The Pali Storm, a local AYSO girls’ U12 All-Star team, won top honors at the Kachina Klassic in Mesa, Arizona last weekend, outscoring its four opponents 27-3. “I’m most proud of the fact that of the 27 goals the girls scored, most were a result of a series of passes,” Coach Scot Vorse said. “We had phenomenal team play the entire tournament. There is tremendous individual talent on this team, but it is winning because of its ability to communicate and work together as a unit.” Also coached by Don Parcell, the Storm fell behind the Arizona Freedom of Gilbert 2-1 in the first half before evening the score in the third quarter and netting the go-ahead goal with less than one minute left. The Storm shutout Desert Ice 6-0 and East Mesa 8-0, allowing only one shot on goal, to finish first in their pool and earn the top seed in the final. In the championship game, Pali Storm scored 27 seconds into the game en route to a 10-1 rout of Avondale, the top team in western Arizona. Nine Storm players scored in the tournament. The offense was led by Jayne Baumgarten, Caity Buerge, Ashley Conte, Grayson Houge, Caitlin Keefe, Caitlin Neapole, Kaitlyn Parcell and Georgia Raber. Defenders Michaela Keefe, Danika Masi, Annie Polson and Lili Vorse were up to the task every game. With 23 wins so far this season, the Storm strike next this weekend at the Grape Stomp tournament in Rancho Cucamonga. Predators Win Cactus Classic The Palisades Predators, a local U10 boys AYSO All-Star team, went undefeated to win the Cactus Classic in Glendale, Arizona. With a tenacious defense allowing only one goal in the tournament, the Predators scored wins both one-sided (5-0) and close (1-0 in the championship game). Coached by Hal Washburn and Tony Davis, the Predators were led by J. Scott Adair, Addison Button, Spencer Davis, Jonathan Ennis, Wyatt Filler, Cameron and Jeremy Shine, Kailer Stickney, Jesse Wachtel, and Chance Washburn.
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