The RSL-AZ Southern AZ 08 Girls’ bid for a national championship came up short Saturday with a 2-0 loss in the semifinals to Southern California FRAM Soccer Club at Dallas.
The 08 team, coached by Paul DesRosier, will play Sunday at 6 a.m., Tucson time, for third place in the Development Player League nationals against Rhode Island G2008.
Rhode Island lost to Carlsbad (Calif.) SC City 08G by a score of 2-1 in the other semifinal.
“Today’s game was an amazing match,” DesRosier said of his team’s game with FRAM. “In many ways, I knew it was the final and unfortunately we had to meet FRAM in the semifinals.”
RSL-AZ Southern AZ 08 Girls team lost to FRAM 6-2 earlier this season in a national showcase that did not figure into its regular-season record. DesRosier’s is now 10-1-1 after Saturday’s loss.
“They are a strong, athletic and very direct team which is a difficult match for us and our possession style,” DesRosier said.
The game was scoreless until the 65th minute.
“Our girls battled with such heart,” DesRosier said. “The progression from last year’s regionals to this year’s nationals is actually quite scary. There is no doubt in my mind the work will start immediately to get back to the final four next year and win this for Tucson.”
ROSTER
- Annabelle Accetta
- Madyn Allan
- Ximena Peralta-Ceja
- Jhianae DesRosier
- Zoey Gist
- Natalia Hoerig
- Alicia Jauregi
- Ani Jimenez
- Luz Mendoza
- Mia Miranda
- Chloe Peters
- Brindisi Pickett
- Ava Rayman
- Alexa Romero
- Kassidy Sherfield
- Sydney Smith
- Mandy Tran
- Keeley Moran
- Madison Vigil
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