We'll begin with the National Soccer Rankings Cup. The NSR Cup took place in Saginaw, Michigan during the early part of the fall 2004 season. The NSR's goal is to bring the top ranked teams in the country for an all–out soccer battle. The Elm Grove Academy Girls went 2-0-1 before advancing to the final where they beat Eclipse Select North from Libertyville, Illinois 2-1 to claim the tournament championship.
"Our girls went through two grueling weeks of training camp in order to prepare for this wonderful event. I am blessed to have such a committed group of players and parents," said Madrigal. The NSR Cup title propelled the team to the top of the rankings. They are currently ranked 15th in the midwest region and 39th in the nation (as of 2/11/05).
On December 20, 2004, the Elm Grove Academy participated in the ELA Indoor Invite in Lake Zurich, Illinois, where they played the number two ranked team in the nation, the ELA Tigers. Elm Grove Academy beat ELA 6-4 during group play. Elm Grove was also victorious against the Chicago Wind and the Chicago Crushers, teams also ranked highly in the midwest region.
Madrigal said, "Our girls played with such creativity and flair against some of the best players in the country. That's fun to watch, whether you're a spectator, player or coach."
The team will be at the National Indoor Championships at the tail-end of the winter to be held this year in Detroit, Michigan. They've also been accepted for the first time to the prestigious Coast to Coast tournament in Illinois at the end of April. Four teams from each region get accepted to create a true coast-to-coast competition.
The coach added, "I never thought coaching could be this fun. My life and passion is this sport. Not only has my team enjoyed the ride but I think our club as a whole has as well. We certainly get a lot of support from our Coaching Director, Boro Sucevic, and from the rest of our coaching staff."
Congratulations to Coach Madrigal and the U13 girls.