Playing with only 9 players in temperatures near 100 degrees, the FC Blades GU9’s blazed through the competition, notching 19 goals while conceding only 4.

Saturday morning started cool and rough for the Blades, going into halftime down 1-3 to South Bay Force. Then the sun came out and so did the Blades’ heart and soul, storming back to a 5-3 victory. The steamy afternoon saw the Blades cooly dispatch the host Rangers 5-1. Needing just to score 2 goals Sunday morning against Legends FC Black to secure a place in the Championship, the Blades cooly slotted 3 while new keeper, Jackie Ruggiero, earned her first Blades shut out. That set up the hot afternoon final against rivals Freedom FC and the Blades attackers scored early and often while Jackie kept another clean sheet to claim the trophy with a 6-0 victory.

Apart from goalkeeper Jackie, the stand-out Blades included Jaelyn Otomo, Kerenna Samynathan and Aliyah Sicat on the back-line. Natalie Virga, Aya Mae Prow and Lauren Schlegel in the mid-field and Lauren Drysdale and Clarissa Hernandez up front led the relentless attack.

Coach Andy Winn was extremely proud of the effort of this group of girls in such demanding conditions.