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YOUTH SPORTS
Charleston-based 8v8 girls team making noise for Mountain State
Girls U-12 West Virginia Chaos forward McKenzie Albert vies for the ball during their match with the CNY United Fury during the second day of pool play for the US Youth Soccer Region 1 Championships Saturday, July 4, 2009, at the Scott Orthopedic Soccer Complex at the YMCA Kennedy Center. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
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HUNTINGTON -- Many of the West Virginia teams would have loved a 1-1 draw in Saturday's action during the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships.
Not the Charleston-based WV Chaos U-12 8v8 girls' squad though.
They want nothing but wins.
Several players even shed tears following a 1-1 draw with New York West when an errant pass led to the game-tying goal for CNY-United Fury, prompting a question from coach Ashleigh Woods.
"Why are you all hanging your heads?," Woods asked her team after the game. "You all are playing great. Just keep it up. You are doing so well."
Chaos is West Virginia's only undefeated team heading into the final day of pool play with a record of 1-0-1.
While being one of the Mountain State's best chances to advance to the championship rounds, Chaos also represents a changing of the mindset for West Virginia soccer.
Upon talking to various coaches, several teams wanted to make a good showing for the state. Woods said that wasn't so for her team.
"We don't go into any tournament -- no matter what it is -- looking to make a good showing," Woods said. "Everything they do, they are the most competitive team. They want to win at practice, they want to win in their games and they come into this situation and don't let it scare them."
What makes the feat even more impressive is the fact that Chaos is a wild-card entry in the tournament field after losing to Hurricane-based WVSC Arsenal in the state championship.
Arsenal has also played well in the tournament, picking up a win on the first day before suffering a 1-0 loss on Saturday to New York West's Empire-Syracuse.
"There were three teams to win in the state (on the first day) and two of them were the 8v8s. That shows that soccer in this state is coming up," Woods said. "We are trying to start it early so that by the time they are 15 or 16, West Virginia will maybe be a nationally ranked team or national champions."
Woods even made mention of the dream matchup -- a state championship rematch between the Arsenal and Chaos in the Region I finals Tuesday.
Players on the teams have become good friends despite their state rivalry on the pitch.
"We'd love it. Their girls stayed and cheered us on and we cheer them on," Woods said. "A lot of the girls go to school together. This age group and below is putting up the level of skill needed to compete with the New York state champions and big teams like that."
The possibility of meeting in the championship still remains if both teams are able to pick up victories in today's action.
Fans can check out the action at the Scott Orthopedic Center Soccer Complex on Sunday morning. At 9:15 a.m., the Arsenal will take on PWSI Courage 96 Red on Field 21.
Following that match, Woods' Chaos team will take on Vermont's Far Post Soccer Club at 10:30 a.m. on Field 22.
Woods said she hopes everyone takes advantage of the special situation for both sides.
"It's exciting for the parents and fans with the different clubs to be here supporting each other," Woods said. "It's an awesome thing going for them."
