The Santa Barbara Soccer Club Central Coast Academy 2009 girls squad earned a second-place finish at the DPL National Tournament at Silverlakes Sports Complex.
After an undefeated week of pool play against some of the nation’s top teams, Santa Barbara stayed hot and picked up a 2-0 victory in the semifinal game. That win set up a title matchup with the Florida Sunrise Sting.
In that championship, both teams battled back and forth until the score was tied at 1-1 at halftime.
That score held throughout the second half until Florida came through with a set-play goal with less than three minutes on the clock to clinch the win.
Santa Barbara co-captain Hannah Ricci was awarded the DPL Player of the Year honor for her strong play.
The CCA G09 team consists of Precious Adjei, Meleeya Alaniz, Lulu Aurell, Alma Basave, Hazel Burgess, Briella Castro, Sarah Daniels, Kailani Ladera, Jasmine Lind, Jaslene Perez, Aiyana Polkow, Jennifer Polunets, Hannah Ricci, Madeleine Savellano, Cami Sparks, Sofia Turenchalk, Ella Valdez Lindgren and Maleka Wilcox.
The team is coached by Billy Gallagher and John Lambe.