West-Mont United U12 Girls-Premier Champions of Baltimore Mania in Bel Air, MD

March 19th & 20th, 2016

In a weekend in Maryland that saw snow, rain, wind and sleet the U12 United Girls pushed through to the Baltimore Mania Girls U12 title. 

Four games in two days saw our girls beat two teams from Maryland, a team from New York and a strong Western Pennsylvania opponent. 

Game one started by scoring early and keeping a 2-0 lead at halftime, ending with a 4-0 finish.  The girl’s aggressiveness created shots on goal all game, keeping the MD team on their heels. 

In between game one and game two had the girls seeking warmth in parent’s cars and even the near-by hotel!  After a 2-hour break another game against a MD opponent was in store. 

Game two had a similar start, an early goal, this time in the rain/sleet.  Back and forth play kept the game tied and play became difficult in the weather.  An early second half goal gave the girls a little breathing room as their lone goal against (for the entire weekend) was conceded late in the second half making the final 2-1. 

Parents and girls enjoyed a 2-0 start to the tournament, making the evening festivities in the hotel a lot of fun!  We all knew the next day’s first game against a team from Brooklyn would put us in the championship game or send us home.  The girls weren’t fazed even as two of their three subs were unable to return for the Sunday games, leaving just one sub for the day.

Game three saw much better weather and was more of the same (scoring first in the first half) as a tall, tough NY team played very physical, so our girls had to raise their games, which they did!  Scoring again in the middle of the second half shocked the NY team and took the wind out of them as we kept them out of our end and finished it off, 2-0.  That was very impressive, one sub, another big W!

The Championship Game had us playing a Western PA team, the champions of their bracket and a team we had no idea what to expect.  Back and forth, no subs in the second half, missed opportunities didn’t faze the girls throughout the game.  A 0-0 finish was disappointing, as we possessed most of the ball, which made way for a shootout.  As the girls decided who was to shoot, little did we know of what was to come.  Three straight shooters for West-Mont United, had their goalie guessing leading to three straight goals.  Our goalie confidently stood tall, starred down the shooters and dove, punched and made three consecutive saves to secure the Championship title!  A 3-0 shootout win, and what a keeper performance!  The girls worked so hard all weekend, they deserved this championship and should be very proud of themselves, what a weekend in Maryland!!!!

Written by Frank Rezza – Assistant Coach (West-Mont United 03-04 Girls)

Team: Back Row (left to right) Frank Rezza (coach), Tori Hanson, Raven Wellington, Kira Byers, Lauren Rezza, Rian Kengor, Haleigh Wintersteen, Jeff Kushner (coach). Front Row (left to right) Maddie Brock, Riley Hill, Katie Pazdziorko. Missing Aine Farrell, Kiera Echervaria