EFC Has Three Teams in the State Championship Games!

Today at Starfire Sports Complex, Eastside will have 3 teams playing for the top title in Washington State.  Unfortunately, all thee games are at 1:00, but pick one game or watch part of all three.  The important thing is to get out and show these teams our incredible EFC support!

EFC BU17 Red vs. Westsound, Field #2, Championship Cup
EFC BU17 White vs. Seattle United, Field #4, Challenge Cup
EFC BU18 White vs. Seattle United, Field #3, Challenge Cup

Best of Luck!

Audrey Thomas Named to NSCAA High School All American Team!

Congratulations to EFC's U18 Red Team player Audrey Thomas! Audrey is a junior at Issaquah School and was honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, for the following awards: 

NSCAA Washington State HS Player of the Year
NSCAA High School All Far West Region Team
NSCAA High School All-American

Audrey was also named Kingo Co 4A MVP, KingCo Conference 1st team and the Seattle Times "Star Times" All-Area Team.  This is fantastic news for Audrey, Issaquah High School and EFC!  

Her High School Coach, Tom Bunnell said, "In my years of coaching I have rarely encountered the complete package like Audrey. From her skill to her leadership, she makes coaching fun for me and playing fun for her teammates.  She is very deserving of any and all awards that come her way.  I am very proud of Audrey!"

Audrey has played with Eastside FC since U11 and is thankful for the great coaches that have helped her grow and develop as a player.  When asked about these honors, Audrey replied, "It's a really cool thing, and I am incredibly honored to be included.  There are so many deserving players.  I am surprised but happy they chose me."

Congratulations Audrey on this amazing accomplishment! Way to go!

Three EFC Players Named HS League MVP

Congratulations to three of the Girls 93 Red Players who received their High School Soccer League Most Valuable Player Award:

Coryn Bajema - Senior at  Lynden Christian HS, Northwest Conference League MVP
Delanee Nilles - Senior at North Kitsap HS, Olympic League Co-MVP (second year in a row)
Audrey Thomas - Junior at Issaquah HS, KingCo 4A League MVP

  

Coryn (upper left photo) will be attending the University of South Carolina and Delanee (upper right) has plans to attend Western Washington University, and both will be playing soccer!  Audrey's college plans are not determined at this time.  Congratulations Girls!

50 EFC Players Recognized with HS All League Honors!

Congratulations to the EFC players who earned All League Honors in their High School Soccer Programs.  There were approximately 27 girls represented on the First Team, 13 players on the Second Teams and 10 received an Honorable Mention. The girls play on EFC teams from the 96 age group to the 93's and both Red and White Teams were represented.  Congratulations Girls!  For a a detailed list, see the EFC Website.

We should also recognize those EFC players who won their HS State Championship or were a State Finalist!  It's not an easy task to win the state title, let alone be a repeat winner!

Champion 4A Skyline:  Tina Vargas, Jackie Wilson, Nicole Candioglos, Alexa Strom, Maddie Christ, Anna Deweirdt, Brooke Bofto, Abbey Porter, Abbie Litka

Champion 3A - Seattle Prep:  Emma Healy, Olivia Ovenell

Champion 2A - Interlake: Sarah Williams

3A State Finalist - Liberty:  Cassidy Nangle, Kimi Fry

3A Semi Finalist Eastside Catholic: Kelly Crowe, Kirstin Standish, Quinn Phillips, Lauren Thomas, Maddie Racine and Morgan Mackenzie

4A Semi Finalist Tahoma: MacKenzie Henke

Four EFC U18 Red Players Honored on Seattle Times All Area Team!

The Eastside FC Girls U18 Team had four players selected to the Seattle Times All Area Team High School Girls Soccer Team.  There are only eleven players honored on the All Area Team which makes it even more of an accomplishment for team to secure four of the eleven positions.  

Three of these players grew up through the Issaquah Youth Recreational Soccer Program and moved to Eastside FC (EFC) their U11 year seeking a more competitive soccer experience and professional coaching.  They have had the opportunity to train under terrific coaches at EFC, including Nancy Turner, Dan Strom, Tom Bunnell, Michelle French and Frank Gallo. 

The four girls have played together in the club season and/or on the Olympic Development Team for several years. Vargas, Nangle and Thomas have played on the same team since they were nine years old!

Tina Vargas – Goalkeeper at Skyline HS, graduating in 2012 - attending the University of Denver

Sara Bindl – Defender at Kentwood HS, graduating in 2012 - attending the University of Portland

Cassidy Nangle – Forward at Liberty HS, graduating Dec 2011- attending the University of Oklahoma

Audrey Thomas – Midfielder at Issaquah HS, graduating 2013 with college plans undecided

Congratulations to these players and to Eastside FC!

EFC Has Great Showing at Pacific Coast Challenge Tournament!

EFC had three teams win the Premier Bracket of the Pacific Coast Challenge.  Congratulations to those winners:
EFC Boys U11 Red - Coached by Stuart Lee
EFC Boys U16 Red - Coached by Stuart Lee
EFC Boys U18 Red - Coached by Mark Kovats

Congratulations!  Photo below of the U18 Boys:

In addition to our three champions, we had 4 other teams end the tournament as a Finalist:
Boys U17 White
Boys U15 Red
Boys U14 White
Boys U13 Blue

For more information and photos of these teams, see the EFC website www.eastsidefc.org

EFC Girls '01 Blue Win the Island Cup!

EFC G'01 Blue won the inaugural Island Cup tournament the weekend of August 27th and 28th for the Girls U10 Gold Division.  They started strong, winning their first game 5-1 against FC Crush White despite catching a 6:10am ferry to get to the Island.  The second game proved much more challenging but they managed a 2-1 win against the ISC Gunners G'01 B team.  In their third and final bracket match they fought hard but came away with a 0-0 tie against Harbor Premier G'01 Green. 

Coming out of their bracket undefeated, they faced the ISC Gunners G'O1 B team for the Final in a rematch of the battle from the day before. They went under 0-2 in the first 17 minutes.  But the girls kept fighting and got a goal back, coming off the field 1-2 at halftime.  Midway through the second half they equalized and finished the game tied 2-2.  After two scoreless 5 minute overtimes, the girls participated in their first shootout.

EFC shot first and scored.  The EFC goalkeeper, Lillian Johnson, saved all 4 PK's from the Gunner's.  The fifth shooter (Avery Keeler) drilled a shot into the side netting, clinching the 2-0 shootout victory.  A dramatic first tournament win for EFC G'01 Blue!