Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com

MOLLY MCKEON INTERVIEW
This interview took place in August. Molly has started her UVA career well playing significant minutes as a freshman…..way to go Molly

How long have you been with the Richmond Strikers?

I came over to the Richmond Strikers when I was U12.

What was the first team you played on for the Strikers?

I played for Mike Clibbens on the U12 Elite team. Only four of us including myself (Annemarie Cole, Katie Fuson, & Lindsey Rowe) played through U18.

What is your favorite thing about the Richmond Strikers?

The Richmond Strikers gave our team the opportunity to play in the best tournaments and encouraged us to always play at the highest level.  We always had great support from the Strikers. We trained on great fields and were exposed to the best in club soccer.  Plus I love wearing Nike!

What is your fondest memory/time with the club?

Nothing could beat my team’s experience last summer (U17). After winning State Cup in the fall ’06, we competed in Regionals in Portland, Maine at the end of June. We won Regionals by defeating FC Delco from Eastern PA 2-0 in the finals. We were the first girls team from Central VA to win Regionals which was awesome!!  Maine was a great venue and the team ate lobster every night! The next stage was Nationals a few weeks later in Dallas, Texas. Though the weather was hotter, and we didn’t win our games, it was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. The high level of soccer I was exposed to that summer was unforgettable!

Who has been your favorite coach?

Shannon Richard was such a huge part of our team’s success.  She was a role model on and off the field. She accepted nothing less than our best, and made us great. We all wanted to work hard for her. Mike Clibbens and Josh Greer were also a big part of our team’s success.

Who are your closest friends at the Strikers?

A big factor towards our team’s success was our chemistry. Some of my best friends were with Strikers. I was fortunate enough to play with great players and great friends. We did everything together for so long, and I will stay friends with them as we head off to college.

Any funny stories you would like to share?

Any trip brought it’s share of funny stories, especially when Anne Lumpkin or Allie Albright were around.

Other than Strikers coaches, who else has been a big influence on your soccer career?

Definitely my parents- They always supported me in everything I did with soccer. Also, my teammates helped me become a better player, and always made It fun!

You are all set to attend UVA in the fall, how excited are you about the prospect of playing for the Cavaliers?

I can’t wait! I leave in a few weeks for summer school which I am excited about. I have been lucky enough to get to know a few of the players this summer through Destiny which has been great.  I am looking forward to playing for Steve Swanson, one of the best Coaches in the country.

What are your goals while you are in college? Do you have any idea what your major will be?

As far as soccer goes, I want to push myself to improve and be the best I can be. As for academics, I am undecided on my major but am leaning toward the Commerce School.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am pretty much always doing something with my friends.

Favorite Drink?

Sweet Tea

Favorite Food?

Chipotle

Favorite Movie?

Sandlot

What are your top 3 songs you are currently listening to on your I Pod?

American Boy- Estelle

Mercy- Duffy

Love Don’t Live Here Anymore- Lady Antebellum

This interview took place in August. Molly has started her UVA career well playing significant minutes as a freshman…..way to go Molly

U-11 Platini

The Strikers U-11 Platini are a resilient group. Coached by Jack Parsons, the boys have great team spirit and determination and never give up. These qualities were needed more than ever in the fall as ‘Platini’ were placed in the top bracket in virtually every tournament they played in which resulted in some really difficult games! Jack and the boys never complained; they soldiered on and played with great enthusiasm and tenacity.

Currently in his 14th year, Coach “Jack” is one of the longest serving coaches at the club. Coach Jack has this to say about his current U11 Platini team.

“Each of my young players brings a unique soccer personality to the group. We have a good combination of speed, endurance, foot skills, defense to name just a few. My goal is to challenge each player to work towards excellence in all areas so when it comes to games, they will have the skills and confidence to perform at their highest level of ability. These guys do just that.”

Keep up the hard work Platini and all the best for the spring 2008 season

Richmond Strikers U-18 Elite Girls

VCCL POWERHOUSE AND FORMER STATE CUP
AND REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

I need to talk to you about the Richmond Strikers U-18 Elite Girls team. The Girls are in their final year before heading off to various universities and soccer programs around the country. I am not sure where to start, but here goes………

Since the U-12 level in 2001, the Richmond Strikers U-18 Elite Girls team have only lost two VCCL regular season games! This is an incredible run in VCCL league play, which includes another regular season championship in the fall of 2007 to add to their impressive collection. The Girls have been a perennial VCCL powerhouse and totally dominated the league for the past seven years.

