The Mandeville Soccer Club U17 girls Lakers team put on a strong team performance in the U. S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships in North Carolina, earning a semifinal appearance. Wes Leake, the U17 coach in his 10th year with MSC, said his club entered the tournament as a wildcard team, competing in the higher U19 bracket.

Each of the MSC squads’ held their own going against top-notch competition, including more than 184 top boys and girls U. S. youth soccer teams representing the 12 state associations.

In their first tournament game last Friday, the U17s lost to the North Carolina Capitol Area Soccer League, 1-0, in bracket play. Following a rain out, the U17 Lakers came back last Sunday to defeat the Mississippi Fire, 1-0. Cambri Prevost (St. Thomas Aquinas) tallied an unassisted goal midway through the first half to give the Lakers the lead, which held up as they managed to maintain the majority of the second-half possessions to notch the victory. The Lakers kept up the offensive pressure to secure the one goal victory. Goalkeeper Amy Howard (Mandeville High) was credited with the shutout.

Pictured are members of the Mandeville Soccer Club U17 Lakers, who participated in the U. S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Raleigh, N. C. The U17 Lakers, competing as a wild card team, advanced to the semifinals falling to the South Texas Challenge 4-1. Pictured from left, first row: Shelbi LaCombe, Morgan Springer, Katy Hoover, Kim Treese, Michelle Duplantier; and second row: coach Wes Leake, Amy Howard, Caitlin Leumas, Syd Robbins, Kaley Blanton, Tricia Johnson, Catherine Luparello, Kelly Gautreaux, Rachael Zibilich, Cambri Prevost and Heather Fitzgerald.

On Monday, the U17s blanked the Birmingham United, 2-0. The Lakers’ Shelbi Lacombe (Fontainebleau High) took a corner kick in the second minute. The ball pinged around in the box and deflected off an Alabama defender, finding its way into the goal. The Lakers held onto to the goal advantage, taking a 1-0 halftime lead. In the second half, approximately two minutes in, Lacombe was awarded another corner kick. The ball bounced around, eventually finding Catherine Luparello’s (Pope John Paul II) left foot. She bent the shot into the top left corner of the goal to close out the scoring at 2-0. Based on their 2-1 bracket mark, the U17 Lakers, advanced to the semifinals against the South Texas Challenge, falling 4-1. South Texas took a 2-0 lead before Morgan Springer (Northlake Christian School) notched the Lakers’ lone goal in the 44th minute.

Michelle Duplantier started the scoring effort with a corner kick just before halftime. South Texas cleared the corner kick, but the ball bounced to Springer, who took a looping shot from the top of the box. The ball went under the cross bar for the score.

Leake said the South Texas team was bigger, stronger and faster.

“By far, that was the quickest team we have ever faced. We couldn’t match up with them. Their overall team speed was just too much for us to handle,” Leake said.

He said the majority of the South Texas team had college experience. South Texas went on to win the U19 Region III championship, defeating Georgia 3-0.

Leake said his club played strong defensively throughout the regional tournament.

“In bracket play, they only allowed one goal, going against primarily older college players. They played very consistent defense. We stepped up defensively to stay in the matches,” Leake said.

Leake said Caitlin Leumas (Fontainebleau High) turned in a strong defensive performance with her controlled pressure.

“Caitlin held her own going one-on-one with her opponents. She pretty much was able to shut down the other team’s top scorer,” Leake added.

“I felt our players competed to the best of their ability giving their all. They proved that they have the ability to play college soccer since they were going against top-notch college players.”

He said he was really proud of his team.

“This team always fights hard. They go into ever match with pride and play with heart,” Leake said.