The Missouri Elite FC 2000 girls team opened the spring 2011 outdoor season by winning the U11 girls division of the Champions Challenge Tournament at Lake Country Soccer in Springfield on March 12th and 13th.
The Elite girls started off the weekend with a 2-0 win over St Louis Scott Gallagher Illinois Green on Saturday. Brinnae Cooper and Meredith Sheffield provided the goals in game #1. In the late game on Saturday, Missouri Elite posted a solid 3-0 win over NW Arkansas Lightening Strikers Black and basically guaranteed their spot in the final with the win. Goals in game #2 were scored by Brinnae Cooper (2) and Meredith Sheffield.
In the early game on Sunday, the Elite girls faced the very strong Norco Pavlacic team from St. Louis. Norco had won both of their games on Saturday defeating the Maumelle Dragonfiles 3-2 in their first match and defeating Springfield Soccer Club 7-0 in their second game. In a hard fought match that saw opportunites for both teams, it was Norco who was able to capitalize and they defeated Missouri Elite by a final score of 2-0 to secure their spot in the final for a rematch between the two teams.
The Missouri Elite FC 2000 girls stepped out on the field with intensity for the championship match and never let down. The Elite defensive line of Hannah Carr, Maddie McLain, Morgan Gunther and Crozbi Gannon was strong and proved to be almost inpenetrable. Elite goalkeeper Emillia Bratanov earned her third shutout of the tournament and created numerous scoring opportunities for the Elite offense with her huge punts out of the back. Newcomer McKenzie Duncan scored the game winning goal, and her first ever goal in Elite blue, when she chested a cross over the goal line to give Elite the lead in the first half. Forward Julia Snider blasted the ball into the back of the net late in the first half to secure a two goal lead for Missouri Elite over Norco going into the halftime break. Both teams continued to push forward in the second half, but the defensive efforts were rock solid and shutdown all scoring opportunities. The score remained 2-0 at the final whistle and Missouri Elite had avenged their morning loss to Norco and earned the tournament championship hardware for their resolve and effort.
Congratulations ladies on a well played tournament and a great start to the 2011 spring season!!!