IUS u15s play in State Cup Final

18 May 2008 – IUS Krush U15 Girls Are State Cup Finalists. The Krush traveled to Pensacola this weekend for the FYSA State Cup Final Four games and came home as State Finalists. The Krush met the Ponte Vedra Storm Saturday morning at the Santa Rosa Soccer Complex. PV played a very fast and physical game and effectively controlled the ball for most of it. PV was relentless with their shots, but our keeper was just as relentless with saves. PV eventually scored on a CK that was played short and crossed for the header in. After that, PV bunkered in a 5-4-1 formation, and later a 6-3-1. The Krush responded by switching from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2. The additional pressure up top created a few new opportunities. The first came about midway through the second half when the Krush struck a miracle shot from near the goal line that bent around the keeper and hit the far post net. Then with just a couple minutes left in the game, the Krush shot low and hard from the 18 – the ball was deflected by a defender and sent back outside the box where a Krushie ran on to clean up, scoring the 500th career goal for the team and securing a spot in the final. PV finished the game much more aggressive on offense, with a couple shots off the cross bar, but time expired before they could get the equalizer. The Krush returned to the fields this morning to play Team Boca for the state championship. Boca played a very aggressive game, receiving two yellows and a number of fouls called against them. The Krush answered every attack with great defense and aggressive counter attacks. The game was scoreless at the half time break. Late in the second half Boca got off a high shot from about 30 yards that got squirrelly in the wind and fell in just under the cross bar. The Krush pressed hard for the equalizer, with several shots and a couple CKs, but none found home and the game ended 0-1 for Boca, ending the season for the Krush with the State Cup Runners-Up trophy proudly in hand. The Krush finish out the year at the top of their game. They played 52 games this year with a 34-9-9 record, outscoring their opponents 118 to 39. They played and beat last year’s state champ in the Disney Showcase Qualifier, putting them in the top flight of the Disney Showcase where they beat the Region II champ and tied the Virginia state finalist. They traveled to Raleigh for the CASL Shootout, to Clearwater for Score at the Shore, and to Pensacola to take on two of the best teams in the country. Congratulations Krushies on your achievements this year – we look forward to many more great times to come.