This past weekend, EDP Soccer hosted the second part of its popular EDP Cup Fall, annually ranked the top event in the nation by GotSoccer. The weekend featured 9U-16U girls teams from USYS National League Conferences, EDP, and Girls Academy creating a best vs. best experience. All games were played at Tuckahoe Turf Farms in Hammonton, NJ.
Despite the storm on Friday, the fields were ready to go after a delayed start on Saturday, and all teams were still able to complete each of their four games during the weekend.
EDP followed health and safety protocols, and continued to use innovative scheduling. The schedule format included back-to-back game times that provided for important social distancing protocols and the ability for tournament operations staff to properly sanitize as needed between groups leaving and entering the facility. EDP Soccer also continued the use of its new field layout for the weekend, which created extra space between fields to ensure teams and spectators have the ability to distance themselves. To limit commingling of participants, all home teams and their supporters were positioned on one side of the field and away teams and their supporters on the other side. In addition, home teams stay on the same field for both of their games as this technique reduces the need for team movement across the facility.
“We were delighted to be part of the EDP Fall Cup 2020. The ability to compete against top teams in the region at a first class facility is second to none. The professionalism shown by the tournament with up to date communication in regards to the weather and COVID protocols made the experience that more memorable.” — Leon Brown, New Jersey Surf Director
A Look At The Weekend’s Results
RUBY In group A, TRFC Roma and The Football Academy NJ 2012 Black both entered Sunday on two wins, and TRFC won the match up between the two sides to advance to the final. Freehold SL Freedom also went unbeaten during the group stage to advance out of group B. In a battle between two unbeaten teams, it was TRFC Roma that came out on top in the final with a 3-0 win, with Maddison Valles, Angelina Napolitano, and Ella O’Neill each scoring once in the final.
RUBY After dominant performances in the group stages, two of the age groups top teams Match Fit Academy FC 2010 Shore and Jersey Shore Boca Jr FC Rangers faced off in the final. In an exciting match, Jersey Shore Boca won by the score of 3-0 behind two goals and an assist from Kaylee McKee and a goal by Mia Pratola.
EMERALD Holmdel FC NJX Thorns and Marlboro SA 2011 Sparks Blue faced off in the final, in a rematch of 4-3 Holmdel win from the group stage. In the final, it was another extremely close game that was decided on penalty kicks after regulation ended 2-2, and after 11 rounds of penalty kicks, Holmdel FC NJX finished as champions.
DIAMOND Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals '10 Black reached the final after going through the group stage unbeaten without conceding any goals, defeating Cedar Stars Monmouth 2010 Green 1-0, PDA Shore Xplosion 3-0 and Harrison SC Swarm 2010 2-0. They would be matched up against FC Bucks 2010 SB, the #1 ranked team in the nation who defeated SJEB Academy Red in the final group stage game to decide the group winner as both teams entered on 6 points. In the final, FC Bucks 2010 SB’s Olivia Bongiorno scored the game's only goal to secure the 1-0 win.
RUBY In group A, YMS 2010 Blue and Cherry Hill SC Fierce both came into Sunday with wins in their first two games, with a match up to see who would come out of the group. The teams played to a 1-1 tie, which saw YMS go through to the final on goal differential, where they would come up against Howell United SC Flames, who advanced on a head to head tiebreaker with STA 2010 NL. In the final, Howell won by the narrow scoreline of 3-2.
EMERALD Tri-State Evolution entered the final with three wins, while Cherry Hill FC 2010 Junior Premier Dragons entered with two wins and one tie. In the final, the score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, and Tri-State Evolution won 6-5 in the penalty kicks.
DIAMOND In group A, SJEB Rush Red tied Real Jersey FC 2009 1-1 on a last minute goal by Eleanor Lawyer in their final group stage game to secure their spot in the final. In group B, Deptford Premier FC 09 defeated PDA Shore Xtreme 2009 in the final group stage game, and a 1-1 tie between STA-MUSC 2009 Pre-GA and NJ Premier FC 2009 Blue saw Deptford Premier FC jump above STA in the final standings. In an exciting high scoring final, SJEB Rush Red got out to a 4-0 lead, but Deptford Premier FC put up a spirited fight back to make it 4-3 and create a nervous last 10 minutes for SJEB Rush, but SJEB Rush was able to hold on for the win.
RUBY Wall Elite Spirit reached the final after three quality wins, managing to keep a clean sheet in each game with a 1-0, 2-0, and 3-0 win. They came up against SJEB Rush White, who advanced out of their group with one win and two draws. The final saw SJEB Rush White defeat Wall Elite by a score of 3-0.
EMERALD After both teams went unbeaten with three wins in the group stage, Cedar Stars Monmouth 2009 Green faced off against Rancocas Valley SC United Premier 2009 in the final. Neither team conceded a goal in the group stage, and the teams backlines once again put on great performances in the final as regulation ended 0-0. The penalty kicks went 7 rounds, with Cedar Stars Academy winning to win the championship.
SAPPHIRE RUSA FC 09 Gold and Jackson SC Wolfpack faced off in the final, in a rematch of a 1-0 RUSA FC win during the group stage. In the final, Jackson avenged their earlier loss with a 2-0 victory to win first place.
