East Side Kickers place second at Westlake Soccer Tournament
The East Side Kickers Under10 Girls Division-1 soccer team placed second in the final round of the Westlake Soccer Tournament on May 29.
The Westlake Tournament, one of the region's most anticipated tournaments, is in its 30th year. The event draws soccer teams from all over Ohio and surrounding states.
This was only the second tournament the East Side Kickers U10 team has entered. The team played its first tournament last fall in Madison, and also came home with a second place trophy.
The Eastside Kickers is a Cleveland Heights-University Heights travel soccer club for boys and girls ages 7 to 14. It is a parent run, volunteer, nonprofit organization that competes in the Ohio Amateur Soccer League for boys and the Northern Ohio Girls Soccer League for girls.
The girls U10 team is coached by Jennifer Ferreira, Nakia Thomas and Robbie Helfgott. Helfgott is the director of coaching for the East Side Kickers program and coach of the Cleveland Heights High School girls varsity soccer team.
On the first day of play, the East Side Kickers soundly defeated teams from Erie, Pennsylvania and Detroit, Michigan. On day two, the team tied a very strong team from Sylvania, Ohio. The match was decided by a sudden death kick-off, and the winner then earned the right to play Strongsville in the championship round.
Strongsville came out on top, 2-1, in a highly competitive defensive battle. The East Side Kickers placed second in the division.
While the girls were disappointed in not winning a championship, the team was proud of its second place showing, said Coach Helfgott.
In July, the team is headed to the Niagara Tournament in New York. “I’m looking forward to the next tournament,” said Ella Fleischer, “I want to bring home the big trophy this time.”
Adam Fleischer
Adam Fleischer is the proud of parent of an East Side Kicker.