Greenville, S.C. (Sept. 8, 2020) — The 2020-21 US Youth Soccer Piedmont Conference season continued over Labor Day Weekend, as 50 Georgia and South Carolina teams in the 14U through 19U Boys age groups, and 14U, 15U, 16U and 18U Girls age groups, competed at MESA Soccer Complex in Greenville, S.C.
Looking back at this weekend, there were a number of matchups that saw teams put in strong performances to get victories and secure an early spot at the top of the standings.
In the 14U Girls age group, United FC - Furman 07G Elite (SC) managed to pick up its first victory of the season when it took on Inter Atlanta 07G Elite (GA) on Saturday.
Inter Atlanta struck first with a goal by Anna Rapposelli in the 12th minute on a perfectly placed ball from the left side that just got past Furman’s keeper by deflection off the inside of the post. Furman equalized in the 32nd minute when a cross from Caroline Getz found Kennedy Craig in the box. Craig, with her back against goal, faced immediate pressure from the Inter keeper but managed to turn and slot a shot between the legs of an Inter defender, who was covering the line for her keeper. Craig struck again during the 50th minute off another cross from Getz. The cross was flicked on by Kalin Knox and Craig found the back of the net with a one-touch finish. Furman was able to defend the 2-1 lead for the remainder of the half to secure the win. With a solid weekend outing, Furman is now just three points back from CFC Redstar 07G Elite (GA), who Furman tied in the season opener.
“We got the exposure and experience that we needed in the Piedmont Conference last season, so we knew what to expect with the level of play this season,” United FC Furman 07 head coach Branden Younginer said. “When we returned from the break, we found a focused group of players that now understand what it takes to compete at this level. They understand that nothing is given, and we find ourselves having more spirited training sessions because they know they can lose their spot if we lose our focus.”
Cesar Flores, United FC Furman’s Select Director, talked about how the club benefits from competing in the Piedmont Conference and what excites their teams the most about being a part of the National League.
“We love the opportunity for small clubs and the diversity of the league. With its professionalism, healthy atmosphere, and high level of competition, the Piedmont Conference provides a path that allows us to focus on our training process. The level of competition demands more from the players and coaches and our training implements everything we want to perform in each game and allows us to prepare our younger age groups for the conference level.
“We don’t define success only on wins and losses, but on how we are able to stick with and finish the training process. From the grassroots level and beyond, we are always preparing our players to be able to play at the next level. Whether they choose to play college soccer or focus on academics, we strive to give our players the strong core values and skills they will need to succeed. Some of our teams may struggle at their first pass at the National League, but what is important is how they respond and work to get promoted again. With this level of completion in the Piedmont Conference, you will pay for your mistakes, but you are rewarded handsomely for brilliance in performance.”
The next Piedmont Conference hosted event will see the North Carolina teams join in the action on Sept. 26-27 at the J. Burt Gillette Soccer Complex in Wilson, N.C. The event will include 60 teams in the 14U through 18U Boys and 14U through 19U Girls age groups.
For more information on the Piedmont Conference, including schedules, scores, and standings, click here.
For more information on all of the National League Conferences, the National League Showcase Series, and the National League Playoffs, click here.