Youth Team News Archives
July 4, 2007
On Tuesday, July 3rd, The U-16G McLean Freedom became Region 1 Champions for the second time. After winning the championship 4 years ago and advancing to the semi finals in each of the following years, the team had been unsuccessful in returning to the finals until this year.
Playing in October-like weather on the Bowdoin College, Maine campus, the Freedom's first opponent was Albertson Fury, the Eastern NY Champ. Having lost to Albertson on their 2 prior meetings, they were viewed as the Freedom's toughest group play opponent. Albertson scored first about 10 minutes into the first half. However, Freedom players were not fazed and the team scored the equalizer in the last minute of first half play. A last minute in the first half goal will recur in the final match. In the second half, the Freedom scored on three more occasions and cruised to a 4-1 win.
The next two matches were against the Connecticut and New Hampshire champs - The Freedom won both scoring 21 goals and giving up none. The 3 wins put the team in the semi final match against Beadling, the Pennsylvania West State Champ and the same semi final opponent they faced when they won the championship 4 years ago. As expected, Beadling was a very worthy opponent. After 80 minutes of play, there were no goals scored so the match went to an additional 30 minutes of overtime. The Freedom scored once in each overtime period and Beadling managed to put one in the net with less than a minute to play – The Freedom won 2-1!
With 4 wins, only one game remained between the Freedom and the championship. But, their opponent was the Eastern Pennsylvania Champ, the FC Bucks Vipers. The Bucks and Freedom have played on many occasions and are therefore very familiar with one another. The hard fought match was characterized with lots of fouls and 2 yellow cards. But, as in the first game against Albertson, the Freedom scored during the last minute of first half play. In the second half, the team had 2 or 3 good chances to score, but successfully defended that one goal lead.
The McLean Freedom played 5 games during which they scored 28 goals and gave up 2. But most importantly, they returned home as Region 1 Champs! Their next challenge is the National Championships scheduled for July 24 thru 28 in Frisco, Texas.
May 14, 2007
At High Noon on a beautiful Mother's Day 2007, the U-16G McLean Freedom
took the field for the final leg of their quest to return the Region 1 Championships for the 5th consecutive year. After winning the U-12 thru U-15 Virginia State Cup, the team faltered this year by losing to the a Chantilly NetForce, a team they met and beat in the State Cup finals, three of the previous four years. After losing the cup, the team could only return to regionals by winning the Region 1 Premier League, or by placing in the final 4 and hoping their opponents won their state cups.
The quest began in early March. On a sunny early spring Saturday, the Freedom, met the reigning Maryland State Champ and played to a 0-0 draw. The second game of the day resulted in relatively easy win. Their next games were on last Saturday in March. The team won and lost one game so their overall record was 2-1-1. Nevertheless, they remained in good shape because the tough matches against the best teams were still ahead. The team won their remaining games and finished in 2nd place of the division giving them a spot in the final 4.
This was the 3rd year the Freedom has played in the Region 1 Premier League. And each year, their semi final opponent has been the Montclair Aristocrats, the reigning New Jersey State Champ. The Cats are a well coached team the Freedom had met on 7 previous occasions. The game started with an early Freedom goal. However, after 15 minutes of play in their opponents end, the Cats began to dominate and recorded an equalizer mid way through the first half. During most of the second half, the Freedom controlled play with the winning tally registered well into the period. The result was the same as the previous seven – a Freedom win! This win would probably have placed the Freedom in the Regional 1 Championships because the Stars of Massachusetts, the favorite to win their State Cup, won the other semi final.
Rather than leave their fate in the hands of others, the Freedom wanted to beat the Stars and return to regionals as Premier League Champion. But after 10 minutes of play, a win may have appeared insurmountable because the Stars recorded 2 early goals. But Coach Clyde Watson stayed with his game plan and the Freedom got one back near the end of the first half. During most of the second half, the Freedom dominated play but the Stars would not relent. But as he has done on many occasions, Watson made wise substitutions resulting in 2 scores during the last 10 minutes of play. The Freedom won 3 to 2!
