Upstart Soccer Academy & Training Wins
2nd Division Of West Pines 5 v 5 Southern Shootout

Published May 8th, 2008

By Howard York
Contributing Writer

Parkland’s Soccer Academy & Training, directed by Laurie and Roger Thomas is having early success with its girls U9 select team. The 14 girl select team, formed after the 2007 U8 recreation season ended, has just one player with travel experience and three others with any tournament experience. After getting their first taste of tournament competition at Florida Atlantic University last month, Soccer Academy & Training entered two teams (Academy Blue and Academy Red) in the West Pines 5 v 5 Southern Shootout.

The tournament champion Red team advanced to the finals after defeating Boca United Black 2-1, West Pines 4-0, and then tying PSN of Miami 1-1. The final match versus Boca United Gold was a stalemate until Grace Campbell caught the Boca keeper off her line and beat her with a 15 yard laser in the 21st minute of the game. The lead stood as defender Paige McCooty dominated the back third of the pitch.

The Blue team almost made it an all Soccer Academy & Training finals when they defeated their first two opponents 4-1 and 2-0. In the third game, they held a 2-0 lead against tournament runner-up Boca United Gold until the final minute of the half when the lead was cut to one goal. Boca tied the game in the 26th minute and it appeared the match would end in a tie which would put the Blue team in the championship against the Red team. But Boca United stole the game (3-2) just as the final horn blew. For the tournament, Samantha Tobar led the Blue team with 7 goals and 1 assist.
After the tournament, Coach Howard Leon was elated with the progress of the Academy Soccer teams. The two teams combined for only two victories last month at FAU.

“Our Blue team defeated a team 2-0 that had beaten them 10-0 just one month ago. We are amazed by Laurie’s (the trainer) ability to motivate and connect with the girls. The speed of their development from recreational players to confident and skillful individuals has been nothing short of phenomenal,” he said.

In addition to training the girls U9 select team, Laurie and Roger Thomas will continue private and group step by step developmental training, “Friday Night Soccer”, and an assortment of holiday and summer camps.
For more information about Academy Soccer & Training, visit http://www.soccermyworld.com or contact Roger Thomas at 754-368-7138 or Laurie Thomas at soccertrainer2002@yahoo.com.