VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite will once again test themselves against the best girls soccer teams in North America in the annual soccerloco Surf College Cup in San Diego, California.
“A huge part of our Girls Elite program is also to progress players into post-secondary environments that will support their progression as individuals, both and off the soccer pitch,” said Whitecaps FC Girls Elite head coach Jesse Symons. “The Surf Cup is the premier showcase tournament in the United States and it allows our players to measure themselves against the top teams in North America, in front of college coaches and scouts from highly regarded programs.”
The ‘Caps are in Bracket B and will open the tournament this Friday, November 28 against Placer United, one of the top ranked teams from Northern California. On Saturday, the Blue and White will play two matches. First they take on Slammers FC ECNL, finalists at the 2013 Surf Cup, featuring players from the United States U-18 national team and Mexican national team. To conclude their group, they will have a big task against current U.S. national champions Del Mar Sharks. The winners of each of Bracket A, B, and C, as well as a Wildcard team will play in two semifinals on Sunday, followed by the final. For the complete schedule, click HERE.
This season the Girls Elite squad have played a series of friendlies primarily against college and university teams. The program has also added a group of part-time players from the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League.
“As a club, we are dedicated to producing players for Canadian youth and senior national teams,” noted Symons. “It is a privilege to go and compete against these teams and we are very much looking forward to getting players in front of college coaches and top class competition.”
Symons has called in three additional guest players from the BCSPL for the Surf College Cup: goalkeeper Abby Hunt and defender Kassie Kirlik from Surrey United, as well as Coquitlam Metro-Ford striker Isabella Boccia.
In 2009, Whitecaps FC Girls Elite finished as runners-up in the summer's U-19 Super division at San Diego Surf Cup XXIX, becoming the first Canadian female side to reach a Surf Cup final. Complete coverage of the 2014 Surf College Cup can be found HERE.
For more information on the Girls Elite program, visit whitecapsfc.com/youth/eliteteams/girlselite. Follow Girls Elite news and results on Twitter at @WFCElite.