DIAMOND Wall Elite Chelsea reached the final on the goals for tiebreaker over STA 2008 GA. The two teams tied 0-0 in the first game, but with Wall’s 4-0 and 3-1 in their next two matches, they advanced with one more goal scored than STA. They would face a strong Matchfit Academy FC Shore team, who defeated two-time NJYS State Cup Champion Torpedoes SC Red in the final group game to advance. In the final. The final was tied 1-1 after Match Fit scored with 3 minutes left in the second half to send the game to. The penalty kicks went 6 rounds with goalkeeper Madalyn Peterson making 3 saves during the penalties for Wall Elite to win the championship.
RUBY North Union United 08 Valor got off to a great start to the weekend with a 3-1 victory over Cedar Stars Monmouth 2008 GA, and then going on to defeat Philadelphia SC Coppa Express 08 and New York Red Bulls Pre-Academy 2008 to reach the final where they would face off against CSA Bergen 08 National. CSA Bergen's road to the final came after an opening game tie against STA 2008 NL, and then a 3-2 win against Arsenal Blast and a 1-0 win against FC Europa 2008 Elite. In the final, the North Union United 08 Valor attack continued to click on all cylinders, and be crowned champions.
EMERALD Caps Courage went to the final after winning all three of their group stage games, and would take on The Football Academy NJ 2008 Black who advanced on a head to head tiebreaker over B’Elite Development SC Clash. In the final, Caps Courage completed their unbeaten weekend with a 2-0 win for the first place finish.
SAPPHIRE Prestige Soccer Training 08’ was unbeaten during the group stage keeping three clean sheets. CSA Bergen 08 EDP tied their first match, but with two wins was able to reach the final to take on unbeaten Prestige Soccer Training. In the final, CSA Bergen 08 EDP was finally able to crack the Prestige Soccer Training back line with 2 goals, but regulation ended in a 2-2 tie. Prestige Soccer Training won in penalty kicks to claim the championship.
DIAMOND After a defeat in their first game to Wall Elite Napoli, SJEB Rush 07 GA defeated PSA SDFC Elite 2007 2-1 before taking on unbeaten FC Europa 07 Elite in the final group stage game. SJEB Rush 07 GA was able to edge FC Europa 2-0 and win group A. In group B, Lower Merion SC Furia won the group after defeating Cedar Stars Monmouth 2007 GA, Torpedoes SC and then tying with STA 2007 GA, which saw them finish two points ahead of STA. In the final, the two teams battled back and forth with neither able to find the back of the net, and the game had to be settled in penalty kicks, with SJEB Rush 07 GA coming away victorious.
RUBY In group A, New Jersey Surf South Shore 07G overcame a defeat in their first game to Philadelphia SC Coppa 07 to win their next two matches and earn their spot in the final. They would take on Keystone Athletic 2007 Black in the final, who won all three of their group stage games. In the final, New Jersey Surf was able to come away with the 2-0 win.
EMERALD Caps Chelsea advanced to the final on goal differential over Match Fit Academy FC 2008 Shore. The two sides tied during group play, but Caps had the advantage with a +2 goal differential compared to a +1 for Match Fit. They would face Warrington FC Fury in the final, who finished group play with three victories. In the final, Warrington continued their winning ways, with a 2-1 victory.
SAPPHIRE PSA Wildcats Elite 07 Orange made the final after a strong showing on Saturday that saw them win both games by a score of 1-0. They would play Cedar Stars Monmouth 2007 NL, who would reach the final with two 0-0 ties, and 2-0 win over Cherry Hill SC Brave 2007. The final saw Cedar Stars Monmouth victorious with the 2-0 win.
PEARL CSA Bergen 07 EDP went into the final looking to bounce back from their only defeat on Sunday morning. They would come up against an unbeaten PSA Princeton Elite ’07 Orange team, and were able to regain their Saturday form, and finish with a 1-0 win and the championship.
TURQUOISE Toms River Futbol Lady Arsenal tied their first two games, and with a win in their last group stage game, found themselves in the final against Jersey Shore Boca Jr FC 07s. In a very closely contested game between two even teams, Toms River won the final by the score of 2-1.
RUBY Wall Elite Atletico and Hulmeville Force tied 2-2 in the final group stage game to both finish on 7 points, which saw Wall Elite advance to the final on goal differential. In the final, they took on Philadelphia SC Coppa Elite, who entered on 9 points coming from their 3 wins in group play. In the final, goals by Jackie Gifford, Sydney Walker, and Kasey Bazydlo led Wall Elite to the 3-0 win.
EMERALD Jersey Shore Boca Jr FC Barerra and Pennsylvania Rush 2006 Nero met in the final which was a rematch from group play. The final saw the opposite result from group play, Jersey Shore Boca winning 2-0 and winning first place.
RUBY EPYSA State Cup Champions Philadelphia SC Coppa Rage 05 continues to show why they are a top team in the region, as they advanced to the final winning all three of their group games, and in the final defeated Warrington FC United by a score of 4-1.