A handful of local youth soccer team battled in the annual Cerritos Region 54 Turkey Tournament, which unfolded Nov. 23-25.
The Cypress Region 154 Girls 10-U all-star team, known as the Magnificent 10, delivered an impressive performance, advancing to the championship round to face eventual winner Burbank. Cypress, which finished in second, battled Burbank to a scoreless tie in regulation but lost during the ensuing shootout, which ended in a 4-3 loss.
A handful of local youth soccer team battled in the annual Cerritos Region 54 Turkey Tournament, which unfolded Nov. 23-25.
The Cypress Region 154 Girls 10-U all-star team, known as the Magnificent 10, delivered an impressive performance, advancing to the championship round to face eventual winner Burbank. Cypress, which finished in second, battled Burbank to a scoreless tie in regulation but lost during the ensuing shootout, which ended in a 4-3 loss.
The shootout went to the sixth shooter, with Burbank knocking in the final goal and Cypress then missing. That brought about an end to a truly remarkable and exciting competition, which featured 24 total teams.
“Our girls played with guts and heart,” said Cypress coach Ed Ebel, who credited the players.
Captains Lilly Roberts and LaNell Swain both played every minute of each game, serving as the back bone of the team. Natalie Repetti and Kailey Marcroft shared rotated as goalies and field players, proving their versatility, with each scoring in the tournament.
Halle Carniglia, Nancy Moreno, Sophia Schindler, and Blythe Gilbert (a.k.a. Bullet) shared time as the offensive striker and all made goals in the tournament. Carniglia hails from Buena Park and LaNell Swain resides in Anaheim. The rest of the squad primarily lives in Cypress.
“The defensive right fullbacks, Kate Alcaino and Jenna Sharp, shared a key position for advancing the team forward throughout the tournament,” Ebel said.
Burbank and Cypress faced a team from Garden Grove, called G4, and another from Los Alamitos in semifinal round. The Los Alamitos squad lost 3-0 .
The Magnificent Ten all-stars will represent Region 154 Cypress Girls 10-U I at Los Alamitos.
Special thanks went to the following coaches/people: Joshua Eisman, assistant coach; Amira Ebel-Medina, trainer; Doris Ebel, Ed’s wife; and Jim Fuller, Commissioner 154.
The team also thanked Bruce Cannady, the regional referee administrator, his crew, and the parents and families for their support
