Super Y League Feature

Sunday, December 13, 2015

BRADENTON, Fla. – As time wound down, Internationals SC was looking for an opening.

Down by a goal, and needing a draw to advance to the semifinals of the Girls U13 Division of the 2015 SYL North American Finals, Victoria Kevdzija found one after her side was awarded a free kick, 25 yards from goal on the right-center of the penalty area.

“Yeah, I overheard people saying ‘shift right, shift right, she’s a lefty,’ so I could see the gap,” Kevdzija said. “The goalie was in the right position so I could just slide it through.”

Kevdzija’s low, driven shot went low past the near edge of the wall, and buried itself into the right corner of the net to earn a 2-2 draw with Atlanta Fire United on Sunday afternoon in Group A, and a place in the knockout stage.

“I mean, it was pretty awesome,” Kevdzija said. “It was amazing. My team had faith in me that I could score. They said that they all prayed for me on the bench.”

The central midfielder has had a strong week already at the tournament, recording three assists in the team’s opening 6-2 win against FC Florida on Friday. Kevdzija also opened the scoring in Sunday’s game as she capped off a fluid move by the Internationals’ attack with a low finish into the right corner of the net from the top of the penalty area.

That level of connection between the team has been evident throughout the tournament as Zdravko Popovic’s side also notched six goals in its second game of the tournament leave it ahead of Atlanta on goal differential entering Sunday’s decider.

“I’d say that it’s a really nice feeling, knowing that we scored through our teamwork,” Kevdzija said of her opening goal. “I was just lucky enough to play with them, and they believed in me, and I believed in myself, and that’s how we scored.”

Two quick goals in the second half by Atlanta put the Internationals’ place in the knockout stage in doubt, as United rallied back strongly to take the lead with about 10 minutes to go. With potentially two games remaining in the tournament, Kevdzija and her teammates are ready to raise their game ahead of Monday’s contest with the Long Island Rough Riders.

“I know we have to push harder, and we have to do better than we ever have, and I know we can do it,” she said.

SYL North American Finals Top Performers
Valerie Visaggio, IMG Academy, U18 Girls – Visaggio scored a pair of goals to lead IMG into the championship game with a 4-2 victory against FCSC United, which also got a pair of goals from Elizabeth Keefer.

Samantha Gordon, Northern Virginia Majestics, U16 Girls – Gordon scored twice as the Majestics took a 4-1 win against the DDYSC Wolves, who clinched the top spot in Group C and a place in the semifinals.

Anna Sorando and Rachel Jackson, Washington Spirit Academy VA Red, U16 Girls – Both Sorando and Jackson scored a pair of goals as the Spirit Academy VA Red defeated ACYS Spirit United to finish top of Group A on goal differential.

Jennifer Blitchok, Midwest United FC, U14 Girls – Blitchok scored twice as United finished the group stage with its third win in as many games, a 4-1 victory against CYA Soccer Premier.

Brianna Robinson, Annandale United Majestics FC, U14 Girls – Robinson had a pair of goals to lead the Majestics to a 4-0 win against the Washington Spirit Academy MD, and into the semifinals with a perfect 3-0-0 record.

Kenar Gelman, Long Island Rough Riders, U13 Girls – Gelman scored twice as the Rough Riders pulled away from Abbey Villa S.C. in the second half to finish top of Group C and advance to the semifinals.

Kayleigh Goodrich, SABA NYC, U13 Girls – Goodrich had two goals to lead SABA to a 5-0 win against Atlanta Metros FC, which clinched first place in Group B with a perfect 3-0-0 record.

Megan Sidaway, Waza FC East, U12 Girls – Sidaway had two goals and an assist as Waza advanced to the semifinals with victory against the Alpharetta Ambush, which moved them top of Group B.

Caitlyn Bruni, Internationals SC, U12 Girls – Bruni had a hat trick as the Internationals moved into the semifinals with a 3-1 victory against the DDYSC Wolves in Group A.