Hoffman United Soccer Club (HUSC) U12 Red Devils and U12 Cheetahs were among a number of Club teams taking a break from league play to participate in tournaments last weekend.
At the Lakers Classic tournament in Lake Geneva, WI, the Red Devils were part of a three team contingent of boys that represented Hoffman United Soccer. After advancing from the group stages on Saturday, the Red Devils faced the Sun Prairie Red Bulls in a Sunday afternoon battle for the U12 White division championship. The energy of the match was apparent from the opening kickoff with both teams of this championship game well matched. Locked up in a 1-1 defensive struggle and with time winding down in the game, the teams looked headed for a penalty kicks shootout to determine the champion. But with just two minutes left in the match, the Red Devils broke through the Sun Prairie defense and scored the decisive tally for the HUSC boys. Despite the determined effort of the Sun Prairie squad, the Red Devils protected the slim 2-1 lead to ensure the victory and earn the Lakers Classic U12 championship.
The U13 Dragon and U15 Force also took on the multi-state competition at the Lakers Classic. In a competitive U13 division, the Dragons mounted a couple of comebacks in the early group stage matches, but could not earn a win. In their tournament playoff game, though, the Dragons solid defense held off Racine United Black to earn their win and 5th place for the division. For the U15 Force, the boys played in the nine team U16 division. Undefeated heading into the championship game, the hard-working Force lost a tough game, falling 4-2 at the final whistle to finish second at the tournament.
On the girls side, the U12 Cheetahs headed west to Moline, IL for the Armed Forces Day Cup. Undefeated in their earlier games to advance to the finals, the Sunday evening match would be a white-knuckled thriller. The Cheetahs needed a late game goal to knot the score up at 2-2 and send their championship game into extra time. The late-charging Cheetahs roared back in the extended play and closed out the match with two more tallies. That would be all the scoring needed for the final 4-2 victory over TCSA of St. Charles and another U12 championship on the weekend for Hoffman United.
The HUSC mid-May tournament success keeps the ball rolling for Hoffman United. With six weeks left in the season, the HUSC teams are gearing up for a strong finish to the spring soccer league and tournament seasons.
The Hoffman United Soccer Club is a competitive travel soccer program based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Club invites all players from the surrounding communities to take part in its tryouts, which will be held May 31st – June 3rd. More information can be found at www.hoffmanunited.org
