Our 99 Blackhawk Girls, coached by Chris Brown, faced some tough matches in the 34th annual Presidents Day Tournament, as they fought their way through the competition from Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, and Arizona, winning the final after the lone goal in regulation play by Natalie Clark. Goalkeeper Bella Ward was impressive throughout the tournament and stopped a penalty kick in the final to clinch the win over Eastside FC out of Washington.

Other Blackhawks teams placing in PDT were the 96 Blackhawks Boys, making it to the semi-finals and the 97 Blackhawks Girls finishing in the quarter-finals.

Well done Blackhawks!

The 98 Girls Black, 00 Girls Black, 01 Girls Black 2 (playing up), 99 Boys Black and 02 Boys Black 1 all collected the silver hardware, finishing as runner’s up in their flights.  Congratulations to ALL those participating Blackhawks!

97 Girls

• Alexa Yardley
  
• Alaina Desimone
  
• Mackenzie Robinson
• Lexi Moest
• Sophia Curiel
  
• Hannah Wilhelm

98 Girls

• Leah Carillo
• Anna Lee Cook
• Julianna Lafata

99 Girls

• Aubree Incardone
• Aspen Pierson

95 Boys

• Albert Susanto
  

96 Boys

• Zack Shearer
• Nick Harguindeguy
• Sam Gleadle
• Chase Bishov
• Brian Booker
• Zack Marks
• Phillip Mourikes

This Friday we will recommence Friday Night All-Star Training.  This is open to ALL Scottsdale Soccer Recreational soccer players. It will be a 6 week program running from January - February.  Cost is $10 per session payable each night at the field.  Dates are as follows:

Friday 13th Jan
Friday 20th Jan 
Friday 27th Jan
Friday 3rd Feb
Friday 10th Feb
Friday 17th Feb

All sessions will be held at Kiva Elementary School -6911 East McDonald Drive Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253. There will be 3 sessions every Friday: 

5-6pm: 5-7 years old, 

6-7pm: 7-10 years old, 

6-7pm: GK session. 

Note:  for players currently on All-Star teams, this is simply an additional, OPTIONAL practice.

As a top competitive soccer program in Arizona, Scottsdale Blackhawks has teamed up with the Soccer Fanatic to grow the club and continue their success on the field. Soccer Fanatic becomes Scottsdale Soccer’s one stop shop for uniforms, equipment, fan gear and more. Joining on as a Nike Premier club gives the Blackhawks full access to the elite Nike experience including top level products, tournament support and more.

Speaking on the new Soccer Fanatic relationship, Chris Brown (Director of Coaching) said, “Our relationship with Soccer Fanatic starting January 1st 2012 will bring a new level of service and excellence to the area of uniforms and equipment. John Lococo and his team are regarded as the best in the business and we look forward to them working with Scottsdale Soccer. The new fan gear created by Soccer Fanatic will provide much sought after items for our cheering sidelines and followers.”

Continuing on about the new Nike relationship, Brown said: “We assembled a focus group that has spent the last two months researching the area of uniforms and we are delighted to announce a partnership with Nike and have achieved the distinction of being one of their Nike Premier Clubs. The new status allows the Blackhawks to join an Elite group of Clubs across the nation who are designated to carry their crest and will provide our players and coaching staff access to the best uniforms and footwear available.”

Soccer Fanatic started in 1997 and quickly grew into the premier source for authentic soccer gear on the West Coast after building several strong and long lasting relationships with local youth soccer clubs. The story is the same today, as they can list nearly every top Western Region youth soccer club on their roster of Member Clubs. “The staff at Soccer Fanatic is excited to have Scottsdale Soccer Club on board and can’t wait to deliver our unmatched level of personal service to the players and families of the club. As a part of our team, they can look forward to member club perks including exclusive discount days, easy online ordering of club gear, tournament support and more” said John Lococo, President.

Game 1 against the South Carolina State Champions, 95 Discoveries Green Premiere, ended in a 2-0 win after goals from Alexis De La Rosa and Nick Harguindeguy. The Blackhawks faced SAA Real Madrid from Florida in game 2 to a 3-1 win with Sam Gleadle adding to both Alexis and Nick’s second goals each, of the tournament.  Game 3 proved to be a bit more difficult, as the Blackhawks faced Classic Eagles Red,  State Semi-Finalists out of Ohio South, for a 1-1 draw with Luis Lopez getting on the National League scoreboard.  Finally, at 7:30am and 20+ degrees outside, the Blackhawks met their rivals from last year, Maryland State Champions, Region 1 Finalists and the #1 team in the Nation in GotSoccer rankings, the OBGC Rangers, for the final game of the weekend.  Grit and grace overwhelmed the field as the boys ROLLED over the Rangers beginning with a quick goal in the 1st minute from Sam Gleadle, two more to follow in the first half from Alexis De La Rosa and Grant Galan and then two more in the 2nd half by Alexis and Sam again, to complete the triumph for a 5-0 victory. Leading the defense, keeper Chase Bishov only allowed 2 goals in four tough games.  What an amazing showing for this team of passionate and hard working boys.

The goal capped off a wild game in which Lynn outshot the Skyhawks 12-3 overall and controlled possession for much of the contest.

