Aurora – It’s the stuff of movies.
After going their separate ways, a bunch of high school friends regroup to embark on a lofty quest and right the wrongs of the past.
For the Rush Nike under-19 women’s squad, that quest is another national soccer title – a year after the team was knocked out of the tournament despite fielding one of its strongest rosters to date.
In its last year of eligibility, the Rush U-19 squad is two victories from booking a trip to Orlando, Fla., in an attempt to win its second national title in five years.
“This team has been together since we’ve been 12, and to come back and play together is one of the funniest experiences ever,” said Jordan Angeli, a former All-Colorado forward at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood who now plays for Santa Clara.
The Rush is one of 240 teams in the U.S. Youth Soccer-sponsored Far West Regional Championships at the Aurora Sports Park that began Monday and runs through Saturday.
After 472 matches, 16 teams will be crowned champions, 12 of which will play in Orlando in late July. The U-12 and U-13 divisions do not play for national titles.
Thirteen states are represented, and each team won its respective state cup to earn a berth in club soccer’s most prestigious tournament, which has attracted 150 college coaches, according to tournament director Tom Mendoth. Playing under the scrutiny of scouts means little for the U-19 division, which typically is motivated by the need to stay in shape for college, or perhaps to settle a score.
“The way we went out last year, no doubt they feel they have unfinished business,” Rush coach Erik Bushey said.
Angeli said part of the motivation is to revisit a memorable experience.
“Ever since we’ve won nationals, we’ve been so ready to go back,” Angeli said. “It’s such an experience, and we want to experience it more than once.”
Angeli’s second-half goal clinched a 1-0 victory Thursday over New Mexico’s Rio Vista FC and propelled the Rush U-19 squad into today’s semifinal matchup against Samba, based in Southern California.
The U-19 women’s regional final will be Saturday at 10 a.m.
The Rush team is largely the same group that won a national title in the U-15 division in 2001.
“It’s going very good,” Rush assistant coach Dave Dengerink said of the tournament, in which the Rush has outscored the competition 10-0 in four games.
Behind 2004 All-Colorado player of the year Caroline Lea, now at California, the Rush dominated possession against Rio Vista, which defended with 10 players behind the ball. The constant pressure led to a corner kick from Florida State defender Melissa Samokishyn, who won a Class 5A state title in 2004 with Chatfield High School in Littleton.
Angeli rose up in the box and headed the ball down short of the goal before it bounced high into the back of the net.
The Rush squad has a large contingent of Jefferson County players, including Tennessee’s Genna Gorman (a Wheat Ridge graduate), Utah’s Whitney Dorsey (Wheat Ridge) and Pennsylvania’s Rachel Fletcher (Dakota Ridge).
