Steinbrenner wins Premiere Bracket of Sarasota Holiday Tournament

Posted Dec 19, 2009 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated Dec 19, 2009 at 09:55 PM

SARASOTA - Steinbrenner continued its successful soccer campaign defeating Dade Christian 3-1 in the Premiere bracket final of the two-day Sarasota Holiday Tournament.

The Warriors got two late goals from Alexis Bredeau and Cici Gonzalez to cap Steinbrenner’s (11-0-2) four win weekend.

Both teams felt each other out for most of the first half as the Crusaders posed a physical challenge for the first year Warriors program. In the second half the Warriors struck first on a solid play by freshman Marley Opila, who stayed with a ball in the box and took control between a downed keeper and the net and sent in an unimpeded shot.

The Crusaders Ruth Leyvl evened the match two minutes later, but the Warriors controlled the ball in its opponents half for the rest of the match and sunk two goals to take the win and the tournament. The first shot came after a Opila corner kick was knocked around in the box and then deflected by a Dade Christian defender to Bredeau, who sent it in. The final Warriors goal came after a Marissa Maries corner found Gonzalez in the box and the sophomore forward sent in a nice one touch shot with her right foot.

For coverage of Plant’s penalty kick win in the Elite Bracket Tournament final check Sunday’s edition of the Tampa Tribune.