Boys' Soccer Shines at Dallas Cup
The Black Rock FC Residential Academy at Northwood School recently returned from the Dallas Cup, one of the most famous youth soccer tournaments in the U.S. and attracts top teams from around the globe. Entering the biggest stage of the year, the two teams from Northwood School did not falter and instead put together their strongest team performances of the year.
The U17s, led by Coach Martinez and Coach Mohammed, opened the tournament with two impressive wins: a 6-1 defeat of Club Menedy from Guatemala and a 2-0 victory Albion SC from Southern California. In a pivotal final group stage match against FC Dallas, the boys conceded two first half goals and were unable to recover, losing 0-2 to the #2 ranked team in Texas. Though the U17s did not advance into the knockout stage, they did put in a great overall performance and showed just how far they have progressed since the start of the year.
The U19s started their group stage with a match against Liverpool Football College from England and came away with a 2-2 tie, a tough game that the boys probably should have won. However, the disappointment the boys took away from this match fueled their outlook for the rest of the tournament, as the boys won their next two group stage matches, beating Real Salt Lake (Arizona), 2-0, and American Academy of Soccer (Texas), 4-0. Advancing to the quarterfinal stage, the 19s took on Barcelona Academy, the #1 ranked club in Arizona. The boys came out firing and played their best match of the tournament, notching a memorable 4-1 win and advancing once again. In the semifinal, the boys faced the Houston Dynamo Academy, the #3 ranked club in Texas. Once again, the team came out firing and took a 2-0 lead into halftime, but the lead did not hold as the Dynamo fought back to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation. In the ensuing penalty kick shootout, the Dynamo prevailed. Despite the tough loss, the 19s walked off the field knowing that they had put in a great showing in their first Dallas Cup.
Taken as a whole, the Black Rock FC Residential Academy at Northwood School captured the attention of many at this momentous event, earning the respect of all those who watched the boys play. Beyond the results on the field, the boys carried themselves well throughout their time in Dallas, always demonstrating great sportsmanship, character, and humility. The coaches are very proud of the boys and look forward to returning to the Dallas Cup next year!