5/5/13: Stampede take the silver at the Super Clásico

The Stampede took second place in the Davis Legacy's Super Clásico tournament held last week at the Davis Legacy Soccer Complex.  The locals were challenged early as they faced the USA Stars in game 1, the region's toughest U12 girls squad.  Down 2-0 at the half, Stampede forward Allie Belafsky got the locals to within one with a powerful blast from the right wing, but that was as close as they came, as they lost 4-1.  However, in true Stampede fashion, the locals bounced back that afternoon to beat a formidable Loomis team 3-0 courtesy of Jordan Davis' hat trick on assists from Lily Byrne and Sydney Moore.  The Stampede continued to roll Sunday morning, defeating Woodland 4-0.  Byrne started things off with a goal from the 18.  Davis tallied two more goals on assists from Moore and Yasmeen Dmeiri.  After getting hacked in the box late in the game, Byrne buried a penalty to make it 4-0 .  Tough defense from Grace Barger and Lindsey Vernau helped to secure the shutout.  The Stampede's wins and goal differential sent them to the championship match Sunday afternoon to once again face the USA Stars.  Down 3-0 early in the second half, Davis found space at the 18 to drive in a goal over the keeper's head.  But the Stars answered quickly making it 4-1.  The locals would not give up as Byrne beat the keeper to the ball on Lindsey Vernau's free kick, making it 4-2.  Soon after, Belafsky was fouled in the box on a breakaway and Byrne made her second penalty of the day, bringing the locals within a goal before time expired, with the final score of 4-3.  Key defense by Skye Shaffer, Sophie Karperos, Sydney Moore and keeper McKenna Lutzker held the Stars at bay for the rest of the match.

4/28/13: Two out of three three ain't bad!

The Stampede chalked up 13 goals over the weekend as they logged two impressive wins and a very narrow loss.  The locals started off strong Friday evening as they shut out the Fair Oaks Freedom 4-0.  Jordan Davis scored two while Sophie Karperos added a goal on Yasmeen Dmeiri's corner and later assisted Ainsley Carroll for the fourth and final goal.  The Stampede were even more dominant Sunday morning, crushing the Cal Blues 8-0.  Davis scored two more in the match as did Vanessa Carrasco. Dmeiri, Anne Ayotte and Mckenna Lutzker had one each and a Cal Cougar own goal added insult to injury to complete the rout.  Lily Byrne had two assists while Skye Shaffer and Davis added one each.  The locals faced a tough Modesto Ajax team Sunday afternoon but lost 2-1 in a hard fought and heated match.  Although they were up 1-0 at the half after Alex Hanna scored on an assist from Ayotte, the locals could not prevent two second half tallies by the opponent.  Karperos, Shaffer and Grace Carlson led a spirited defensive battle throughout the contest.

4/21/13: Stampede over Cougars

The locals beat the Cal Cougars 3-0 in today's windy matchup at the Davis Legacy Soccer Complex.  With a 1-0 lead at the half on Jordan Davis' early goal, the Stampede were able to get two more in the second half, first from Ainsley Carroll on an assist from Yasmeen Dmeiri and then Davis scored her second on an assist from Lily Byrne.  Tough team defense did the rest to secure the shutout.

4/14/13: Stampede open the 2013 spring season with a split

The Stampede opened the Norcal spring season by splitting games last weekend. After falling to Elk Grove, 3-0, on Friday, the locals came back with a vengeance on Saturday morning, dominating BOCA, 8-1.  With Jordan Davis opening the Stampede scoring on a close range header, the contest was tied 1-1 at the half.  But the locals organized a crushing onslaught of offensive power after the break, scoring seven straight goals.  In the barrage, Davis tallied twice to complete a hat trick, Anne Ayotte had two goals, and single tallies came from Ainsley Carroll, Grace Barger and Allie Belafsky.

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.