Grant-A-Week WINNER
FOREST UNITED UNDER 18 GIRLS SOCCER

LONDON ONTARIO
The Forest United Under 18 Girls soccer team has been in existence now for four years. The core team have been together for this time, and under the guidance of head coach Anthony Camacho and assistant coach Gary Mascarin have developed into a top level team. The core consists of captain Jen Mascarin, Tanya Allegretti, Sabine Goldberg and Emma O’Connor. Players that have been added include Keeper Lindsay Morneau, Vanessa Harkins, Susan Pepe, Kate Sunstrum, Beth Johnston, Natasha DaCosta, Ashley Moreira, Laura Skopelianos, and Jaclyn Mascarin.

The first two years of the team’s existence were very successful and they won many tournaments and league championships. They worked their way up the soccer ladder through the South Region Ontario League’s different levels and graduated last year to the top ranked Ontario Youth Soccer League. This league change was a difficult transition for the team as it lacked depth and commitment. Although the team was competitive, never losing a game by more than one goal, the final result was the team was relegated from the O.Y.S.L. back to the South Region League.

A re-building process took place that started immediately at the end of last season. Kim Markvoort was a welcomed addition to the team. The team competed through the winter playing indoors at Soccer Magic in London Ontario. A trip to the Cocoa Beach Expo tournament in Florida over the Christmas holidays proved very successful with the team winning a silver medal. The competition was very high as they played several top teams from the USA. This trip also paid dividends with the addition of Kelly McNabney joining the team as a keeper.

The girls played and practised hard all winter long. As spring came around the word was out that this team could be special. Three more top line players were added at this time to complete the roster. They were Sonya Curvelo, Jessica Herman and Kristen Brandao. Mike Herman came on as manager and Cathy Sunstrum and Chris Skopelianos worked as the team trainers. Ian Johnston toiled over the financial and administrative duties.

The season provided an opportunity for these girls to shine as a team as well as individually on many occasions. Forest United won several tournaments during the season as well as the South Region League championship going undefeated and also the league cup. Their biggest accomplishment came during Ontario Cup play. On the way to winning the Ontario Cup they had to defeat some great teams many of whom played in the O.Y.S.L. The most gratifying moment to that point was a 2 to 0 win against Oakville, a heavily favoured team to win it all. These girls truly showed what they were made of and handed the Oakville team all they could manage and came away with a convincing victory on that day.

The victory in Ontario Cup was celebrated for a very short time. The team would be playing in just a few short weeks for the Canadian Championships in Charlottetown P.E.I. The girls practiced harder than ever with one goal in mind; to win the Canadian Championship. The team’s parents were presented another challenge--to raise enough money to finance this trip to the Canadians.

In just a few short weeks the parents managed, with the help of the many businesses, to get the job done and raised enough money to cover all major expenses for the trip. We as a group are grateful to our many sponsors for their financial aid and have acknowledged them on our web site www.eteamz/lonfu/

The Forest United Eagles had a very successful trip to the Canadians defeating very good teams from Quebec, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan in pool play. The gold medal game was played against a powerful Alberta team. The game ended in regulation time tied at 0.

Alberta scored the golden goal several minutes into overtime. The Forest United girls came home to London that night with the Silver Medal in the Canadian Championships, an accomplishment that each and every one of them should be proud of and cherish for a lifetime.

These girls are to be commended for their accomplishments both on and of the soccer field. The P.E.I. experience was a huge steppingstone in their development to adulthood and the challenges they faced were met with vigour and unity.

I can speak as a coach and parent when I say it was a pleasure being involved with such a fine group of people this past season. We can only pray our future will bring us as much satisfaction and joy as in the past.

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