our guys could pull off another characteristic upset.
These hopes took a severe blow early in the first half with the dismissal of our captain Alex Mejia for his highly-charged dispute with the ref over a questionable call. All looked lost when after going a goal down we lost the services of our other central defender Wolfe and top scorer Miles through injury. Down to ten men with our backs to the wall one would have gotten long odds on anything other than a comfortable victory for Emerald City. However our boys just wouldn't give up. Miles back on at about 30% fitness managed to sneak one back and as soon as the goal went in the Emerald City players seemed to fear the worst. All the momentum was with the 10 men of Celtic and with five minutes remaining Michael Dalton, in the first final he's been fit for since 2010 popped up in the right place at the right time to scramble the ball over the line. Despite throwing everything at us in the seven minutes of stoppage time the referee allowed at the end, Zac Wuthrich held firm in goal and when the ref's whistle did finally sound the jubilant scenes on the pitch marked what must go down as one of the proudest days in Seattle Celtic's history. Well done to all the guys and here's hoping 2014 sees us make it five-in-a-row!
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| Seattle Celtic B98- Double Winners Spring 2013 |
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