Camarillo soccer club wins national title
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

Camarillo Eagle Soccer Club head coach Vince Thomas had one wish this year: to have a chance to play the Dallas Texans 90 Red team in a game that mattered. Thomas and his squad got their wish last Sunday and made the best of it.

Camarillo beat Dallas 3-2 to earn the Laura Moynihan Cup in the United States Youth Soccer U17 championship in Frisco, Texas.

"We played (Dallas) and beat them in the U-14 championship three years ago, but there was a feeling that they played better than us that game," Thomas said.

"Since that championship game they have beaten us about four times in row, including a game earlier in pool tournament play. So I really wanted a chance to get revenge on them in a big game."

Emily Cressy scored early to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Cressy added another goal in the 45th minute to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.

Nicole Sweetman scored what ended up being the game-winning off-a-rebound shot from Amanda Lisberger in the 57th minute.

"We have been striving to get back to the championship game for a while," Thomas said. "We had been beaten badly by Dallas a couple times, and games like that either destroy you or inspire you. I compare our team to a good boxer. Every team is going to be knocked down. It's what you do after you get back up that matters."

Thomas said the team had a sense of urgency to win this year because many seniors won't be coming back next season.

"This team sacrificed everything they had to get back to the championship game," Thomas said. "Watching the character of this team has been very satisfying for me."

In addition to Cressy, Sweetman and Lisberger, players on the team included Megan Blankenburg, Sidney Garza, Lindsey Armenta, Gracie Gartell, Haley Wilson, Kelsea Smith, Courtney Goodson, Chloe Johnson, Shaine Millhesier, Samantha Greene, Ashley Owens, Kelsey Owen and Kaitlin Paletta.