CARSON, Calif. (July 17, 2010)
— Two second half goals by Vardar’s
Derek Schrauben helped the Michigan side
come from behind to defeat Crossfire
Premier and win the 2009-10 Development
Academy U-17/18 national championship at
The Home Depot Center. Liam Kelly lit up
the scoreboard in the 12th minute for
Crossfire, but Vardar recovered and tied
it in the 29th minute before winning
with Schrauben’s heroics late in the
game.
“We were confident that there were
things we could do better in the second
half and get back to doing things the
way we know how,” said Vardar head coach
Demir Muftari. “The boys really
responded well and had a really good
second half. It was good not only to get
the second one, but also to get that
third one and put them away.”
The championship match was the first for
both teams in their first appearances at
Finals Week. Vardar earned a spot in the
final through offensive fireworks,
scoring seven times in group
matches—with one of those goals being
the difference between them and Real So
Cal that got them into the championship
match. Crossfire Premiere went the other
way, rebounding from an opening game
loss to FC Dallas to respond with two
straight shutout wins to finish at the
top of Group 1.
READ FULL
GAME SUMMARY
CLUB NEWS
Vardar 17/18 Academy to play for National Championship
July 16,
2010 -- The Vardar U17/18
Academy team, coached by Demir Muftari,
has advanced to play in the Academy
National Championship after posting a
2-0-1 record in preliminary games. The
championship game, pitting Vardar
against Crossfire Premier, will be
played Saturday, July 17 at 7 p.m. PT
(10 p.m. ET). The game will be streamed
online on Sunday, July 18 at 4 p.m. PT
(7 p.m. ET). Crossfire Premier is
based out of Seattle, WA.
By beating
Baltimore Bays 3-0 in its third
preliminary game, Vardar had a +1 goal
differential over Real So Cal who also
had a 2-0-1 record and had tied Vardar
1-1 in the first bracket game earlier
this week.
Click on
the following link to watch the game
streamed online by Hi-Pod:
Congratulations to the Vardar boys for their
well-deserved berth in the National Final!
The U17/18
team is comprised of Joey Dillon, Rob Dolot,
Dean Dziewit, Carlos Folino, Zeke Harris,
Peter Jacobson, Jon Jebson, Miche'le Lipari,
Garth McClellan, Michael Pugh, Zach Schewee,
Derek Schrauben, Caleb Stanko, Mario
Teixeira, Ugo Uche, Fatai Alashe, Zachary
Carroll, Mohamadou Kaba and Blake Skamiera.
Eric Pogue is the team's assistant coach
VARDAR AND CROSSFIRE
PREMIER CLINCH SPOT IN UNDER-17/18 FIRST-PLACE GAMEAT 2010 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY FINALS WEEK
ONE
GOAL CHANGES EVERYTHING:
Thursday night saw exciting finishes in the
U-17/18 age group at Development Academy
Finals Week, with just one goal separating
first and second place in both groups.
Vardar and Crossfire Premier will meet in
the Finals Week championship match on
Saturday, July 18, at 7 p.m. PT at The Home
Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
In Group 1, Vardar and Real So Cal, playing
simultaneously on adjacent fields, exchanged
goals in a pair of wild games that came down
to the wire. At halftime, Real So Cal needed
a goal to clinch the group, but Vardar
quickly scored and forced Real So Cal to
score two to stay ahead of the Michigan club
in the standings. The local team was up to
the task, and went ahead 5-1 in the 76th
minute, seemingly sealing a place in the
final. But Vardar answered back with a goal
in the second minute of added time to go
ahead 3-0 and take the top place in Group 1.
Group 2 also featured late goals and
surprise endings, as FC Dallas started the
day in first place in their group, but
finished in third place after a thriller
that saw CASL FC Chelsea take the lead twice
before scoring the game-winning goal with 10
men in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Though that goal gave CASL six points on the
week, on the next field over, Crossfire
Premier scored a 90th minute goal of their
own to make it 2-0 and gave them the goal
differential tiebreaker.
