The South Jersey Banshees U15 Girls were crowned Co-Champions at the MAPS Fall Challenge this weekend at Fort Dix. The Banshees played Five games in Two days and played some excellent attacking soccer in their first games together since the High School season.
The Banshees won their group with a 4-0 win over Pearl SC Gators, a 4-0 win over LaGrange Fire, and a 2-0 win over US Parma Spirito. As winners of their group they played the second placed team from the other bracket, VE Beasts. The Banshees managed to wear down a spirited opponent, after a tight first half the Banshees turned on the style in the second half to score two goals and make it to the Final.
The final pitted the Banshees against the other South Jersey club in the tournament Highland Power. The game was played on a sloped pitch with the sun causing problems for the keepers which made it a game of two halfs. Highland came out of the blocks on fire and rattled the Banshees defence who hadn’t conceded a goal in the first four games. They banged in two goals as the Banshees looked shell shocked and unorganized.
At half time the championship looked to be going to Highland, however, the Banshees had the favorable conditions in the second half and the balance of dominance was reversed. After a reality check at half time the Banshees showed some great character and scored an equalizer 10 minutes into the second half through Shelby Lyon.
Highland then made the game 3-1 and again it looked like they would be tournament champions. However, Sara Marakos pulled a goal back finishing a loose ball in the box with 10 minutes remaining in the game. With the confidence now high the Banshees piled on the pressure and with 30 seconds remaining in the game Sara Lands was presented with a 1v1 with the keeper, who made a great sliding block, only for the ball to pop out of the challenge. Lands was the quickest to react and got up to pounce on the loose ball to score and level the game at 3-3.
With the game over and penalties imminent the Tournament Director decided the teams would be named Co-Champions as the quickly diminishing day light allowed no time for the shoot out. The game was a great spectacle of pure soccer and both teams deservedly shared the title.