Yes the Freedom will return to Regionals, not as a State Champ, but as the Premier League Champ. Instead of winning a State Cup Final, they did it by playing a grueling Premier League season against much more than top teams in the state. They did it the Hard Way by playing the best teams in the Region. Next step – Region 1 Championships hosted by Bowdoin College near Portland, Maine; June 28th thru July 3rd, 2007.
May 3, 2007
U-20 ROSTER ANNOUNCED
The Freedom is proud to announce its roster for the Summer 2007 U20 program. The decisions have been very difficult and competitive, but the Freedom SC staff feels that this is the most talented youth team that the club has put on the field since we started the youth program in 2003. With the interaction between the U20's and the senior W-league team, this will be a unique and special experience for all involved. All player selections made were unanimous decisions from the entire Freedom coaching staff. Beyond this named list, there may also be some other college players who are rostered with the senior team who also may be eligible to play games with the U20 team.
For the full roster, click here.
March 20, 2007
The Washington Freedom will be holding two tryout sessions for their U-20 team, the defending National Champions in the USL's Super-20 League. The sessions will take place at
Trinity University on Sunday, April 15 and Sunday, April 22nd, from 6:30-8:00 pm. Interested players are encouraged to attend. If you plan on attending, or if you have any questions, please contact Win Puffer at
WinthropPuffer@comcast.net or at 443-259-0020. College players born after January 1, 1987 are also eligible to play on this team. Current college players may submit a resume for consideration
January 3, 2007
On the second day of the New Year, our U-16 girls 
McLean Freedom, completed a sweep at the Walt Disney Soccer Showcase in Orlando, Florida. Playing in the Showcase Flight and facing some of the top teams in the nation, the Freedom won all of their preliminary games against state champion and regional champion teams from Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Michigan. They then went on to defeat two teams from the Eclipse Select Club of Chicago, including the reigning National Champion, Eclipse Select.
The preliminary games started with an evening match against FC Milwaukee, a former Region 2 Champion. The Freedom took a 3-0 lead during the first 20 minutes of play and settled for a 4-3 victory. Next on the schedule were the Greensboro Twisters, an opponent the Freedom has met a number of times; the last of which was in December at Raleigh, in a match played in a driving rainstorm. This time the weather was beautiful and the Freedom won 5-0. Their last preliminary game was against the Michigan Gators, a Michigan State Champ. As expected, the Gators were a physical opponent that mounted an early 1-0 lead. Ignoring the early deficit, the Freedom scored 3 unanswered goals in front of many spectators including college coaches representing top soccer programs throughout the country. The final result was a 3-1 win.
The 3-0-0 preliminary round record easily placed the team in the semi finals against the current National Champion, Eclipse Select. The other semi final matched Eclipse Select South, the Illinois State Champ against the Dallas Texans, the reigning Region 3 Champ. The Eclipse teams were planning on an Eclipse vs. Eclipse final.
Having lost to Eclipse Select last year, the Freedom Coach, Clyde Watson, conferred with last year's showcase coach Dave Tenney. Together, they crafted a cunning way to approach the game. The plan worked flawlessly resulting in a 3-0 shutout of the national champions. In the other semi final, their sister team prevailed beating the Texans 2-1. Thus the final was Freedom vs. Eclipse Select South, the former Chicago Pizzazz, a team that has always been a formidable opponent for the Freedom, having lost to them during 2 WAGS Tournament matchups.
The final began in a light rain that steadily increased in intensity. Eclipse South wanted to capitalize on the experience gained from the first Eclipse match. However the Freedom scored midway through the first half, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime. They added 3 goals during the second half for a convincing 4-0 win in the final.
The Disney Showcase was a tremendously positive experience for the U-16 Freedom. As predicted by Watson months ago, "The team will be playing well at Disney." Well, through hard training and dedication, his prediction came true! The team will be playing in the Region 1 Premier League this spring and also plans to attend the Las Vegas Showcase, Jefferson Cup and PDA Tournaments.
