ERSA Express 97G U15 players, left to right, are Taylor Green (Notre Dame), Makala Elsea (CSAS), Kayla Auger (GPS), Bailey Burke (Soddy Daisy), Jessica Lyons (Soddy Daisy), Lydia Lee (GPS), Biship Hill (Notre Dame), Brittany Allison (Ringgold), Liz Ciabattone (Notre Dame), Maddie Robbins (Notre Dame), Courtney Boyd (Notre Dame), Gaby Mullin (Notre Dame), Haylee Conerly (Notre Dame), Peyton Rauth (East Hamilton), Alyssa Newton (East Hamilton), Coach Dean Wilson. Not pictured, Rachel Carter (Grace Academy), Mallory Menely (Ooltewah). Guest players: Hannah Dearing (Notre Dame) and Liz Mouw (Grace Academy).
The East Ridge Express 97 Girls U15 rising sophomore soccer team had a strong showing at the Division II Region III Southeastern President's Cup in Greensboro, N.C.
Coach Dean Wilson's team qualified by winning the Division II TN State Championship, their 2nd State Championship, June 1-3, in Murfreesboro. The Region III Presidents Cup hosted 12 State Champions from 11 other states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Texas and South Texas.
All were competing for a chance to compete at the USYSA President's Cup Nationals in Sacramento, Calif., in July.
The Express 97 U15 Girls defeated Alabama River City Raptors 2-0 with scores from Alyssa Newton and Maddie Robbins, Florida Wellington Wave 1-0 with a score from Alyssa Newton and tied Texas North Dallas Texans 0-0 to win the Flight B Championship; advancing the team to the semi-finals with a chance to compete for the Region III Championship.
For the Express 97 Girls to advance to the Championship, they would have to defeat a very talented Greensboro United U15 Navy soccer team from North Carolina. East Ridge Express U15 97 Girls loss to North Carolina Greensboro United U15, 2-1 in a thrilling semifinal Saturday to advance to the title game of the Region III Presidents Cup Championships. North Carolina would eventually win 1-0 over a wild card selected Texas, whom Express 97 had tied earlier in flight play, and become Region III Champions.
East Ridge 97 Girls would jump ahead of North Carolina 1-0 mid-way through the first half when Liz Mouw shot the ball into the goal with a cross to the back side net, but North Carolina evened the score on a controversial second-half penalty kick with 15 minutes remaining. North Carolina would advance to the championship game by knocking home a rebound from 6 yards with less than 15 seconds on the clock.
Dean Wilson's East Ridge Express 97 U15 Girls finished their season with seven state, league and regional wins, six of which were with shutouts behind a very stingy defense.
Season Highlights:
*2011 Athens Georgia United Finale Champions
*2011 Atlanta Challenger Cup Finalist
*2012 Bash in the Boro Champions
*2012 East Ridge Adidas Spring Fling Finalist
*2012 Division II State Champions
*2012 Southeastern Region 3 Presidents Cup Semi-Finalist
Dean Wilson and his rising Sophomore U16 Select Soccer Team will be playing for the newly formed East Ridge Futbol Club next season.