The U-18 Elite Girls also have a very strong record in the State Cup. The girls have been to the final four of the State Cup four out of the past five years, including two State cup titles at U-15 and U-17. Last year, the Girls won the regional title in Portland, Maine which qualified them to represent the Strikers at the National Championship in Dallas, Texas. They have also competed in the most prestigious tournaments in the country, including the Disney showcase, Cincinnati Blue chip, WAGS and PDA.

Carlos Martinoli, Director of Coaching recognizes the phenomenal achievements of the group, “These girls have always shown the drive to succeed and it is a great achievement to dominate the VCCl like they have, plus win two state championships and a regional title. They have been one of the most successful teams in the club’s history.”

Since U-12, the girls have been together as an elite team and as I have said, they have achieved many titles along the way. What is equally impressive is their overall games played since U-12. Carlos Martinoli provided these astonishing statistics, which includes the multiple tournament victories.

Since U-12, this is the record of the Richmond Strikers U-18 Elite Girls in all games.

Played          Won             Tied             Lost          Goals For    Goals Against

   224             158                24                 50                560                 158

To score an average of 2.4 goals a game and concede only 1 goal per game for six years, are very impressive statistics.

This year, the team is coached by Kelley Schmidt and Chris Friant. Shannon Richard was the head coach of the girls at U-15, U-16 and U-17 and was an integral part of the team’s successful State cup and regional championships. The team was ranked as high as #4 in the country under the tremendous leadership of Richards. The girls have also been coached by Michael Clibbens (U-12), and Josh Greear (U-13 and U-14).

There are currently ten players on the roster that have verbally committed to NCAA Division 1 programs. The girls will be sorely missed when they move on next year. They will be forever remembered at the club and will go down in the history books as the most successful girl’s teams to ever come out of central Virginia.

TEAM SPOTLIGHT – U17 United Boys

The U-17 United team took first place in the VSLI U-16 division I last fall.  This year they were moved up to the Premier division.  In the first game of the 2007 fall season they tied the FASA team, the FASA team was the first place team in the fall 2006 Premier division.  They won each of the next three games in the VSLI premier division getting off to a great start, beating the Richmond Striker Premier team 4-1, VA Rush Swoosh 1-0, and the Chesterfield United 91 Elite team 2-1. The U-17 United team were finalists in the Beach FC Tournament as well.  In the tournament, they played Chesapeake and lost 0-1, but they defeated Virginia Rush Red Devils 5-0, and also managed to overcome Virginia Legacy Red 1-0. The boys lost to Virginia Legacy Red 3-0 in the final.  The U-17 United team went into the final with only one goal being scored against the team, a very impressive feat.  The boys have continued to work hard in training and not let a few bumps in the road get them too down. Playing in the premier division, the U-17 United team have applied themselves admirably and achieved some good results along the way! Well done lads!

TEAM SPOTLIGHT – U-15 United Boys

The core of this year’s U-15 United Boys team first came together in the fall of 2006 as the U-14 United team.  After an initial 4 win and 4 loss season in the fall 2006 campaign, the team went undefeated in the Spring (10 wins, 4 draws and 0 losses), winning their VSLI Division and winning the Prince William Soccer Icebreaker Red Division Championship. 

For the 2007/2008 season, the U-15 United team picked up where it left off as a U-14 team.  To date, the U-15 United team is undefeated (5-0-0) in league play and was the Finalist in both the FC Richmond Cup tournament and the Richmond Kickers Columbus Day tournament losing only to the FASA Rebels premier team. 

According to Chuck Berson, the U-15 United coach, “This group of young people have worked very hard to learn how to play the brand and style of soccer needed to compete in the VSLI and in tournament play.  Our success on the pitch reflects their dedication to each other and to the team.”

Chuck takes a lot of pride in his team and the boys are doing very well, especially defensively, as they have only given up 2 goals in league play.

Well done to the U-15 Boys United!