Schulz Academy U16 Boys made history on November 21st by capturing their third consecutive Super-Y-League North American Championship. Forward Edvin Worley capped off his MVP award winning performance with a 69th minute strike that found the back of the net and sent Schulz Academy into the history books as the first and only three-time North American title winner. The goal was set up by Julian Serrato who made a splendid run down the left flank cutting the ball back from the touchline to find Worley who produced his tournament leading 7th goal, a spectacular volley, securing Schulz Academy’s 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC. It would be the second time that Edvin Worley emerged as the competition’s top scorer as in 2005 he did the same leading Schulz Academy to their second national title in as many years. However, this time around, Worley’s performance earned him a well deserved tournament MVP honors.
The victory also made the Schulz Academy team the only squad in youth soccer to three-peat a North American title in the Super-Y-League, arguably the highest level of youth soccer in the U.S. and Canada.
"The first 2 titles were wonderful, but this one just topped the first 2", said academy Head Coach Dr. Josef Schulz immediately after the game. "It just confirmed the extraordinary talent of this team, which won the group in the last game with a convincing 4-1 victory vs. Atlanta Silverbacks. In the Semis we had to come back from a 0-1 deficit against DVSC, another Powerhouse from California, to win 2-1 with 2 goals from Edvin Worley, who won the top scorer and MVP award with 7 goals in 5 games at the Nationals."
"Their performance, both as a team and individually, will help the players of this team to be accepted at the colleges of their choice, and for some I am sure it will be the start to some exciting professional opportunities. One of the members of last year’s championship team, Josmer Altidore, made already his mark as a 16 year old in the MLS with Red Bull New York, scoring already 4 goals in just 7 games in the MLS. Josmer has an invitation to join Manchester United, probably one of the most well known sports franchises in the world, and we at Schulz Academy are all very proud to be able to provide talented players like this for the pro level. He is only 16 years old, and with his talent he can make it to the highest level of the sport", continues Dr. Schulz.
Schulz Academy was the only club in the country to qualify all 5 boy’s teams in the ages U-13 to U-17 for the Finals this year in Tampa. The U13 team, after winning their group convincingly with 3 wins and a goal differential of 12-1 lost in the semifinals against the eventual tournament champions Cal Odyssey from California in penalty kicks 3-4 after a 2-2 tie in overtime. So the future for Schulz Academy looks as bright as ever.
As they celebrated their 3rd National Title in a row, some of the Schulz Academy parents commented on the origins of the team, a group of 8 year olds practicing either behind a goal in the park, because they had no fields, or later in the dark for 6 months out of the year, because they had no lights. "I think some of these extremely difficult situations over the years have made us to what we are today. A strong unit of players and parents with a great coach, the basis for an extra ordinary success story like this." stated club president Marcello Serrato.
