SFEA 99-00 Boys NPL Claim Davis Premier Cup U19 Championship

The San Francisco Elite Academy 99-00 Boys NPL team claimed the title of the Premier Division of the 2017 Davis Legacy Premier Cup this past Sunday. The team won the title by defeating San Jose Earthquakes 2000 Boys PDA 2-1 after two first half goals--one from a back post header by center back Chris Miglo and the other from eventual team player of the tournament, Theo Malliaras, on a clever back heel at the near post almost immediately after being introduced late in the first half. After the Quakes got a goal back the game took on an end-to-end style and goalkeeper Armando Malton and his defenders made several key stops to preserve the win and the cup title.

The match capped a successful weekend for team that saw them win against fellow NPL 1 west division rival AFC Academy 2-1 (goals by Nico Petry-Mitchel, PK/unassisted, and Theo Malliaras assisted by Jack Benninger) and defeat Butte United Red 99 by the same 2-1 score (goals by Kol Van Giesen and Alex Bailey, assisted by Chris Miglio and Nicky Brown, respectively).

In the team's only other match of the weekend, on Sunday morning, they were held scoreless and fell 1-0 to the team they wold again face in the final, San jose Earthquakes 2000 Boys PDA, who did not concede a goal in the three games that led them into the final. The Sunday morning match was a hard-fought one that featured multiple chances for both teams as well as long breaks in play from free kicks and referees cautioning or speaking with players. By the end of the stop-and-start match, both coaches were already becoming aware that the morning game would be but a precursor to the afternoon final based on the tournament format and standings.

"We learned a little about ourselves this weekend and got important contributions from everyone," said '99/'00 boys head coach Chris Flanagan. "Our goal was to play in the final and get everyone involved in the games, which is a luxury that we don't always have in NPL 1 league play. I was delighted for Theo, who came off the bench to get two game winning goals, as well as for a number of other guys who played extra minutes or in positions they were less accustomed to. By the end of the weekend we were short on numbers for a variety of reasons but the team dug in and got the victory against a good CV Quakes team that hadn't conceded a goal in the tournament and had to feel confident after beating us in the morning. Before the final I told the guys you don't often get second chances in soccer or life, so go out there and take advantage of every moment."