2/28/13: New U12 Stampede squad ready for 2013

With a larger roster (16) and larger fields (11 v 11 format), the stage is set for the 2013 Norcal Premier season.   Spring season play begins April 12th.

2/10/13: Stampede 11th overall in Norcal State Cup Finals

The Stampede ended the 2012-13 year strong this past weekend finishing 3rd in their bracket and 11th overall in the Norcal State Cup finals.  In Saturday's semi-final they faced the Mustang Legends of Danville but could not find an answer to the opponent's onslaught of goals accompanied by a dominant possession of the ball.  Late in the first half, Jordan Davis scored at close range on a cross from Anne Ayotte to make it 3-1.  Down 5-1 late in the game, Yasmeen Dmeiri converted a penalty for the a second goal but it wasn't enough as the Stampede lost 6-2.  The girls bounced back tough for the 3rd place match on Sunday as they walloped the ACC Mavericks Dynamite 6-0 to secure the bronze.  Ayotte was able to convert a free kick late in the first half making it 1-0 but it was the second half where the locals really turned on the heat.  The barrage began as Lily Byrne put the moves on several defenders and drove in goal number two.  Byrne then found Grace Barger at the 18 who blasted in goal number three.  Ayotte and Dmeiri banged home the next two goals from inside the box as the Stampede continued to pass and create opportunities.  The final goal came on an assist from Stampede keeper McKenna Lutzker as she punted the ball into the opponent's penalty area while Jordan Davis raced the opposing keeper and tapped the bounding ball into the net.  A true team win it was.  Adeline Umphress, Kaitlyn McElhern and Alex Hanna wore out the opponent with plenty of well-timed offensive runs.  Support came from Sydney Moore, Grace Carlson and Emily Speakman just when the team needed it.  And ferocious defense by Sophia Karperos and Skye Shaffer left the frustrated Maverick offense teary-eyed.   

What a performance.  What a year.  Congratulations, Stampede!

01/28/13: Stampede advance in State Cup

The Stampede will try to prove they are among Northern California's top ten U11 girls teams on Feb 9-10 as they head to the final rounds of the Norcal State Cup.  Last Sunday's quarter final win against Danville's Mustang Blast secured their place in the 9-16 bracket for the final rounds.  During Saturday's qualifying rounds, the locals rallied in game 1 to score five straight goals and beat COSC Odyssey 5 -2 after being down 0-2 in the second half.  Yasmeen Dmeiri's free kick found Anne Ayotte who scored the first goal with only 20 minutes to go.  Grace Barger then sent in a cross to Lily Byrne who knocked in the equalizer.  A similar close range goal came from Jordan Davis a few minutes later to make it 3-2.  Byrne then sped past the Odyssey defense to tap in the fourth tally just ahead of the oncoming keeper after a long goal kick by Dmeiri.  Sophie Karperos orchestrated a fifth attempt after charging the defenders which sent the ball to a perfectly positioned Kaitlyn McElhern who finished for the fifth and final goal.  Game 2 matched Davis against top ranked Modesto.  Despite scoring first on a penalty by Ayotte and a later goal by Jordan Davis, Modesto booked the victory 4-2 sending the Stampede into the second bracket for the quarter final round against Danville, whom they edged 2-1.  Ayotte scored the first half goal on a free kick and Grace Carlson netted the winning goal securing a semi-final berth for the Stampede.

12/9/12: Stampede dominant over the weekend

The locals booked two decisive victories over the weekend beating Sac United 5-1 and Placer United 4-0.  In Saturday's final league game against Sacramento, Lily Byrne opened up the scoring with a liner from the 18 and Jordan Davis followed a few minutes later as she finished a bouncing ball in the box at close range.  Anne Ayotte then blasted in a 25-yarder making it 3-0 at the half.  After intermission, Ayotte assisted Davis who broke away for the fourth goal and Byrne did the same for Adeline Umphress who scored the fifth and final goal from the right side of the box.  A late goal from the opponent made the final score 5-1.  Tough defending from Grace Carlson and Yasmeen Dmeiri stifled Sacramento's offensive efforts throughout the match.  Sunday the Stampede faced Placer United in State Cup play.  Davis connected with Grace Barger inside the goal box for the first goal.  Soon after, Alex Hanna's aggressive challenge on a Placer defender deep in the box resulted in a failed clear and a close range tally for goal number two.  In the second half, Davis muscled a ball through the keeper's arms making it 3-0 and then Umphress found the unmarked Sydney Moore at the six who in turn netted the fourth and final goal of the shutout.

11/18/12: Stampede split over the weekend

The locals bested Placer United 3-2 Saturday morning but could not overcome FC Elk Grove later that afternoon, as they lost 3-1.

11/11/12: Stampede illin'

The Stampede were shut out over the weekend with a loss to San Juan 1-0 Saturday and then to FC Elk Grove 2-0 Sunday.

10/28/12: Stampede win U12 Lily Nisen Memorial!

The Stampede took first place in the U12 division of the annual Lily Nisen Memorial Tournament hosted by Davis Legacy Soccer Club this past weekend. The locals breezed through Game 1, beating the Spanish Springs Lady Jaguars 6-0.  In addition to two own-goals by the opponent, Jordan Davis scored twice while McKenna Lutzker knocked in a close range tally and Allie Belafsky buried a long range shot from beyond the 18.  The Stampede continued strong against Barcelona Norcal in Game 2 with a goal by Lily Byrne in the first few minutes and another in the second half by J. Davis, assisted by Anne Ayotte.  Final score was 2-1.  The Stampede then beat the Vacaville Vipers 3-1.  Ayotte scored first on an assist by J. Davis  who in turn scored on a rebound off of a long range shot by Ayotte.  Byrne scored the third goal on a breakaway from a through ball by Lutzker. The championship contest matched the Stampede against their fellow U11 rival USA Stars.  Knotted at 0 after regulation, the game headed into overtime.  With the ball on the right wing, striker Alex Hanna made a long run from midfield into the box and was able to one-touch a bounding ball from Byrne past the charging Stars keeper and into the back of the net, cementing the win and the 1st place trophy for the Stampede. 

Special thanks to Coach Alex Park who led the girls to victory filling in for Rozie these past two weekends.