Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo finished as runners-up at the US Youth Soccer U19 National Championships in Germantown, MD after a nail-biting 1-0 loss to VSA Heat from Virginia. VSA avenged its 2-1 over-time loss to Botafogo in the 2013 U18 National Championship game.

With the 2nd place finish Botafogo finish its youth career with only two competitive losses in two years, and 3 Regional Championships, a 2013 National Title, a 2014 National Silver Medal, and a 2012 National Bronze Medal.

The Botafogo players have set a new standard for Team Chicago Academy teams, and we thank them for all their contributions to help grow the club.

Participants in the 2014 National Championship Series were: Angela Widlacki, Ashley Handwork, Brooke Ksiazek, Bryce Banuelos, Gianna Dal Pozzo, Gracie Lachowecki, Heather Handwork, Hope D’Addario, Jenna Romano, Kaela Leskovar, Kaitlin Johnson, Karla DiJohn, Katie Ciesiulka, Kristen Brots, Liz Bartels, Mary Rounce, Megan Geldernick, Rose Lavelle, Zoe Swift, and Zoey Goralski,

The U19 National Championship match between Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo and VSA Heat will be streamed live at 4:45pm (Central) today.

The re-match of last year’s U18 National Championship match will be played in the Maryland SoccerPlex stadium in Germantown, MD.

http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/live__stream_4_PM/

Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo advanced to the USYSA National Final with a convincing 5-0 victory against SSA Chelsea from Georgia. With the win Botafogo set up a rematch of last year’s National Final against VSA Heat from Virginia.

Today’s game was played on a very poor field, which made it extremely difficult to play good possession soccer, but the Botafogo players handled the conditions well. Ashley Handwork got the eventual game-winner halfway through the first half when she met Hope D’Addario’s corner-kick at the far post, and lobbed it over the keeper to the inside netting of the far post. Liz Bartels made it 2-0 with five minutes left in the half, after Kristen Brots found Zoey Goralski in a great overlapping run from the right back position, and Zoey squared the ball to Liz for a one-time finish.

Up 2-0 at the half Botafogo needed a 3rd goal to be absolute certain of a spot in the Final, and Ashley Handwork took care of that with a great finish 10 minutes into the 2nd half after Gianna Dal Pozzo had stolen the ball and played her through. Kristen Brots got her 2nd assist of the game when she went end-line and drove a perfect cross on-top of the 6-yard box which Kaitlin Johnson ran onto and slammed home in the side-netting of the far post. And Liz Bartels finished off with a fantastic solo effort as she beat two defenders and tucked the ball away at the foot of the far post with five minutes left in the game off Mary Rounce’s assist. Megan Geldernick earned the shutout in goal.

Botafogo will now face VSA Heat in the final at 6pm EDT on Saturday 7/26

Over the past several years Tommy Nevins Restaurant in Naperville has run a golf event that provides donations to various groups in the area. WAA is one of those groups that benefited from these golf events receiving over $25,000 the past few years.

Attached is a flyer announcing the event to be held on Thursday, August 21st at the Tamarack Golf Club in Naperville. Besides the opportunity to golf with a group of your friends, enjoy refreshments, food and dinner afterwards, Tommy Nevins donates $200 back to Team Chicago for every foursome that is organized by Team Chicago. In addition to the foursome donation, Team Chicago is being given the opportunity to secure various sponsorships such as Hole Sponsor ($250), Lunch Sponsor ($1,000) or Cart Sponsor ($2,500) among others. Any sponsorship secured by your team will further be credited to Team Chicago at a 80% rate.

This is an excellent opportunity for you and your friends to raise funds, enjoy a terrific event and support Team Chicago. Spread the word now to the parents on your team, family, friends and business associates. To register go to www.golfinvite.com/thursday .

$165.00 per person
$660.00 per foursome
Golf, Cart, Contests, Prizes
Lunch and Beverages on Course
Dinner, Open Bar and Awards Reception
Following Golf at Nevins
1:00PM Shotgun Start
Four Person Scramble
Reception Only $100.00 per person
Includes Dinner and Open Bar

11:00 – 1:00 registration, open bar and grill
1:00 Shotgun Start, Four Person Scramble
Open bar available on 9 holes
Lunch on the turn
Following play will be Dinner & Awards Reception at Tommy Nevins with open bar.

Registration is limited so get your foursome signed up today!
Any questions please contact Thomas R. Spika, WAA Director of Fields and Facilities at 630-978-2855 or thomas.spika@waasports.org

After the group of 16 games, Here are our leaders in the Team Chicago World Cup bracket challenge. We have Colin Tobolski of the U15B Gremio team in the lead with 50 points and in the 100th percentile of the ESPN game!!, followed by Ricky Hildreth, parent of Anthony on the U7B Cortiba and Ed Goralski, parent of Zoey, U19 Botafogo and Jamie, U15 Cruzeiro.

I still have time to catch them.

Check out the full standings at http://games.espn.go.com/world-cup-bracket-predictor/2014/en/group?groupID=5646

RANK BRACKET, OWNER GRP SR QF SF F CHAMPION TOTAL PCT
1
colintobolski codmw28325
22 28 0 0 0 Brazil 50 100.0
2
The golden boot 11rickyhildreth309
24 20 0 0 0 Brazil 44 98.9
3
Goralskieddie2504
21 20 0 0 0 Germany 41 95.4