Seneca boys rock the Columbia Classic
On a perfect weekend for soccer (Nov. 11-13), four Seneca squads took division championships in the well-attended Columbia Fall Classic tournament – which featured 185 teams representing 5 state associations in Region I, and attracted college coaches from throughout Maryland.
“The results sort of speak for themselves,” said out-going SSA President Lance Van Winter. “To have four teams from one club do this well at such a competitive event hardly ever happens. It speaks volumes about the quality of our kids, and our coaches.”
The U14 SSA Venom, led by coaches Ron Loube and Winston Gomez, allowed only one goal (and scored 8) to win their flight after a 2-0-1 run. The Venom have won seven championships since forming at the beginning of 2009 – including an NCSL divisional title in Fall, 2011 (9-0-1).
The U15 SSA Thunderbolts went on a four-game undefeated tear – finishing with a goal-ratio of 12-1 and three “clean sheets” behind one of the most consistent defenses in D.C.-area soccer. Their win in Columbia advanced them three slots in the state rankings to no. 12.
Since last year, the Bolts rose two divisions in the NCSL, allowing a total of only 9 goals (while scoring 33) with coaches Jim Haner and Dave Milligan. Trained by Dale Rodman of Dickinson College (formerly, Walt Whitman HS), the Bolts won the 2010 August Cup and were finalists again in 2011. Thunderbolts were selected for 8 high school teams in two counties in the fall.
The U16 SSA Arsenal, led by coaches Oscar Amaguana and Mark Banfield, secured their second title of 2011 with a 3-0-1 campaign in the Columbia tournament -- and zero goals allowed. The Arsenal previously won the OBGC Capital Cup over Labor Day weekend and currently are ranked 17th in the State with a 63 percent win rate.
For the U19 SSA Rapids under Coach Lance Van Winter, it was their second championship in five months after previously taking a division title (8-1-0; 32 goals-for; 4 against) in the Spring 2011 NCSL season. In the past year, the team also were finalists in both the Richmond Capital Cup and Baltimore March Mania tournaments – as well as State Cup quarterfinalists for the second year in a row. With a win percentage of 70 percent, the team is now ranked 10th in the state of Maryland at U19. Five area high schools are represented on the Rapids.
Tryout information for these squads can be found on their team pages. Congratulations to the boys, their families and their coaches!
