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| PSAElite Upset Professional “Stars" |
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| | Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:15 pm | |
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| PSAEaters
Men's Open Champions
2008 ZAMA Cup
Back Row: Lujan (GM), Hauxhurst, Schmid, Attaway, Macedo, Sias, Bailey, Colic & Berry (Coach)
Front Row: Ramirez, Terrazas, Oseguera, Manak & Murphy
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The cliché "that's why they play the game" (Chris Berman) fits best for this story. Last Saturday (Dec. 27, 2009) PSAEaters shocked onlookers by decisively defeating a team of professional soccer players 4-1 in the ZAMA Cup Championship Match. PSAEaters featured players from PSAElite's Premier CSL team & UCI's top 10 ranked Division 1 squad. Their opponent ('Stars") included 1 US National Team member, 5 active MLS players, 2 European professionals (Bundasliga & Sweden) & 4 USL 1st Division players (details below). The ZAMA Cup is a 7v7 tournament that features small sided matches (1/2 the size of a full pitch) with full size goals held annually at the University of California, Irvine. PSAElite entered 2 teams in the Men's Open Division: PSAEaters & the PSATitans.
PSAEaters:
The PSAElite/UCI team went 3-0 in pool play outscoring their opponents 27-5. In the Quarter final they defeated a strong group that featured an MLS player 3-1 and then moved past the PSATitans 5-3 in the Semi Finals.
ZAMA Cup Championship
PSAEaters v. Stars
The high profile roster of the "Stars", the quality both teams showed throughout the day, and the fact that these two teams represented the last of the undefeateds enticed many players, fans & coaches to stay for the top championship match. It was clear from the start that this was going to be a fast paced, physical game with plenty of skillful ball work on display. The first quality scoring opportunity came to Rafael "Pollo" Macedo (Striker) who put PSAEaters up 1-0. The Stars immediately turned up the pressure and netted the equalizer a few minutes later. Five minutes before halftime Grant Hauxhurst (Striker) hit a volley to the near post from the right side of the field to put the PSAEaters up 2-1 at halftime. With strict instructions to continue to press the Stars' defense the PSAEaters fought the natural instinct to pull back and simply protect the lead. The tactic paid off as Kyle Schmid (Defender) came up on a corner kick to drive a low cross to the back of the net (one time). Shortly after, Grant Hauxhurst tallied his 2nd goal of the match off a quick counter attack bringing the score to 4-1 (final). The strong play of PSAEaters' midfield (Ramirez, Colic, Terrazas, Murphy, Bailey & Manak) kept the Stars off balance and out of rhythm. PSAEaters' defense (Sias, Schmid & Attaway) refused to give up quality opportunities and blocked the majority of shots taken by the Stars' attackers. Goalkeeper Oseguera made a number of critical saves to preserve the lead and used his strong throw to distribute the ball for quick counter attacks. Macedo and Hauxhurst both gave the Stars' defense fits with their dribbling and efficient shooting.
PSATitans
Led by Skyler Thurssen, Cito Soriano, Agustin Vilchis & Joey Pacheco, PSAElite's other Open team also played extremely well. The PSATitans outscored their opponents 23-7 in pool play. They won their quarterfinal match 6-1 and could only be stopped by their fellow PSAElite teammates & eventual Zama Cup Champions (PSAEaters).
PSA30s
PSAElite's over 30 team advanced to the Championship, however were defeated 3-2 in a very close match. They literally walked through pool play outscoring their opponents 28-4, however went down a few men in the final which proved costly.
PSAElite will resume Coast Soccer League play the 2nd week in January. Full schedule information can be found here (will be posted Friday, Jan 2).
PSAElite Staff
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