Youth soccer groups from Dixmoor and Robbins fell wanting objectives of bringing nationwide playoff trophies house to the south suburbs, though the Dixmoor Vikings captured second place in Division 1 of the 11-U championship.
Dixmoor performed for the second straight yr on the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, whereas the Robbins Eagles made its first journey within the staff’s 40-year historical past to the American Youth Football League championship in Naples, Florida.
The Vikings received their opening spherical sport Dec. 3, beating the Santa Barbara Seahawks from California 28-14, then superior within the semifinals, besting one other California staff, the Saddleback Valley Bears, 27-16.
The 11-U squad, nonetheless, was held scoreless within the championship sport, falling 26-0 to the Avalon Wolves of Florida.
Avalon had superior within the semifinals to face Dixmoor by defeating a North Carolina staff, the Capital City Steelers, 46-0.
Many of the identical Dixmoor gamers had been a part of a staff that went to the Pop Warner playoffs final yr, taking house second place.
Vikings coach Dwayne Tyson stated Monday whereas the result wasn’t what he and gamers had been hoped for, the efficiency continues to be certainly one of which they’re proud.
“Being one of the top two teams in the country is amazing,” Tyson stated.
Dixmoor’s 10-U staff, which additionally superior to the Pop Warner playoffs, ended up taking third place in its division, Tyson stated.
Justin Harris, head coach for the Eagles, stated his 13-U squad gamers had been defeated by groups from Arizona and Texas in video games held Dec. 3 and final Tuesday.
The Robbins staff had been working to boost cash for the journey, securing greater than $13,000 throughout a village pep rally earlier than the staff left for Florida.
“The hopes were high,” Harris stated. “There was a lot of pressure on the boys and we came up short.”
The Eagles had been undefeated within the common season, then beat groups from Ohio and Missouri final month to advance to the nationwide stage, representing your complete Midwest.
In previous years, the staff had fallen quick in regional video games in an effort to advance to the nationwide playoffs.
Harris stated though the result wasn’t what gamers had hoped for, the journey for the Eagles was nonetheless historic.
“We had so high of expectations, but we did something that wasn’t done in 40 years,” he stated.
“Some of these kids that came with us had never flown on a plane before,” Harris stated. “To make it to the national championship is great. We got to play against the best of the best.”
Tyson stated the journey was not completely targeted on soccer, with gamers and households visiting points of interest similar to Disney World and Sea World, the place a particular evening had been put aside for Pop Warner groups.
“They closed the whole park off just for the teams,” he stated. “All the attractions and food were free.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com