Boca Jrs 96 U12 Girls Champions at adidas Beaverton Cup

BEAVERTON, OR ---By Richard Pachter

Hot on the heels of their runner-up finish at Cal Cup, the Boca Jrs 96 girls claimed the championship at the Adidas Beaverton Cup!  The girls  joined the rest of the U12 sub-group in the cooler climes of  Beaverton, Oregon for a fun and successful trip.  The girls started their tourney with a 2 – 0 victory over Club Dosveedanya from  Washington.  Several hours later, cheered on by a boisterous crowd of their sub-group comrades, the girls posted a victory under the lights against the Cascade Soccer Club.  Although the girls moved the ball impressively and took good shot after good shot throughout the match,  they only found the net once.  But that was enough as the stalwart  defense pitched another shutout. 

The next morning, the team  accompanied the rest of the sub-group for a tour of Melissa Cavitt’s old stomping grounds at the University of Portland.  Inspired by the championship banners hanging at Merlo Field, the girls came out on fire in their semifinal match later that day and prevailed 5 – nil against Washington’s Pacific Premier FC.  Ashari Hines lead the way with a hat trick, but the highlight of the game was Lizzie Merrill’s powerful rampage down the left sideline that concluded with a laser shot from outside the 18 yard box that screamed over the goalie and found the upper corner of the net. 

Onto the finals against the Cook Inlet Soccer Club from Alaska.  Cheered on by the U12 boys, the Lady Bocas quickly scored two goals and, but for excellent play of Cook Inlet’s keeper, would have tacked on several more in the first half. The Alaskan squad pushed all players forward in a valiant effort to get back into the game, but Ashari got a step on the last defender and that was all she needed, capping an excellent tournament with her second goal of the game and a 3 – nil lead.  A hand ball in the box  gave Cook Inlet a PK that keeper Aubrey Hall made a beautiful play on but the well-placed kick got just past her, yielding only the second goal the girls have given up in their past dozen matches.  

Kudos to Jessica, Holly, Savannah, Rachel and Allie for their excellent work in the back throughout this stingy stretch.  And congratulations to all the girls for playing beautiful soccer.  Thanks to all the other Boca sub-group players (and families) who showed their support by cheering the team on throughout the weekend.