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Savannah United 2008 Girls head into second Piedmont Conference season

By Special to the Prep Sports Report | September 8, 2021

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The Savannah United 2008 Girls are headed into their second season in the Piedmont Conference of the United States Youth Soccer (USYS) National League.

Last season the team won the USYS U13 Girls Georgia State Cup and became the youngest soccer team from the coastal Georgia area to win a state championship. Because of the current age structure, this accomplishment can only be equaled and will never be broken.

The team lost two of the top goal keepers in the region, Alexia- Mae Goodman and Hailey Smith, before the semifinals due to injury and illness, and a third potential keeper, forward Allyson Rosas, injured her hand at practice. With a fourth keeper, regular starting forward Evelyn Bowen, in goal, Savannah United 2008 Girls were able to advance via penalty kicks.

During penalty kicks, a fifth keeper, Molly Hildebrandt, stepped in to make a crucial save tp preserve the victory. The team went on to defeat rival club Inter Atlanta FC (IAFC) in the finals by a score of 2-0 and become state champions.

By doing so, the Savannah United 2008 Girls became the youngest team in their club's history to earn a spot in the USYS Southern Regional Championships. Two weeks after becoming state champions, the team traveled to the USYS Southern Regional Championships in Greer, SC.

The first day of competition could have been a major setback after a 0-4 loss to Charleston Battery. The team girls bounced back the next day and fought to a 1-1 draw against Solar Soccer Club.

With their backs against the wall, the next match was a must win in order to advance to the quarterfinals. Savannah United's Evelyn Bowen scored the game winner after receiving a pass from Abigale Tvrdy with less than two  minutes to play, propelling the team into the USYS Southern Regional Championship quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, Savannah United fell to Houston Dynamo/Dash Youth Soccer Club by the score of 0-2. However, the Savannah United 2008 Girls Premier team had earned the honor of being the first team in club history to advance to the USYS Southern Regional Championship quarterfinals.

This Fall 2021 season brings uncertainty as players from last year's state championship team are no longer with the team. But there is also an air of excitement as new players join the returners to build on last season's success.

The Fall 2021 Roster : Mary Grace Morris, Jordan Gunn, Allyson Rosas, Evelyn Bowen, Molly Hildebrandt, Anna Shoemate, Abigale Tvrdy, Madison Bueno, Marley Sigmon, Reese Bailey, Amelia Reci, Kamila Pena, Iris Turner and Malayla Wright.

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The "Coach" Karl DeMasi has been teaching and coaching for the past 35 years on all levels of academia and athletics. One of his hobbies has been writing, announcing and talking about sports. DeMasi has been involved in the Savannah Area sports scene since 1995, and he created the high school magazine "The Prep Sports Report" in 2000. In 2010, the "Coach" started broadcasting The Karl DeMasi Sports Report. He's still going strong, broadcasting on Facebook live and Twitter live every Saturday morning. You gotta love it!


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