7 Elite Academy’s 2012B Copa South returned home to Utah as National Champions after a dramatic comeback to win the US Presidents Cup National Championships.
The St George youngsters came back from 4-0 down – with 16 minutes left in regulation – against a strong LUFC side in Tampa, Florida to win 6-4 on Tuesday morning.
The win follows victories in the Utah and regional stages of the competition, before the national event this week.
The celebrations continued with a Fire Truck parade at Little Valley Fields on Wednesday evening.
Head Coach Justin Day said: “This is a fantastic achievement for these players and one that none of us will ever forget.
“To come back from 4-0 down to win in such great fashion shows the resilience and strength of these players when the chips are down.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for what they’ve done this week in Tampa. The players, coaches and parents have been world class.”
“The fire truck parade on Wednesday evening at Little Valley Field was a fantastic event for everyone!
“We also had our 2011G Predator South here this week and those girls showed the same passion and talent that will see them go far in soccer.
“Thank you to everyone who came. I still can’t believe the amazing effort this team gave!”
7 Elite Academy’s 2011G Predator South team followed the same route to the National Championships and after a week of fundraising, worked hard against the best teams in the country.
Anthony Godfrey, Academy Director at 7 Elite Academy added: “This is a great win for these players, who showed heart, grit and determination to secure the National Championship.
“Along with our 2011G Predator South team, we have seen our players display those attributes throughout this tournament and I am so proud of them all.
“The coaches work hard with our teams during the year, giving them the right attitude and approach to soccer. This is their reward.
“But it wasn’t just about soccer. Our players held events in their communities to raise funds for travel to the tournament. That was equally important for their development.
“The parade was a great opportunity for players, coaches and families in St George to come together and celebrate this achievement!”
7 Elite Academy administers and coaches teams for thousands of players across the world, in the United States, the United Kingdom and in East Africa.