"I thought we knew it was going to be a tough game," said third-year FLC head coach Oige Kennedy, who also guided the Skyhawks to the 2009 NCAA Division II crown. "It was all pretty even and to go behind and come back and put yourself in the lead, then fall back again, to come out and win it in the end is tremendous. I think we did a good job settling down and finding our rhythm. They came out and shut us down, but we adjusted and won a national championship."

Lynn scored first when Harald Gracholski netted his 12th goal of the season on a 25-yard free kick from outside the box at 13:15.

Fort Lewis equalized when Alberto Capdepon-Rodriguez took a long free kick that glanced off the head of Lynn’s Jason Sangha for an own goal at 24:05. Sangha outleaped FLC captain Fabian Kling, who was trying to get a head the shot toward goal.

"The own goal on our defender got them back into the game," said Lynn head coach John Rootes. "Their heads were down and we had momentum."

The Skyhawks took the lead at 31:23 when Thomas Hoang flicked a pass forward to Cory Dean. Dean sent a pass left to Kosta Kordistos, who one-timed a left-footed shot from the left side past Lynn goalkeeper Matt DiCerbo from 12 yards out. The goal was Kordistos’ ninth of the year.

Gracholski curled in another free kick, this one from 30 yards out, to level the score at 2-2 in the 72nd minute.

Despite being outshot 12-3 overall, the Skyhawks had more shots on goal — 4-3 — than the Fighting Knights (own goals count as a shot on goal for your opponent).

"The fact that we outshot them is a very bitter pill to swallow for us," said Rootes. "Our game plan was to pressure them and to make it difficult for them to play and we did in the first half. We had a number of opportunities in the first half, but too many misses on open shots."

Corner kicks were even at 6-6 through regulation before Madigan floated his perfect pass onto Blackwell’s head in overtime.

"I was upset over the goal and it was the first corner kick we’ve let in all year," said Rootes. "We fought hard, but we just lost our concentration in the overtime. I thought we deserved a better outcome, but you just have to hand it to Fort Lewis."

The game marked the final appearance for at least five Skyhawk seniors: Blackwell, Dean, Hoang, Fabian Kling, and Madigan. Wirth, who has been part of the Skyhawk team for five years but redshirted twice, can play in 2012 should he attend college part time next spring. All except for Madigan (who transferred to Fort Lewis prior to the 2010 campaign) were part of FLC’s 2009 NCAA-II title team, which also finished 24-1-0.

"Our team has four freshmen (Capdepon-Rodriguez, Kordistos, Artur Piperkov, and Johannes Sander) starting and one sophomore (Casey Dean) and for us to gou out and compete against a seasoned team and keep it tight, I’m just really impressed with our guys. It really is a credit to all our players."

Kling was named the Defensive Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, while Kordistos was named the Offensive Most Outstanding Player. Joining the duo on the All-Tournament team from the Skyhawks were Dean and Wirth.

Lynn was represented on the All-Tournament Team by Gracholski, defender A.B. Magnusson, and midfielder Johnny Mertl. Rounding out the All-Tournament team were Millersville defender John Claffey, Franklin Pierce defender Daniel Donaldson, Franklin Pierce midfielder Amory Houghton, and Millersville forward Aaron Roland.

Fort Lewis can now add a third star over its crest, symbolizing its NCAA Division II championships in 2005, 2009, and 2011. The Skyhawks were also NCAA-II runners-up in 1999 and 2006.

Skyhawk fans are encouraged to meet the team at the Durango La Plata County Airport at approximately 2:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon to escort the team back to Durango.
 

This relationship will offer the Blackhawks community an opportunity to receive a free consultation for any injury sustained while playing in training or games and discounted pricing on follow up services. It will also include discounted pricing on a variety of classes that they offer and an opportunity to get cutting edge advice from the leaders in their respective field.

Executive Director Chris Brown believes that the level of care and attention provided by Endurance Rehabilitation is unrivalled in the valley. "Matt Kraemer and his team have a history with dealing with athletes in our Club, and have a proven record in quickly getting them back from injury to the playing fields. With locations across the valley, it should be a powerful and convenient experience for all of our families."

Endurance Rehabilitation will have a presence at the Blackhawks Max Shacknai Invitational providing care and attention to all of our participants at the event.

Please visit them at www.endurancerehab.com to schedule an appointment today.

A tragic accident this past summer of 2011 took the life of one of our own, Max A. Shacknai. Max was truly born a Blackhawk. In addition to scoring numerous goals as a youngster in Scottsdale Soccer recreational league games, and playing up in the 2010-11 Blackhawks season, the sidelines of his brother’s and sister’s practices and games were never without Max and his soccer ball. After his family and close friends, Max’s passion and love was soccer.

Max’s character, commitment and confidence exemplified the Scottsdale Soccer mission of providing quality soccer for all levels of play, while developing a well-rounded player both on and off the field.

The sponsorship from the Max A. Shacknai Foundation will help Scottsdale Soccer to continue to provide opportunities for children to play soccer.

The Apogee promise: "Bottom line... it really is about us living up to our full potential and through that action making the family to which we all belong, the Apogee family, all that we can be together, for ourselves, and we look forward to building a long lasting relationship for the future. Apogee founder and Chairman, Dr. Michael Gregory has two children currently playing for Scottsdale Soccer The Blackhawk program. The company has been in the valley since 2002 and is the largest physician-owned and operated hospitalist group in the nation.