U17 Elite Boys Finish Second in U19 Division of Thanksgiving Classic
This past weekend, our U17 Elite Boys had a statement performance in the 37th Annual Plantation Thanksgiving Classic, competing two age divisions up in the U19 bracket. Against older and more experienced opponents, the squad rose to the occasion, proving they are more than capable of holding their own against top-level competition. After a series of intense matches, the team reached the finals, where they faced East Florida United. Despite their hard-fought efforts, the game ended in a 2-0 loss; our 2008 Boys ended their weekend with a notable second-place finish.
Reflecting on the tournament, Coach Pedro shared some insight into his team's preparation and performance:
“Most of the boys play high school soccer, where they’re already competing against older players. We focused on being defensively disciplined and working together as a unit. Playing older opponents meant facing a speed and size disadvantage, so effort was key. The boys had some doubts, but once the whistle blew, the way they played, you couldn’t tell which was the younger team.”
The team demonstrated incredible resilience throughout the weekend. Coach Pedro highlighted one such moment of resolve:
“I was really proud of how resilient they were in tough moments. In our first game, we went down a player due to a double yellow and conceded a penalty, but the mindset to block the penalty and then go on to score two goals was a key moment for us. I’m also very proud of how they played for each other and left it all on the field.”
This result underscores the team’s ability to rise above adversity and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Looking ahead, the 2008 Elite Boys have ambitious goals:
“We want to build off this performance and continue to work. We have the Springs Cup coming up, and we want to have a great showing in our age group against top competition. Then, we’ll focus on starting the new year strong at the ECNL RL Showcase in January.”
The Thanksgiving Classic marks a significant temperature check for the 2008 Elite Boys, as they continue to prepare for even greater challenges ahead. The table is set, their seat is open, and they're hungry for more competition this season. This result highlights the long-term player development philosophy at Springs Soccer Club, where players are consistently pushed to compete at their highest potential. This is a team that welcomes the challenge, and is better for it.
We congratulate the 2008 Elite Boys team, their coaching staff, and families on an outstanding achievement this holiday break. The Springs Soccer Club community is proud of their accomplishments thus far, and is excited to see what they achieve next.
Go Springs!
