Tournament Time!

Team Spirit, and in particular Madison Giles, began the Spring Tournament with a bang. Giles accounted for all three of TS's goals making for a hattrick for Madison Giles and an important win (and shutout) for Team Spirit, 3-0.

Facing an underrated and pesky UC Storm C Jensen team, the Girls in Gold could manage only one goal by halftime--a breakaway goal by Giles in which she took the crossing pass at midfield from Kristine Reynolds and blew past stunned defenders to poke the ball past the 'keeper in a textbook one-on-one play. Team Spirit kept the ball in the attacking third for most of the first half of play, but could not produce another score.

After intermission, TS continued to press the UC Storm C Jensen defenders and goalkeeper with numerous attempts to score. It wasn't until Madison Giles collected a loose ball which had bounced away from defenders near the goal on the left side and deftly crossed the ball past the outreached arms of the 'keeper to the far post that Team Spirit had goal number two.

Giles' pursuit of the rare hattrick culminated in an unusual play in the waning minutes of the game. Justina Jerema crossed the ball from the right side and Madison anticipated the well-placed pass using her right thigh to pop the ball over the goalkeeper's head and into the goal.

Team Spirit's next game is against FC Edge on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. In the regular season Team Spirit defeated FC Edge 5-0.

Click here for the most recently updated results for the AA U13 girls Spring Tourney!