This past weekend the South County Youth Soccer Club under-18 girls’ soccer team won its division in the annual New England Soccer Classic tournament in Eastham, MA on Cape Cod.  

The team from South County was the only "Club" team competing in an age group dominated by seven other "Premier" teams.  After finishing first in their bracket with a record of 2-0-1, the team advanced to the semi-finals to face the FC United premier team from Massachusetts.

Playing with only 11 players and no subs due to injury and players returning home to jobs, South County jumped out to a 4-0 first half lead and hung on for a 4-2 win.  

Three hours later, the team was back on the pitch to compete in the tournament finals against the hometown Oceana Soccer Club from Orleans, MA.  

Playing again with no substitutes, South County finished the first half with a 1-0 lead.  Oceana equalized about 10 minutes into the second half on a perfectly placed free kick from just outside the penalty box.  

South County reclaimed the lead about five minutes later and was within seconds of a win when a penalty on a breakaway lead to an Oceana penalty kick to tie the game 2-2 at the end of regulation.  

The score remained tied after two five-minute overtimes, and the match went to penalty kicks for the championship.  With the teams tied at two penalty kicks each after the best of three opening salvo, Oceana missed on their fourth kick, giving South County a chance at the win, but a great stop by the Oceana keeper lead to a fifth round of penalty shots.  

With Oceana kicking first, South County keeper Jenna Jackson, made a great stop, giving South County a second chance at the win.  

With the game on the line, South County midfielder Emily Edwards calmly stepped to the penalty spot and launched a perfectly placed shot to the lower right corner of the frame to secure the championship.

Write-up courtesy Brian Wagner. Photo courtesy of Grace Castro. Team members and high school: