PHOENIX RISING
DANVILLE — Brett Michaels has been coaching young athletes for over two decades, but hasn't seen anything like the season the Central Susquehanna Soccer Club U13 Phoenix girls team has put together.
The team has recently qualified for the United States Youth Soccer National Tournament, the soccer equivalent of the Little League World Series. The stakes to crown a national champion take place July 7-11 in Wichita, Kansas.
Not that spectators would notice the 15 girls acting or practicing any differently leading up to the eight-team tournament where teams will be split into pools of four and guaranteed three games. The top two teams from each pool play a semifinal with the national championship taking place on Michaels' birthday, July 11.
"They have the same mindset at practice now as they did in March. For being a youth team, they're business-oriented," Michaels said. "I've coached youth, high school and college teams and these are some of the most driven athletes I've coached. Their concentration is focused and it's a singular-minded group. There are no shenanigans at practice and they're sponges, taking in everything."
That could prove to be a good thing as the team heads into the tournament without a clue on who else qualified, much less having scouting reports handy. It could come down to which team can execute fundamentally and perform best under pressure.
Michaels isn't worried about the Phoenix folding when the pressure mounts, pointing to a pair of games from earlier this year. His first example was a 1-0 state semifinal victory in which the team didn't run a set piece correctly but managed to score and play shutdown defense. His other was in the Eastern Regional President's Cup, where the team was facing a 2-0 deficit in harsh heat to tie the game and force overtime. The Phoenix scored the game-winning goal with six minutes remaining to earn a 3-2 victory over Farmington, Connecticut, and secure a berth in the national tournament.
"We're entering nationals swinging in the dark since we have no familiarity with who we're playing," Michaels said. "It will come down to structure and fundamentals, and hopefully that carries the day for the kids.
"One of the things we're focused on is eliminating the margin for error and enjoying the ride. We talk about gratitude and focusing on one step at a time and one game at a time. We've already exceeded our goals for the year and just want the kids to enjoy this experience."
That last part shouldn't be an issue for a group that has gelled and created a team chemistry Michaels attributes to much of its success both over time — three Elite Development Program titles — and this year.
"We try to throw little things in and change things up, making every practice different which helps pique their interest because every day is different," Michaels said. "The way they treat each other is the No. 1 thing though. They don't have any egos and I've seen that kill teams. They like each other on and off the pitch and actually enjoy themselves. It's a very mature environment, with everybody picking one another up."
Trip to Kansas
The team may not have any trouble playing the game, but with a two-week window that is quickly closing, the Phoenix are hoping getting to Kansas will be just as easy.
The team is seeking monetary donations from the community to help offset the travel and staying costs. Michaels estimates it will take $30,000-$32,000 to pay for the entire trip, including bus, hotel and food.
The team has made numerous fundraising efforts to this point including a car wash, going door to door with letters looking for support, reaching out to businesses and state representatives, doing radio interviews and getting proceeds from a local frozen yogurt shop. They also set up a GoFundMe account in their team name and have raised a few thousand dollars in the early going.
"We couldn't be presumptuous and ask for donations before, but with less than a two-week turnaround, it's been chaotic," Michaels said. "Still, I wouldn't trade any of this because this could very well be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I want to ensure they get out there. The focus is all on the kids."
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