98 Desert Elite Boys Red President's Cup Champions

After an undefeated Maricopa League Division I Season 2, Desert Elite 98 Red Boys were ready for more winning. They did it this weekend when they brought home the President’s Cup silver bracket championship. Though down several players, they were able, with one loaner, to field a team that won their first game in Tucson on Saturday, taking it 7-2.  The team returned home on Sunday to take on CCV Stars 98 White with one less player than the day before.  Though the end of the first half was 0-0, the red kicked it in gear the second half finishing the game 2-0. Guess all the  OAP with coach Jeff worked as the 98 boys did not run out of energy.  The second game of the day saw the 98 Boys down one more player and the game started well with a score of 1-0 until a PK gave the other team a chance to tie it.  The 98 boys got the game back with a score of 2-1 until a score at the very end caused the game to end in a 2-2 tie.

Semi final weekend, saw the 98 Red Boys taking on the 98 AZSC Thunder. 98 Desert Elite had met this team twice in the Thanksgiving Day Tournament, walking away a winner from both games, so they entered fairly confident, but careful.  The end of the first half, both teams were tied 0-0 but the boys came back in the second half to score four goals.  A single, end of game goal by the Thunder was not enough to move them on and Desert Elite 98 Red Boys were in the final against Valparaiso United Futbol Valparaiso 98 Boys. 

This team, with little history was an unknown. They had won their semi final, so the Desert Elite 98 Red Boys went in with solid focus.  A time change for the final allowed the boys to have an almost complete roster.  Most of the game was played on the Valparaiso side, but the game was kept close.  A questionable PK was given to Valparaiso, but Desert Elite Goalie Jacob Hames jumped right and made a great save to deny them the score. The game was tied at the half with Elite dominating play.  The second half again saw Desert Elite on the Valparaiso end throughout most of the game. Nicholas, continuing the great work he had been doing all weekend was making fabulous moves down the sideline and great crosses throughout the game.  Noel broke down the left handside slipped inside the box and shot across the keeper 1-0 Elite and dance celebration to boot. Antonio was double or triple teamed throughout the game—at times, the defenders getting so frustrated with his great speed they would push him when he started to break whether the ball was near him or not " did the referee leave his yellow cards at home ? '.  When Nicholas got taken down in the box, the sidelines were ready for a PK, but it was not given…now Desert Elite was tired of playing around.  They came back and Noel used his incredible speed to get the ball down the sideline with a gorgeous diagonal threw ball to Antonio who finished it off with a volley.  The game ended with a score of 2-0. 

Great Job boys well deserved.