On Thursday, December 12th, FIERCE took 06-07G NL, 08G NL, and 09G NL to Mesa, AZ for the NL Quarterfinals. The event served as each team's first stop on their road to the NL National Championships. To secure advancement to the Semifinals, teams had to finish in the top two of their group or be the highest third-place finisher out of all teams across the age group.
The first day of action kicked off Friday, Dec 13th with all 3 teams playing back-to-back. FIERCE's 09G NL came out of the gate strong, overpowering a talented Ole FC Academy with a 3-1 victory. On the second day, 06-07G NL and 09G NL earned crucial ties, while 08G NL battled hard but ultimately fell 2-1 to Elite Development Academy. On the final day of play, 06-07G NL and 09G NL secured wins to end on a high note.
For 09G NL, their 2 wins and 1 draw across the event earned them the top spot in their group. Their first-place finish removed all doubts - they had earned their place at the NL Semifinals in Oceanside! Although 06-07G NL's 1-1-1 record at the event put them in a good position, it did not guarantee advancement. Since they finished third in their group, they now had to see if they were the highest third-place finisher across the 06-07G age group. NL had 4 tiebreakers in place to determine the highest third-place finisher, and FIERCE was tied on all 4 with the other highest 06G third-place finisher. This meant that 06-07G NL's advancement to the Semifinals came down to a literal coin toss, and FIERCE won! With the coin toss in hand, 06-07G NL had earned their place alongside 09G NL at the Semifinals.
Reflecting on his first NL trip with FIERCE, Coach Andy shared:
It was a true honor and privilege to work with the 06-07 team this past weekend in Mesa. Really happy to be progressing on to the next round of the competition in Oceanside in 2025, but taking away the results of the weekend, I'm even happier with how the weekend went. This group showed maturity, perseverance and togetherness to get through the weekend, all while showing their quality on the field in each of their 3 games. The way in which these players adapted to tactical and positional changes, injuries to key players and the unpredictability of tournament soccer was amazing to see. There's doing things the right way and there's doing things the FIERCE way and I'm glad to say this group did both all weekend!
For 08G NL, although they did not punch their ticket at Mesa, it does not spell the end for them on their quest to reach Nationals. In fact, an alternate pathway via State Cup and Regionals is still available to the team. This pathway is familiar territory as just last season 08G NL won State Cup to advance to Regionals.
Overall, the Quarterfinals proved to be a great experience for all three teams, regardless of results. From bringing new staff like Coach Andy, Coach Vic, and CSCS Coaches Amie and Jamie on their first trip, to building team chemistry and life-long memories for FIERCE players, this trip was certainly one for the books! The club cannot wait to see what 06-07G and 09G NL will accomplish at the Oceanside Semifinals in May!