On July 11th, 2022, the Lakeshore United FC U19 Girls competed in the USYA Presidents Cup National Championship game in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The journey to reach the National Championships started in Wisconsin in October 2021, and the team had earned the right to attend the USYA Presidents Cup National Championship’s after winning the Midwest Regional Championships in St. Louis, Missouri held from June 16-20, 2022. The competition was top-notch and the team defeated 4 teams (Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa) to reach the finals. The Championship game against Indiana ended in dramatic fashion as regulation and overtime expired with a draw. The game was determined by a well-placed penalty kick by Sarai Draves.
At the USYA Presidents Cup National Championships, held from July 8-11, the U19 Girls team competed against the West, South and East Regional Championship Teams. The teams hailed from Pennsylvania, Texas and California. The competition started with a victory over Pennsylvania, 3-1, under extremely hot conditions. The following day the U19 Girls defeated Texas, 5-1. The final day of pool play resulted in a set-back as the team fell to California/Albion SC, 2-0. But it was not over because pool play results determined the competitors who played for the National Championship, and those were in LUFC’s favor as they were at the top of the pool. This meant a re-match with California/Albion SC. The championship game was at 8 AM on July 11th, 2022.
Both teams came to play and it was evident due to the physicality exhibited from the start as both teams progressed up and down the field. Albion SC was the first to strike with a ball lofted from the far corner that struck the upper LUFC post and ricocheted into the net. 0-1 Albion. Though an unwanted goal, the U19 Girls did not lose their composure and continued to battle throughout the first half. Halftime 0-1. The second half began where the first half ended; physical play, great passes and missed opportunities on goal. It started to get “chippy” on the field and several “yellows” were issued to both teams. As time dwindled to one-minute of regulation, the team made one last push to Albion’s side of the field. The push resulted in an LUFC corner kick. All LUFC players moved forward and Erica Herzog lofted the ball to the center of the field. A struggle ensued but Meghan Zwicker was in position to place a foot on the ball that careened into the net. 1-1. Whistle blew. Albion SC was shell shocked while LUFC was energized!
Overtime. The girls entered the field with renewed purpose and were determined to finish off Albion SC. A LUFC corner resulted in action in front of the net. Ashley Ternes was in perfect position as a ball lofted in the air within her “strike zone” and she sliced it into the net. LUFC 2-1.
Sideline talk was excitedly tense, but 15 minutes remained and all players knew their ability to play “smart” soccer controlled their destiny. LUFC re-entered the field and focused on the basics – possession. California scrambled to regain the ball and the momentum but years of sweat, training and endless games by each LUFC team member paid off as they maintained the majority of possession until the final whistle blew. Tears of Joy! National Champions!
The LUFC U19 Girls had won the USYA President Cup National Championship and had accomplished a number of firsts for the State of Wisconsin:
The U19 Girls team consists of 21 players who represent 10 different communities/high schools but have joined to play soccer under one club flag. Lakeshore United FC and the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association are proud of their amazing accomplishment.
In addition, one of the players who was present for the Championship game was Kenzie Koppenhaver, a senior at Kiel High School. Kenzie had been involved in a serious car accident on Christmas Eve, 2021, and almost lost her life. The team rallied around Kenzie during her recovery and she proudly received the first gold medal and placed the others around her teammate’s necks after the Championship match.
Coach Veeser said “It was surreal as the final whistle blew, I watched the players rush to one another on the field to celebrate and was overjoyed for them; it was if the outcome of their journey ended as it does in those feel good sports movies we all love to watch! It was great to see a group of well-deserved young players achieve what they had set out to do 8 months ago and it was done by working hard, respecting one another, caring about each other, never giving up and celebrating each other’s successes along the way – a true team! I will never say it enough of this team; they are excellent individuals, great role models, impressive soccer players and superb representatives of our club and the State of Wisconsin. Couldn’t be happier!”
Thank you to all the family, friends, fans, and sponsors that supported this team along the way. We are all one team, one club – Lakeshore United!
**UPDATE**
Check out some of the additional news and coverage of the team’s historic win:Soccer Wire: US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup Concludes in Greensboro, NCSheboygan Press: Lakeshore United FC Wins National Girls Soccer Title Makes HistoryOzaukee Press: Port Washington Soccer Player Wins National TitleSoccer Wire: Awards and Best XI Honors Announced from 2022 USYS National Presidents Cup GirlsWe Are Green Bay: Lakeshore United FC Relishes National ChampionshipPlymouth Review: Falls soccer players form winning bond en route to U.S. championship
