PHOENIX WIN BRIDGEWATER TOURNEY!!

Girls U-13 Phoenix opened up the season participating in the 30th Annual Bridgewater Kick-Off Classic.

The 3 preliminary games saw the girls get off to a fast start. In the first game the opponent was NLSA. Phoenix came away with a 7-0 win. Jess Byrne, acquired from STA during the transfer window, pumped in 4 goals.Other goal scorers were Eva Scaglione(2) and Sam Cicerone.

Game 2 saw the Phoenix take on Hillsborough, who they will see again in EDP play later in the season. The girls came away with a 3-0 victory. Former Soccer Rockers Golden Boot Winner, Gracie Kelly, scored 2 and Eva Scaglione kept her hot start going with her 3rd of the tournament.

Sunday morning presented a must win game for the Phoenix. The Phoenix and Summit Freedom both went 2-0 in pool play setting up a classic win or go home game. The Freedom, who will also play in EDP this season, infamously came to Florham Park 2 years ago as a flight 1 team and took on the now defunct Florham Park Soccer Rockers who at the time were flight 3. The Rockers took home a massive 1-0 upset so the Freedom knew this game would be no push over. Phoenix opened the scoring 5 minutes in. Sam Cicerone broke in down the left side and whipped a ball back post. Sadie O’Donnell made a beautiful back post run and scored to put the Phoenix up 1-0. Arianna “Ana” Allonardo, on loan from EH Storm, put the game away in the second half. Ashley Peterson won a ball in the midfield and played Ana at the top of the 18. A beautiful turn and left footed strike found the back of the net and sealed the victory.

After preliminary play the Phoenix were 3-0 with 12 goals scored and ZERO allowed.

Pool B saw the Woodbridge Fire advance setting up an instant classic in the rain. Again it was the Phoenix who got off to another fast. Jess Byrne connected for her Tournament leading 5th goal, Mia Heinold won possession in the midfield and sent Byrne in for the goal. With the half winding down it looked like the Phoenix went up 2-0 on a beautiful connection from Byrne to Kelly to Cicerone but the linesmen flagged Cicerone for an offside. Tourney Officials said after the game they will be moving to VAR Review as the call was missed. The second half saw the Phoenix close it and hold on for a1-0 victory.

The tournament MVP, Phoenix Defense. was led by goalie, Mia Capo, and stalwarts Ryan O’Leary, Katie Shallis. Mia Zirpoi, Isabelle Medich, Sara Coto, and Celine Ramos.

4 SHUTOUTS WOW!

Congrats to the girls! They open up League Play this week on the road against undefeated Union Sao Paulo.