A LOOK AT
THE U-15/16 PAIRINGS:
The younger age group will wrap up their
Finals Week with four placement matches on
Friday evening. The day will start with CASL
FC Chelsea taking on D.C. United and
conclude with the championship game, slated
for 7 p.m. PT on the Glenn “Mooch” Myernick
Field at The Home Depot Center.
HOW THEY GOT
HERE
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire came through a tough Frontier
Division and a competitive Playoff group to
reach Finals Week, and continued their
streak of impressive play at The Home Depot
Center. In Carson, the Fire bested local
rival Sockers FC 2-1 to take control of
Group 1. On Monday evening, Larry
Sunderland’s club topped D.C. United 2-0,
and with Sockers FC and Baltimore Bays
Chelsea playing to a tie, the Fire were
assured of a place in the championship game.
THEY SAID
IT:
“We’ve had our ups and downs but we’ve come
through and started to play well when it
matters. We support each other on and off
the field. We’re like a family, so we play
well together.” – Peter Beasley, Chicago
Fire Captain
Cal
Odyssey
Last year’s runners up Cal Odyssey returned
six players to the 2010 squad, and will be
looking to build on its championship
experience Friday night. JJ Wozniak’s team
opened Finals Week with a 4-2 victory
against CASL Chelsea FC behind two goals
from team captain Villyan Bijev. Two days
later, the Oxnard, Calif.-side overcame a
1-0 deficit to clinch the top place in Group
2 with a 2-1 win and a game to spare.
THEY SAID
IT:
“It’s not going to be easy, but we just have
to go out and play hard. I still don’t think
we’ve played our best game yet, but we’ll
get there. We have to play hard and stay
focused and do what we do.” –Daniel Flores,
Cal Odyssey Forward
SEASON FINALE:
The Development Academy playoff system was
created to add to the number of meaningful
games for Academy athletes, further
enhancing the player development process.
Since its launch in the fall of 2007, the
Academy has improved the training
environment, provided relevant, high-level
matches on a consistent basis, increased the
level and efficiency of scouting for the
national teams and provided players, coaches
and referees with structured programming.
CLUB NEWS
Development Academy U18 headed to Nationals!
July 1, 2010
-- U18 boys as Champions headed
to Nationals! All expenses paid trip to
Home Depot Center in LA from July 10-18th to
fight for the National Championship vs. Real
So Cal (CA-S), Baltimore Bays (MD),
Crossfire Premier (WA), Concorde Fire (GA),
FC Dallas (TX), CASL (NC), and Wolves (MI)
CLUB NEWS
ALL 16
TEAMS SET FOR DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY FINALS WEEK IN CARSON,
CALIF.
July 1, 2010 --
U-15/16 Teams Kick Off Finals Week July
10 and Crown Champion July 16
U-17/18 Teams Begin Group Play July 11
With Final Set for July 17
GREENSBORO,
N.C. (June 29, 2010) – Every group during
Academy Playoffs came down to the final day,
but all 16 teams across two age groups have
been set for the 2010 Development
Academy Finals Week that will take place
from July 10-17 at The Home Depot Center in
Carson, Calif.
In Carson,
the eight teams in each age group will be
split into two groups, with the winners of
each group advancing to the championship
match. The U-15/16 championship will be
played on July 16 and the U-17/18
championship game will be July 17. Second
place teams will meet for a third place
match, following down into a seventh place
match between the two fourth place teams
from each group.
In the
U-15/16 age group, top-seeded Baltimore Bays
Chelsea earned three wins in Greensboro to
advance to Finals Week. They will be joined
in Group 2 by 2009 runner-up Cal Odyssey,
CASL FC Chelsea and Finals Week newcomers,
Internationals.
Group 1
includes a pair of Chicago-area teams as
both Sockers FC and the Chicago Fire will do
battle in the early stage. They will be
joined by another member of the Central
Conference, Internationals and the lone
member of the West Conference, DeAnza Force.
The U-17/18
age groups feature last year’s U-15/16
champion Derby County Wolves, who are
looking to repeat in 2010. They will be in
Group 1 alongside Crossfire Premier, FC
Dallas and CASL Chelsea FC Academy.
