Hammerheads battle at soccer championship

Downingtown’s six-time US Youth Soccer Region I Champions FC Delco Hammerheads Under-19 Boys were finalists in the James P. McGuire Cup Championship game against the Crew Juniors (OH-S) who defeated the Hammerheads 1-0 with a 36th minute goal. The game was played at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Overland Park, Kansas. The game was broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel.
The Hammerheads, based in Downingtown, have represented Region I at the US Youth Soccer National Championships four times now. In their three previous appearances, the Hammerheads reached the championship game once in their Under-15 year but lost. Besides their multiple Region I titles, the Hammerheads have also won seven Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer State Cup Championships. During the 2010 Regional Championships, the Hammerheads won every game and allowed only two goals, both in a 3-2 semifinal victory.
This was coach Alan Mezger’s first time at the helm for the Hammerheads but he has been down the national championship road before. Tonight’s win would have given Mezger his third James P. McGuire Cup win.
“I knew it would mean a lot for me to get the hat-trick but, to be honest, I wanted this more for the boys,” said Mezger. “I’ve enjoyed this championship series more than in years past because I wasn’t as nervous. I’ve been down this road before. This is a special group of boys. I wanted this for them. They worked hard and I just hope I matched their commitment with my own. This team has been around for a long time, some of them since they were eight years-old.”
“The Hammerheads were great representatives of the FC Delco Club,” said Mezger. “They have worn the logo with pride and have made the alumni proud. Not everyone gets to play on the national stage. It says something just to make it this far.”
“The Hammerheads did a phenomenal job in this tournament,” said Chris Branscome, CEO of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. “They fought hard throughout the entire US Youth Soccer National Championship series and you could see it in every kick of the ball and every move they made on the field. We could not be more proud of these boys.”
The Hammerheads won their first game of the championship series on Wednesday against the WSM Internationals of Oregon 1-0 thanks to a 42nd minute goal from Midfielder Jeffery Pio (La Salle University). Thursday’s lone goal came from Forward Christopher Harmon (Old Dominion University) in the first three minutes. On Friday, the last day of round robin play, the Hammerheads tied the Crew Juniors 1-1. The lone goal came from Forward Daniel DiLullo (James Madison University).
The US Youth Soccer National Championships kicked off on Wednesday, bringing a field of 60 teams together that comprise the nation’s top players in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups for boys and girls. In all, twelve national titles were awarded this weekend.

The Hammerheads Are:

Travis Cantrell, Glenmoore, PA (Univ. of Pennsylvania)
Greg Cochrane, Holland, PA (Virginia Tech)
Micah Collins, Glen Rock, PA (Villanova University)
Danny DiLullo, Havertown, PA (James Madison University)
David Dubow, Bryn Mawr, PA (Princeton University)
Brian Forgue, Glenmoore, PA (Penn State University)
Chris Harmon, Downingtown, PA (Old Dominion University)
Tom Kalpokas, Philadelphia, PA (LaSalle University)
Jordan LeBlanc, Havertown, PA (Old Dominion University)
Wayne Maminski, Philadelphia, PA (Lafayette College)
Nick Matthews, Ambler, PA (St. John’s University)
George McFarland, Haverford, PA (Colgate University)
Jordan Obrant, Wynnewood, PA (Syracuse University)
Alex Ockford, Yardley, PA (Mount St. Mary’s University)
Sean Peckham, Doylestown, PA (Lafayette College)
Jeff Pio, Warminster, PA (LaSalle University)
Robert “Bobby” Rosato (Committed to UNC Wilmington)
Matt Sanner (Princeton University)
Kyle Soroka, Langhorne, PA (Villanova University)
Andrew Trainor, Wilmington, DE (Williams College)
Alec Weiss, Merion, PA (Villanova University)
Mike Whitaker, Doylestown, PA (Univ. of Pittsburgh)