Soccer teams mine gold and silver

The U12 and U16 Estudantez boys soccer teams both came home with medals while supporting breast cancer awareness at the annual Kick for the Cure soccer tournament at the Scottsdale Sports Complex in Scottsdale during the weekend of Nov. 10.

The U12 team brought home the gold while the U16 team brought home the silver, taking first and second place in their respective divisions.

The Kick for the Cure soccer tournament donates all of its proceeds to the American Cancer Society and the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Research foundation to help in the fight against breast cancer. The tournament’s slogan is “soccer kids helping soccer moms.” All monies donated stay in Arizona as well. With a total of 252 teams — 130 boys teams and 122 girls teams — attending this tournament, $14,000 was raised and donated.

The U12 team managed to score 27 goals in the tournament and only allowed one goal to be scored against them in the four games they played.

“My hat is off to our defense,” said Reuben Philo, the U12 Estudantez head coach. “Three [shut outs] and only one goal against us is a tough feat to accomplish. They played some very inspired soccer, and with this in mind: we can’t win games by only keeping teams from scoring.”

In the first game, U12 Estudantez beat Flagstaff United 4-0. The team also beat American Youth Soccer League Jacket Arsenal 9-1 on Saturday. On Sunday, Estudantez beat the Phoenix Rush Boys Nike 10-0 and beat Arizona Boys Thunder Gold 4-0 in the finals.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Dec. 5, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.