Youth Sports Report:

Soccer: RSL Girls advance to quarterfinals

Posted Jun 20, 2009 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 20, 2009 at 03:41 PM

RSL Florida’s girls under-18 team secured its place in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regionals with a 5-0 win against Arkansas champion the NWA Lightning on Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

Four different players scored for RSL, but the architect of the win was midfielder Ana Cate, who had three assists, including on the opening two goals.

The first came early, when Tishia Jewell rose to head in Cate’s corner kick to give RSL the lead. Paige Goodwin then flicked a header past an advancing goalkeeper off a free kick by Cate to double the advantage before halftime.

Allison Griffin and Jewell added to RSL’s lead in the second half before Cate provided the service for Annick McBryar to complete the scoring.

“We needed to win today, because it means less pressure for tomorrow,” Coach Ben Strawbridge said. “Now we can just go play now we’re into the quarters.”

RSL will face the Dallas Texans on Sunday, with the winner advancing as the group winner, and likely an easier draw in Monday’s quarterfinals. The Texans beat Louisiana champions the Mandeville Lakers 2-0 on Saturday.

Strawbridge said he hoped to take victory, but that a team like the defending national champion Texans would give his team a chance to learn about what its weaknesses were after being rarely tested in the opening two games.

“When you’re playing against a team like the Texans, they’re going to expose some of your weaknesses,” Strawbridge said. “Hopefully we can still win, and have those weaknesses exposed and learn enough about what we need to fix for Monday.”