An undermanned Hillsborough County United girls under-19 team got the win it was looking for to open its campaign at the U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regionals in Dallas on Friday, earning a 2-0 win against Oklahoma champion the West Side Alliance.

Second half goals by Emily Dowd and Kelly Grimsly gave HCU victory.
 
“I thought we did what we had to do,” Coach Jim Cote said. The team is an amalgamation of previous HCU and RSL Florida teams, and is also being coach by HCU’s George Fotopoulos and Mike Rossi.

“We defended well as a group, the other team quote honestly was very good, but we did what we had to do.”

With no substitutes currently with the squad, HCU had to play the final 25 minutes a player short after an injury, but their lead wasn’t threatened. They will face the Dallas Texans today knowing a win could set up a game with the D’Feeters, also from Texas, for the group win.

With only 12 teams over three groups, unlike the other age-groups at the event which have 16, group winners and one wild card advance to the semifinals.