Group 2 for
the older teams includes Real So Cal, the
only representative of Southern California
that will be at The Home Depot Center.
Concorde Fire, Baltimore Bays Chelsea and
Vardar round out the U-17/18 teams.
The
Development Academy playoff system was
created to add to the number of meaningful
games for Academy athletes, further
enhancing the player development process.
Since its launch in the fall of 2007, the
Academy has improved the training
environment, provided relevant, high-level
matches on a consistent basis, increased the
level and efficiency of scouting for the
national teams and provided players, coaches
and referees with structured programming.
-ussoccer.com-
CLUB NEWS
Vardar
Soccer Club and Coerver Coaching MI are proud to
announce a development partnership
July 1, 2010 --
Vardar Soccer Club and Coerver Coaching
MI are proud to announce a development
partnership.
Coerver
Coaching is recognized as “The Worlds #1
Soccer Skills Teaching Method.”
It has
been endorsed by many of the worlds
leading players and coaches.
Among
them are Jurgen Klinsman (Germany and Bayern
Munich), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester
United), Roberto Rivelino (Brazil World Cup
Champion), Osvaldo Ardiles (Argentina), and
Gerard Houllier (Liverpool and France).
Coerver MI and
Vardar Soccer Club will be hosting its first
of many programs for the Vardar players,
this summer from July 5th through August
12th a five week program designed to
increase player development. The core areas
that will be emphasized during this program
will be:
Ball
Mastery: 1 player 1 ball groundwork
developing quick touch and control with both
feet, developing into increased difficulty. Passing and Receiving: Improving
first touch control on the ground and in the
air and developing accurate and creative
passing in the final third where time and
space are limited. Moves: 1v1 learning to attack with
and defend against game winning moves. Finishing: Focusing on techniques and
instinctive play in around the goal and
encouraging players to ‘take
responsibility’. Small-Sided Games: 3v3, 4v4, 5v5
improving small group play with an emphasis
on speed.
This
program has a unique flexible approach
running Monday through Thursday. Attend
once a week, twice a week, three times a
week or for the full four days. Sign up for
multiple weeks or just one week.
Location: Borden Park Time: 9:00-10:30
a.m.
Cost:
$25 per session
1 Day per week $25, 2 Days per week $50, 3
Days per week $75, 4 Days $100, 5 weeks
$500, sign up for 3 full weeks and receive a
$25 Coerver coupon, sign up for 5 weeks and
receive $50 Coerver coupon redeemable at any
future Coerver MI program.
For any
questions or concerns please contact: Tony
Deacon, Technical Program Director for
Coerver MI and Vardar coach. Email:
AnthonyTLD@att.net Phone:
248-217-6363
For
registration information go to the Michigan
link at
www.coerver.com
CLUB NEWS
State Cup Results -- June 8, 2010
Vardar U13
Boys won 1-0 over Alliance Academy.
MVP is
Nebojsa Popovic
Most
Valuable Goalie is Matt Wilkie
They
are coached by Curtis Ward with
assistants Eric Pogue and Kevin
Callaway
Vardar U15
Boys won 4-0 over Waza East Kelly.
MVP is
Mike Leone
Most
Valuable Goalie is Matt Smolinski.
They
are coached by Morris Lupenec.
Vardar
West's 18 Boys lost to the Wolves 3-1.
Vardar U13
Girls lost in penalty kicks following a
1-1 tie after regulation time and two
ten minute overtime periods
CLUB NEWS
U9 Vardar-Michigan &
Vardar-East face off in Pacesetter
Final
June 1, 2010
-
Congratulations to the u-9 Vardar and Vardar
East girl’s teams that made it to the final
to face each other at the Pacesetter
tournament.
The game
was 1-1 at the end of regulation. In
overtime, Vardar scored and ended up winning
2-1. What a great weekend for both teams and
an exciting hard fought final.
CLUB NEWS
Carolynn
Ashley Cosan
Carolynn left
this life as we know it on
Friday, May 14, 2010, to
continue her mission with
God to give guidance and
support to all who know her
and all who she has ever
touched. She will be playing
and coaching soccer from
Heaven; whispering in each
striker’s ear when to shoot,
shouting at the defenders
when to clear the ball. Her
presence in our family, on
the team, in school, and in
the community will surely be
missed. Carolynn was born
May 01, 1992.
