PDL Feature

Sunday, December 13, 2015

BRADENTON, Fla. – Sometimes the cards don’t align from a results standpoint, but in terms of development and experience, the Cedar Stars Academy had many takeaways from the 2015 Super Y League National Finals.

CSA was in a heated Group B in which all four teams entered the final day of group action with identical 1-1-0 records. Cedar took care of its job with a 4-2 victory against FC Sarasota on Sunday. However, because of head-to-head play, F.A. Euro New York won the group and advanced to Monday’s semifinals.

Kevin Brito was CSA’s star, garnering a hat trick with the final touch of the match in second-half stoppage time.

While the knockout round eluded CSA, the tournament was incredibly important as the players look to further their game to the collegiate and perhaps professional ranks down the road.

“Coach was saying that we have to keep our structure as a team and show up every day with the urgency to play,” Brito said. “Today, we showed up and we played well. We didn’t want to have another game like yesterday.”

Saturday’s game was a 2-0 loss to F.A. Euro New York, which advanced to the semifinals after a 2-1 win against Indiana Elite FC on Sunday. That result, combined with the head-to-head advantage over CSA, dropped Cedar to second in the standings.

“We came off a loss where we were outworked by a lot of boys who were older,” CSA Head Coach Edward Acosta said after Sunday’s win. “We have a young group of boys, mostly 15 and 16 – the vast majority are 2000s and ’99s – so it was hard. Our Academy is all about unity and teamwork, and I told them it’s not all about the tunnel vision. It’s about looking ahead at how you’re going to develop and move to a D1 school.”

The CSA squad showed some strong moments in the tournament, opening with a 6-2 win against Indiana Elite FC and then posing a scoring threat in numerous stretches on Sunday against FC Sarasota. Those performances were far more focused and effective than the loss to New York the day before.

“They learned how to work like men,” Acosta said. “The New York boys were very physical. We have a nice tactical team that knocks the ball around really well. We needed to have more heart and be more physical, and that’s how we came out today.”

“We didn’t come out to play against New York, and from the get-go we didn’t play well enough, but today we picked it up and played a good game,” Brito said.

Brito joined CSA this past summer. He has recently played Development Academy ball for NJCSA and used to play for the Philadelphia Union’s youth system. Brito’s experience and fluidity on the ball certainly stood out during the tournament.

“He’s a kid that’s so willing to work,” Acosta said. “He’s always working, always saying, ‘hey coach, let’s go get some touches.’ He wants to play D1 soccer, and he’s learning every day. He’s very crafty, very smart and strong on the ball. Throughout all his life, that’s how he’s been. I’ve known the family for many years.”

From a club standpoint, there certainly is some natural disappointment about not advancing to the semifinals. Nevertheless, CSA will hold its head high and move forward after rebounding from the earlier defeat to New York.

“We have no qualms about anything,” Acosta said. “The boys learned a lot from that match, and today they prevailed.”