The NEO Select Soccer Club won the U16 championship for boys at the Continental Cup. Team members on this photo submitted by Kevin Ruple are, front, from left, Michael Saddler (Elyria Catholic), James Bildstein (Olmsted Falls), Dominic Payerchin (Cloverleaf), Josh Lewis (Elyria), Giovanni James (Huron), Zach Pelton (Medina) and Solomon Dutton (Huron); and back, head coach Reid Ayers, Dakota Swisher (Westlake), Eric Skutt (Olmsted Falls), Logan Johnston (Fairview), Nathaniel Brown (St. Edward), Jake Lagania (North Royalton), Dalton Sweet (Amherst), Miki Dutton ( Huron) and NEO Club Director Chris Mueller.
The Northeast Ohio Select Soccer Club from Parma Heights won the boys’ U16 title at the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s Continental Cup last weekend.
The team consists of a number of local players from 11 different high schools. Despite playing with a limited squad of 12 players due to injuries, the Greater Cleveland group managed to make it big in the championship game.
In the billiards game, NEO defeated Newmarket United FC of Ontario, Canada, 2-1 as Fairview High Logan Johnston scored both goals. It improved to 2-0 with a 5-2 win over Geneva’s Claymores SC as Johnson, Olmsted Falls’ James Bildstein, Hurons John James, Elyria Catholics Michael Sattler and Amhersts Dalton Sweet all dotted. NEO ended the game of pool in a 1-0 loss to Empre United FC of Buffalo, NY
In the playoffs and in the semifinals, NEO defeated the Spanish Calasanz FC 4-2 as North Royaltons Jake Lagania, Johnston, incoming Elyria High freshman Josh Lewis and hurons Solomon Dutton everyone has scored once. Lagania is a member of the U16 national team and Lewis is a member of the U14 national team.
In the championship game, NEO met Empire United FC again. Lagania scored NEO’s only goal and the title game drew 1-1 and went to penalties. The Parma Heights squad surpassed Empire 4-1 to win the crown with Cloverleafs Dominic Payerchin, Sweet, Saddler, and Lagania all count for NEO.
The NEO Select Club is coached by the Baldwin Wallace University head coach Reid Ayers and club director Chris Müller.
“This was an outstanding achievement given our limited squad due to injuries and many other complications,” said Mueller. “Our young men played with a lot of passion and enthusiasm and their stamina really paid off. That was a very good tournament that was well organized by the Sports Commission. “
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