There I was covering the 2019 Soccerloco Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase at the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside. After I took pictures at a fe
There I was covering the 2019 Soccerloco Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase at the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside. After I took pictures at a few championship games and awards ceremonies (more articles coming soon), I found myself in the big entrance tunnel on my way to my car.
Hawaii’s Ballistic Soccer Club
That’s when I came across the most adorable group of little soccer girls I’d seen in a long time. This was Ballistic Soccer Club from Hawaii. Ballistic’s G2009 team was radiating happiness as they all took pictures with their shiny new Albion Cup trophy and medals. Perhaps our paths crossed just as the sugar from their smoothies hit their bloodstreams. Whatever the reason for their giddiness, they were delightful little bundles of energy, and I wanted to know more about them.
As I flashed my “MEDIA” badge, I asked one of the moms if I could take a picture of them with their trophy and feature the team on SoccerNation. (Spoiler alert!) They agreed. The girls happily posed together for a team photo, and another, and another.
The team mom described the championship game to me:
“Oh my gosh, it was so exciting! We were losing 1-0 with just a few minutes left. But the girls never gave up, and we scored right at the end! All of us were so happy. Then it went to overtime, and we scored the golden goal! All of the moms were all hugging and crying. It was so amazing. When we all thought the game was over, to tie it up and then win it, it was so fun. We’re so happy for the girls. We all came over here from Hawaii and all of these families are great friends. The trip would have been great no matter what happened today, but this is just amazing.”
Coach Jerry Proctor said:
“Win or lose, we came to play soccer, continue to learn and improve and spread our ALOHA spirit.”
To Coach Jerry and all of the Ballistic Soccer Club G2009 families: CONGRATULATIONS! Enjoy the rest of your time in SoCal (I think there are visits to Disneyland and Universal happening as I type this, in fact), and safe travels back to Hawaii!
