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CESA sweeps State Cup
Girls U14 Premier teamwins at Disney
By J. Bennett Harris • Staff writer • December 20, 2009

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Twitter Next Page1| 2Previous PageFor the second time in club history, Carolina Elite Soccer Academy swept the trophies at last week’s State Cup played at the Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex in Rock Hill.





In addition to hoisting the state trophy, the eight victorious CESA teams each qualified for the Regional finals to be held next June in Baton Rouge, La.

“It’s obviously very difficult to do so it’s a good feeling,” said CESA Co-Executive Director Pearse Tormey. “It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of perseverance and on that particular weekend you need a little of luck in the bounce of the ball. The kids and the parents got out of it what they deserved.”

Here’s a quick rundown of the finalists:

• In the Girls U15 final, Mauldin freshman Emily Praktish scored the winning goal as CESA 94 Premier defeated Columbia United FC 1-0.

• In the Girls U16 final, Hillcrest sophomore Stephane DeVita slotted home a vital goal allowing CESA 93 premier to defeat Coastal FC’s Postal United, 2-1, in overtime.

• In the Girls U17 final, Christ Church’s Alyssa Althoff notched the lone goal as CESA 92 Premier defeated Columbia United FC 1-0.

• In the Girls U18 final, Eastside senior and Furman commitment Catie Moore scored the winning goal as CESA 91 Premier defeated Columbia United FC 2-1.

• In the Boys U15 final, Spartanburg’s Brett Freed netted the lone goal as CESA 94 Premier defeated Mt. Pleasant Soccer Club 1-0.

• In the Boys U16 final, Christ Church’s Cole Seiler scored both goals as CESA 93 Premier defeated Carolina Select Soccer Club 2-1.

• In the Boys U17 final, CESA 92 Premier defeated Lexington United 2-0.

• In the Boys U18 final, Southside Christian’s Hunter Wyer – a University of South Carolina commitment – provided the game-winner as CESA 91 Premier defeated Daniel Island Soccer Academy 1-0.

• Also capturing a trophy over Thanksgiving was the CESA 95 Girls Premier U14 team. Tera Dolen scored two goals as CESA 95 Premier defeated Braden River (Fla.) 2-1 in the final of the prestigious Disney Junior Showcase in Orlando, Fla.

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In what CESA’s other Co-Executive Director Andrew Hyslop described as the highest-rated youth soccer tournament in the country, CESA 95 Premier won all five of their tournament games, outscoring their opponents 11-1 along the way.





Coach Andrew Fleming said it was a rewarding accomplishment for his team, who last year reached the final but were unable to compete after a large storm in the Orlando area forced a cancellation.

“We’re very proud of their accomplishment,” said Fleming. “They’ve played up an age group this year (in the U15 Challenge league) and went undefeated. We’ve played in this tournament the past three years and gotten a little better each year.”

CESA 95 Premier team members are: Casey Jeanfreau, Haley Dunham, Jeni Erickson, McKenzie Harris, Kathy Jones, Jules Kunkel, Julia Lackey, Taylor Levato, London Miller, Maddie Ramsey, Sarah Renfro, Thea Tollison, Hannah Washko and Dolen.

• CESA 92 Premier U17 is currently third place with eight points in the United States Youth Soccer Association National League standings.

CESA 92 recently defeated Blast FC (Ohio) 5-1 and Hicksville (N.Y.) 2-0 and tied TFC Red (Oklahoma) and Elite FC (New Mexico) 2-2.

The team will play three more games in Weston, Fla. next February. The top two finishers in the league will automatically qualify for next year’s national tournament in Overland Park, Kansas.

J. Bennett Harris can be reached at 298-4279.