Pictured Front Row, L to R: Autumn Hinton, Myla Umphrey, Julia VanDenHout, Maddi Case, Shelby Shotko, Carly McCuaig; Second Row, L to R: Payton Rumsey, Skyler Calati, Baylie VanDyke, Sydney Plummer, Jordan Falk, Leah Kuzma, Ally Meek; Back Row, L to R: Asst. Coach Jake Holtrop, Coach Timothy Hinton, Asst. Coach John Rumsey.

The Cedar Area Select Soccer Association U12 Girls Red Soccer Team is celebrating the club’s first-ever Cherry Capital Cup Tournament Championship, in Traverse City. The team sealed the championship on Sunday, May 20, with a 4-3 win over the Grand Rapids Crew.

The team started the tournament on Saturday, May 19, with a 2-1 (Myla Umphrey, Sydney Plummer) victory over a Striker Cooling team. They continued their winning ways with a 2-1 (Baylie VanDyke, Plummer) win over Rapids FC. They finished the qualifying round on Sunday with a very convincing 4-0 (Umphrey, VanDyke, Jordan Falk, Julia VanDenHout) shutout over RSC Lightning. This victory was even more amazing given the fact that two girls were playing with significant injuries, with another girl not being able to return due to her injury.

“Maddi Case sustained a foot injury one day prior to the tournament and Autumn Hinton and Leah Kuzma were injured during our second game, which required them to go to the E.R.,” explained Coach Timothy Hinton. “Case is a really tough kid and in spite of her injury she did not miss any of the games. We were also fortunate that despite her injury, Hinton was determined to return and played in Sunday’s qualifier game and the championship game. And although Kuzma was out for the remainder of the tournament, she showed great team spirit by staying and supporting the team from the sidelines,” Coach Hinton said.

The championship game kicked off at 3 p.m. and after 50 minutes of regulation play and two five-minute overtime periods, the score was tied 3-3 (Payton Rumsey, Hinton, Vandyke). The game was finally won on a thrilling 3 to 2 shoot-out. Players Plummer, Skyler Calati and Hinton all made their penalty shots with goalkeeper VanDenHout making three fantastic saves.

“It was our constant pressure from our defensive players (Calati, Case, Ally Meek, Plummer, and Shelby Shotko), and our constant attack from the midfield (Hinton, Kuzma, Carly McCuaig, Plummer, Rumsey, Umphrey, and VanDyke) and forward players (Falk, Hinton, and VanDenHout) that allowed our team to go undefended and win the championship,” said Coach Hinton. “Our team motto this spring season has been to finish and the girls definitely lived up to that during the tournament.”

Luke Dault (17) chases down the ball. Also pictured: #18 Kyle Szirovecz and #13 Robert Klein.

On the crisp night of Tuesday, September 20, Red Hawk stadium was buzzing with the sound of excited AYSO/CASSA players and their parents as they came to cheer on the Cedar Springs boys varsity soccer team, who was playing against the Sparta Spartans. The Spartans took an early 1-0 lead, but the Red Hawks quickly tied it up when Robert Klein connected with a cross from Kyle Szirovecz, heading the ball in over the keeper’s gloves (30:35). Mitch Hanmer’s well placed throw in to Klein, resulted in the second goal, as Klein kicked the ball over to Szirovecz, who blasted the ball into the back of the net (16:03). The Red Hawks finalized their 3-1 win, when forward Kyle Szirovecz accepted the ball up the field from defender Dontae Ensley, allowing Szirovecz to maneuver through several defenders and shot the ball into the lower corner of the net (34:08).
Following the game, Coach Avink and the team wanted to thank everyone that came out and supported us during our AYSO/CASSA night. “It was a huge success. The guys had some great wins this week and we are excited to continue to move forward in the up coming games!” he said.

Trevor Rose (12) attacks the ball. Also pictured: #20 Jon Shaw and #13 Robert Klein.

On Thursday, September 22, the Red Hawks traveled north to challenge the Big Rapids Cardinals. The Red Hawks took an early command of the game when Robert Klein connected with a pass from Kyle Szirovecz and sent the ball in to the back of the net (16:32). Red Hawk fans cheered when Szirovecz broke away from the Cardinal defense and drilled the ball past the keeper, increasing Cedar’s lead 2-1 (6:40). Szirovecz scored again 11 seconds into the second half, from a perfect cross sent to the net by Klein (39:49). Minutes later, Szirovecz scored a hat trick when he knocked in his third goal of the evening to bring the Red Hawks to a comfortable lead of 4-0 (29:42). With 37 seconds left on the clock, defender Dontae Ensley, tiptoed his way up field during a Cedar Springs corner kick, he got his foot on the ball and drilled it past the keeper giving the Red Hawks a 5-0 shut out victory over the Cardinals.

First row (L to R): Coach George Gonzales Sr. Paul Bowerman, Hayden Barr, Blaise Knight, Zachary White, Taylor Plekker, Joey Kolenda, Allexis Gonzales, Jamison Pavelka Coach Paul Kolenda. Second Row: Calvin Garvey, Hunter Titmus, Ryan Jamgoch, Dustin Shaw, George Gonzales Jr., Brayden Harper, Jake Nelson and Allen Kolenda. (Not pictured was Coach John Nelson)

While most boys and girls were relaxing during the last weekend of summer, the U-13 Boys CASSA Tri-Hawks (Cedar Area Select Soccer Association) spent their time doing what they love most, playing soccer. The Tri-Hawks travelled to Holland where they participated in the 2011 Mild Cup, hosted by Costa United Soccer. The U-13 team went into the semifinals undefeated to meet up with VARDAR, who was also undefeated. Despite suffering a loss of 2-4, the Tri-Hawks advanced into the finals to once again face the same VARDAR team.
Although the Tri-Hawks dominated in the final, leading 3-2 at half time, VARDAR was able to tie the game up with a penalty shot late in the game. The game remained tied until the last second of the game when VARDAR was given another penalty shot. VARDAR scored and the whistle blew, giving VARDAR the victory with a score of 4-3. The Tri-hawk team played like champions, taking home the runner-up trophy.

The girls U12 CASSA team from Cedar Springs was recently recognized by the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) as being the MSYSA Soccer Spotlight for January 2011.
According to the article, they were praised as a talented group of young ladies focused on hard work, development, and dedication through the recent fall season. It noted that they finished the fall season with a first place finish and a 7-0-1 record within the GVSA soccer league. They also reached the championship game of the MILD Cup.
“These girls are committed to improving their individual skills and their team play. Their enjoyment and passion for the game of soccer is truly outstanding!” they said.
See it online at http://www.michiganyouthsoccer.org/programs/Soccer_Spotlight.htm