Carolynn was
a Senior at Mt. Pleasant
High School. She played
varsity soccer for all four
years, demonstrating her
leadership abilities as
Captain her senior year. She
had recently been accepted
at Northern Michigan
University to play varsity
soccer for the Wildcats and
is the first woman from MPHS
that had ever received a
soccer scholarship to play
at a Division I/II
university. Carolynn played
recreational and premier
soccer since she was 8 years
old. She was a member of the
Vardar Premier Soccer Club.
She refereed all ages of
soccer teams and coached
U-10 soccer for the City of
Mt. Pleasant, when she
wasn’t playing herself. In
the winter, however, her
true love was snowboarding.
Her love of snow and the
thrill of the ride was like
no other. Her friends and
family will always remember
their trips to Caberfae,
Boyne, Marquette Mountain,
Colorado, and Utah to enjoy
the thrill of downhill
sports. Carolynn also liked
to hunt turkeys, deer, ducks
and geese with her Mom and
Dad.
Carolynn
was a Girl Scout from
Kindergarten through high
school; she joined Youth
Services Cadets during
junior high; she ran track,
cross country, played
softball, and competed as an
AKC Junior dog handler in
the show ring and a member
of the National Wild Turkey
Federation.
Carolynn
was a certified snowboard
instructor with Professional
Snowboarding Instructors of
America; she was also a
certified soccer referee
with Michigan Youth Soccer
Association and Michigan
High School Athletic
Association and a member of
St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Adam
Puvalowski
Adam Puvalowski, Beloved
son, brother and uncle
passed away Saturday, May 1,
2010 after sustaining
injuries in an automobile
accident. Age 18 years.
Adam was born on January 2,
1992 in DeKalb County,
Indiana.
He was a senior at Nouvel
Catholic Central High School
and would have graduated
June 6, 2010. Adam was
dedicated to soccer most of
his life and was an All
District and All State First
Team Soccer player. Adam
was also licensed to coach
soccer and referee at
various levels. He had the
unique opportunity to play
in Brazil at the age of 14.
Over the past couple of
years, he traveled
extensively across the
United States, playing on
several elite teams. As a
result of this dedication,
he was awarded a full ride
scholarship to Saginaw
Valley State University this
fall. Adam was an
extremely humble and
selfless person and most
often thought of others
before thinking of
himself. He took it upon
himself to train and mentor
young children and his
peers. He had a gift in
bringing out the very best
in others and was a role
model for so many.
Zachary
Carroll training with the U.S. U17 National Team -
Vardar U15/16 Academy -
April 28, 2010 --
Zachary Carroll, a member of the Vardar
U15/16 Academy team, will be
spending the rest of his sophomore year
at the IGM Academy in Bradenton, FL,
training with the U.S. Men's U17
National Team.
Zach came
to the attention of the national
coaching squad during a US Development
Academy Training Session in early April
at the Columbus Crew Stadium. He was
noticed by Gerson Echeverry, U17
assistant coach, and was asked to play
with the U17 National Team the following
weekend in Chicago. From there Zach was
asked to attend an April 18-24 mini-camp
in Florida. At the camp's conclusion,
Zach was approached by Wilmer Caberra,
head coach of the U17s, and was offered
a spot in the residency program.
Zach is one of
40 U17 players who live on campus at the IMG
Academy in Bradenton, and train in the
morning under the guidance of Cabrera and
assistant coaches Paul Caffrey, Echeverry,
Keith Fulk and Paul Grafer. In the
afternoon, the players attend classes at
Bradenton Preparatory Academy. While in the
full-time residency program, the players not
only train daily under Cabrera, but also
have access to the IMG Academy’s spacious
facilities. The team regularly uses IMG’s
state-of-the-art strength-training
facilities, as well as some of the nation’s
best sports psychologists that work at the
Academy. The IMG Academy includes
top-of-the-line soccer equipment, three
Bermuda grass fields, an indoor dome with
artificial turf, two swimming pools, newly
renovated student housing and dining
facilities.
