South Coast Bayern U9 Girls Win 2009 Rich Bailey Girls Friendship Tournament

Huntington Beach, CA, February 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- South Coast Bayern’s U9 Girls gave up just one goal in four games of the 2009 Rich Bailey Girls Friendship Cup en route to its second consecutive tournament championship. The finals pitted Pool B winner West Coast United against Pool A winner South Coast Bayern, just six weeks after the two teams faced off in the Canyon PSA Tournament. SC Bayern won that Canyon PSA Tournament 0-0 Final Match in penalty kicks. And after seeing the schedule for the 27th Annual Rich Bailey Girls Friendship Tournament, SC Bayern sensed a rematch.

“When we saw West Coast United in the other bracket we thought there was a good chance we’d see them again in the finals,” commented SC Bayern coach Eddie Flores. “We always come into tournaments with high expectations for ourselves, and we know they are a great team.”

Coach Flores prediction came true. The two teams squared off in the GU9 Finals on Sunday afternoon. SC Bayern’s Carly Flores put her team up early in the first half by converting an indirect kick from just outside the box. The kick was granted when the West Coast United goalie picked up the ball a few steps in front of the box. In the second half, SC Bayern got the breathing room they needed when defender Hannah Nosek played a long ball over the top and deep into the box to Emma Clark, who redirected it past the West Coast United goalie. The 2-0 win for SC Bayern gave them the championship in the Girls Under 9 soccer division.

“To win the finals against West Coast United we knew we had to play smart, they are great team and we had to play our best to win,” Coach Flores said during the championship ceremony.

South Coast Bayern demonstrated a powerful defense throughout the tournament, beginning with a 3-0 victory over Canyon PSA White on Saturday morning in which Canyon had 0 shots on goal. Madison Macias had two goals in the first half, and Isabelle Larson put the game out of reach with her goal 19 minutes into the second half.

Saturday afternoon’s game against Chelsea was a hard fought, physical match. Rachel Shubin’s goal five minutes into the first half gave South Coast Bayern the 1-0 lead they worked hard to protect throughout the rest of the game. Protecting that lead proved to be more difficult than planned when Chelsea was awarded a penalty kick late in the second half after a takedown from behind was called in the box. SC Bayern’s keeper Carly Flores made the initial save on the PK, but the rebound bounced right back to a Chelsea player who nearly tied the game when her shot ricocheted off the crossbar, but fell harmlessly out of bounds.

Sunday morning SC Bayern won again, 2-1, giving up its only goal of the tournament on a hard collision with an RSM Storm player the South Coast Bayern’s keeper, Flores. Flores was knocked down in the crash and RSM Storm managed to get a foot on the loose ball, putting into the back of the unguarded net. That goal proved to be the only ball to penetrate the tough SC Bayern defense all tournament.

About Rich Bailey Girls Friendship Tournament:
The Rich Bailey Girls Soccer Tournament is the longest girls-only soccer tournament in Southern California. In its 27th year, organizers strive to make the tournament a great experience for all the players and their families.

Teams are strongly encouraged to follow the friendship theme by exchanging patches, pins, etc., from their league or club after each game. (Each player from both teams should exchange gifts.)

This Class I - CYSA-South Sanctioned tournament is open to teams from; Canada, Mexico; Open to all US Youth Soccer State Associations; Super Y league, US Club Soccer, AYSO; Girls Under 8-14. All games are played in West Anaheim, CA; Central Orange County. Major tourist attractions; Disneyland Park, Disney's California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney Resort, Knott's Theme Park and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament are located within 5 minutes of our venues.

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