Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo fell agonizingly short of the USYS National Championship game, but won the bronze medals as the 3rd best U17 girls team in the U.S.

In the final group game against the top-ranked Legends Breakaway from Southern California, Botafogo needed a win to secure a spot in the final. Playing in searing heat and humidity, the two teams put on a show worthy of a national championship game. Both teams were intent on keeping possession and playing out of the back, and for 90 minutes it was an intriguing chess-match between two fantastic teams.

After a scoreless first half, Breakaway scored first early in the 2nd half immediately after Botafogo missed a great chance. But it didn’t take long for Botafogo to answer back when Zoey Goralski picked up the ball off a throw-in at the halfway line and drove at goal. Sensing that the GK was off her line, Zoey unleashed a bomb from 25 yards out over the hapless keeper to level the score.

The last 25 minutes was a fantastic contest between two teams that were going all-out for the win. Zoey Goralski came closest to notching the all-important goal for Botafogo, but the Breakaway GK made a great save at the foot of the post. As Botafogo threw all caution to the win to get the game-winner, Breakaway managed to notch the winner in the dying minutes of the game.

While the result meant that Botafogo came up short in its quest for a National Championship, it was an incredibly proud team and coaching staff that emerged for the trophy ceremony shortly after the game. Finishing 3rd in the Nation after an incredible season, and with the knowledge that they had played an amazing game against a fantastic opponent, the players were determined to enjoy their accomplishments over the past year, and to start focusing on climbing the final two steps on the podium at next year’s National Championships.

Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo tied CESA from South Carolina 2-2 on the second day of the USYS National Championships in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It was a totally dominating performance by Botafogo in the first half as they took a 1-0 lead into the break off tri-captain Hope D’Addario’s beautiful strike from 25 yards out.

In the 2nd half CESA started playing very direct, and was able to knock Botafogo off its game plan. The score was tied after a corner-kick about 20 minutes in, but Meegan Johnston restored the lead for Botafogo with perfectly taken PK with 20 minutes left. Unfortunately, CESA was able to find a late equalizer in the 89th minute, so Botafago now needs a win against the top-ranked team in the country Legends Breakaway tomorrow morning, and some help in one of the other two games, to advance to Sunday’s final

Team Chicago Academy-Santos midfielder Katie Ciesiulka has accepted a generous scholarship offer to continue her career at Marquette University.

Katie, who plays her prep soccer for Joe Moreau at Neuqua Valley, will be part of Head Coach Markus Roeders’ incoming 2014 class. Katie will join fellow Team Chicago Academy standout Ashley Handwork, who is part of the 2013 class, and follow her older brother, Bryan, to Marquette. Bryan Ciesiulka is a Junior standout for the Marquette men’s team.

Marquette is a perennial national top-25 program, and one of the top Big East teams.

Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo continues its great run of form with a 2-0 win over the Chilipeppers from Northern California. Zoe Swift got the eventual game-winner halfway through the first half off a perfect through-ball from Gianna Dal Pozzo, and Gianna Dal Pozzo turned goal-scorer 15 minutes into the 2nd half from a Hope D’Addario free kick to secure the 3 points.

Megan Geldernick recorded her 4th consecutive post-season shutout in goal.

Tomorrow morning at 7:30am EDT Botafogo will face the Region III champions CESA from South Carolina. CESA opened with a 3-1 loss to Legends FC today.

Press Release 7/23/12
Charlotte, NC

It has been a hot and hectic journey for Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo, U17 girls from Aurora, Illinois, on their way toward Rock Hill, South Carolina and the USYS National Championship. Since capturing the Illinois State title on June 17th and the Region II title on June 27th in Saginaw, MI, in soaring temperatures, Botafogo came home to Illinois to host the Danish U18 National Champions Broendby IF.

The Danes were in the U.S. as a partnership between Team Chicago Academy and Broendby IF to enhance the international development of both clubs’ players. In an exhibition match last week on Botafogo’s home turf, the Danes displayed an intriguing brand of soccer, but Botafogo was equal to the task and won 2-1, showing their own beautiful style.

The Broendby IF also met Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region II players Gianna Dal Pozzo, Jenna Romano, Bryce Banuelos, Meegan Johnston, Rachele Armand, Megan Geldernick, and Zoey Goralski at the USYS Region II ODP training camp at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, earlier in July when temperatures soared near 100 degrees there. They were coached by Marquette University’s Head Women’s Coach Markus Roeders,

The international experience was crucial to all players involved according Team Chicago Elite Academy Director, and Region II ODP Senior Staff Coach, Phil Nielsen.

“Our American players are rarely presented with the opportunity to play the cream of the crop of international youth teams, and the learning curve was steep for many players.

In order to keep up with the progress that is being made in girls youth development around the world it is pivotal for our elite players to have a steady exposure to international competition.

Our partnership with Broendby IF is an attempt to assure that our Team Chicago Academy players get the most advanced international development in the country, and in the process we also want to help the USYS Region II ODP program players get a similar exposure,” Nielsen said.

The two clubs were linked because Nielsen is a Danish national with strong ties to the elite soccer environment in his home country.

Broendby IF’s team includes four U19 National Team players who just won bronze at the European Championships in Turkey, three U17 National Team players who also just won bronze at the European Championships in Switzerland, and two U16 National Team players who just finished 4th at the Nordic Cup, the most elite U16 tournament in the world.

The Danish provided a high-level international challenge that Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo needed in order to prepare for the stiff competition awaiting them at the USYS National Championships this week. In addition to the seven Region II ODP Team players, Botafogo also boasts three players with National Team experience – Zoe Swift, Jenna Romano, and Zoey Goralski.

With the level of talent between the clubs, there is a good chance that the players will meet again at the international level or at the NCAA Division I level. Several of the Danish players were offered scholarships to play Division I soccer upon being seen on their visit here.

The common journey will continue for the two teams immediately after the National Championships. Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo players and their families will make a quick return to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Sunday to board a plane to Copenhagen, Denmark, where the team is to participate in the prestigious Broendby Cup against some of the top Danish and German U18 teams.

Botafogo will reside and practice at the Danish National Training Center. In addition to participating in the Broendby Cup, the team will be trained by the Broendby IF Women’s Professional Team Head Coach Peer Lisdorf.

Lisdorf guided the outfit to both the Danish National Championship and the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League last season before falling to the eventual champions Olympic Lyon from France. Finally, Botafogo is scheduled to play an exhibition match against the Broendby IF pros.