Deptford soccer program team members display their championship trophy, medals and banner after winning a nail-biter of a contest against Maryland.
The Deptford Premier FC 2007 boys soccer team won its first U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) Presidents Cup Championship in the 17U national competition on July 16 in Wichita, Kansas.
The team beat SAC Boys 2007 Premier Blue from Columbia, Maryland, to take the champonship. The two teams were scoreless after 90 minutes of play, triggering a shootout. When that, too, went scoreless, it took 14 penalty kicks before Deptford scored the winning goal.
Players, coaches and their families roared in celebration.
“It’s been a few weeks now and I still feel like it hasn’t sunk in fully,” said head coach Luke Tyler. “It was an incredible feeling among the staff, players and parents. Tears, excitement, disbelief, and every emotion you could think of was on display when the final whistle went, and we knew we were national champions.
“What these kids have done is so special,” Tyler added. “I have coached this group for 10 years now and what they have put together is remarkable – the traveling to games, the training, the ups and downs, bumps and bruises.
“Blue skies don’t exist every day in soccer, so what collectively they have done as a group there are simply no words for. Just amazing.”
The victory avenged the defeat Deptford suffered in the same contest last year and it also marked the team’s fifth straight victory in this year’s tournament. During their historic run, the players managed to outscore their opponents 16-2, according to New Jersey Youth Soccer.
Before making it to Kansas, the team had to battle for the state title, then take on other opponents at the regionals in West Virginia.
“The journey to reach nationals is a grind for sure,” Tyler noted. “Firstly, you have to win the New Jersey State Cup, which is five games, to be the state cup champions, and the winning team qualifies for regionals in West Virginia.
“Then you head down to West Virginia to represent the state of New Jersey and play the other state cup champions from their respective states in the Northeast,” the coach explained. “You play group play, so four teams in two groups. You play each team in your group and then the top two advance into the semifinals and then finals.
“Then the winners advance to nationals in Kansas.”
With the season out of the way, the soccer program plans to let the champonship achievement sink in before starting preparation for next year and further developing the players’ skills.
“It meant everything,” Tyler noted. “To say that you are the national champion over everyone in the United States at this age and level is remarkable. I’m so happy for these kids, the club, the parents, Deptford Township and everyone that is involved in our program.
‘We have high expectations of all our players and teams, but this does push us to the next level to make sure we continue to get better.”