Zach is a
student at Grand Blanc High School and will
graduate in 2012.
CLUB NEWS
2010 Blue Chip Hammer Cup Champions!
April 12, 2010
-The Vardar U9
Boys team picked up some championship hardware at the 2010 Blue Chip
Hammer Cup in Cincinnati, OH this past weekend.
Using the first game to knock off
some winter rust, the boys tied a tough Warren County United team
3-3. Their next opponent was the host team, Hammer FC, which Vardar
won 6-0.
On Sunday morning the boys played
Knoxville FC team. The outcome was a 3-1 victory for Vardar.
Vardar won the championship game
3-1 in a rematch against Warren County United.
Congratulations to all the boys for
a well deserved championship!
March 31, 2010 – The U 17 Vardar Boys were the Champions of the
Men’s U 18 Division of the 2010 Nike Academy College Showcase. The boys won all
3 games, racking up 8 goals while giving up only 1.
Vardar beat the Eden Prairie SC Dynasty Eagles
from Minnesota 4 to 1 in the first game. In the second game,
Vardar faced the U 18 Chicago Sockers and won a 2 to 0 victory. In the third game, Vardar
beat
the St. Croix SC Celtics from Minnesota, 2-0.
March 31, 2010 –
Vardar U13 boys went to Virginia to play
Division 1 of the Alliance Cup where
they went undefeated the entire
weekend.
They won the championship game in
penalty kicks after double over time
against #6 ranked team in the nation,
The Baltimore Bays. The Vardar U13 boys
are currently ranked #1 in the State, #1
in the Region and #5 in the Nation by
Gotsoccer national rankings
March 3, 2010 – The
Vardar Soccer Club has been selected to participate in the
prestigious Elite Club National League (ECNL).
This is an
honor for the club as only two teams in
Michigan were invited to participate.
The
selection affirms Vardar's continued
growth and development of its girls team
and provides national recognition for
the girls program.
From nearly 60
clubs that applied for membership, the ECNL
Board of Directors recommended 12 new clubs
for membership in the Elite Clubs National
League (ECNL).
The ECNL
member clubs approved these recommendations,
increasing the number of member clubs to 52
for the 2010-11 season.
An
announcement relating to the 2010-11 ECNL
regular-season events will be made in late
March.
The
clubs granted membership for the 2010-11
season are:
About the ECNL:
The
ECNL is a non-profit national youth soccer
league founded in 2009 to provide the best
possible developmental environment for
American female youth soccer players through
the creation of the highest level of
national competition and an identification
and development program to provide an avenue
for players to participate in U.S. Soccer's
National Teams. The 2009-10 season is the
ECNL’s inaugural season. Each of the 40
member clubs in 2009-10 will have a team in
the U-15, U-16 and U-17 age groups, each
competing for the ECNL National
Championship, the ECNL National Club
Championship, and promotion and relegation
between flights. The ECNL is sanctioned by
US Club Soccer.
February
1, 2010 -- Anna Sieloff, a member
of the Vardar U-18 team, has been
selected to represent the United States
as part of the U-18 Women's National
Team at the 2010 Ten Nations Tournament
in La Manga, Spain, Feb. 26-Mar 6.
Sieloff has
been attending national team training camps
for the past year and most recently attended
a January training camp at the Home Depot
Center in Carson, CA, where 24 players were
vying for a spot on the team heading to
Spain. "I thought I had played pretty well
in California," Sieloff said, "but the
quality of players competing for spots is so
high you just never know what the coaches
are expecting or looking for. I'm thrilled
at the opportunity and I'm very
grateful that I've been given this chance."
Sieloff has
been a member of Vardar since 2002. With
her team she has won six State Cup
Championships in which she was selected as
the Tournament Most Valuable Goalie all six
times. A senior at Country Day High School,
Sieloff will continue her soccer career and
goalkeeping at the University of North
Carolina. As a Tarheel, Sieloff expects to
pursue a major in physical therapy
