Nado GU8/U9 showed up to the SoCal Cup the past weekend, July 10-11th, with only having had one practice. They played in a U8/U9 bracket, but the Nado Select team was compiled of all U8 players and only one U9 player. It was the first tournament for almost all of the players, except for Abigail Dunbar and Daisy Cuthbert, returning U8 players, and Lilly Cuthbert, returning U9 player. The girls did an amazing job this weekend and they can all be extremely proud of a second place finish (out of 5 teams). The final was hard-fought, but the team lost 1-0 vs a much bigger U9 FC Heat.

“The team went into this tournament with little expectation since the girls were playing up and it was their first tourney, but from the get-go the girls played aggressively and with zero fear! They weren’t worried about the size of the players they played against. The combination of ALL of the new U8 players working hard with the leadership of Abigail, Daisy, and Lilly helped the team to great success.” said Coach Beesan Abder-Ruhman.

Featured Players: Front Row (L-R)—Emily Hunter, Michelle Cervantes, Georgette Herrera, Delaney Nickerson, Bryn Bartenstein, Abigail Dunbar; Back Row (L-R)—Lilly Cuthbert, Gracie Gehler, Rose Cuthbert, Daisy Cuthbert, Coach Beesan Abder-Ruhman; Not Pictured—Isabella Casanova, Annie Holland, Ciara Mulligan, and Anna Valades

Game Highlights
3-1 vs Breakers U9 – Daisy Cuthbert scored a penalty kick, after hitting a prior PK off the post, while her sister, Lilly Cuthbert, scored 2 great goals .

1-0 vs Hotspurs U8 - Abigail Dunbar scored the winning goal, after receiving a great pass from Gracie Gehler, who managed to control a punt from Lilly Cuthbert.

1-0 vs Breakers - Gracie Gehler scored the winning goal after controlling yet another great punt from Lilly Cuthbert.

2-3 vs FC Heat – Abigail Dunbar scored two spectacular goals, both of which were assisted by Gracie Gehler.