After a successful season, the ’99 East Wake Soccer Association (EWSA) Lady Hammers Black finished on top in the Under14 First East Division of the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association’s and won a coveted spot in the statewide NCYSA Premier League Promotion to the Premier Division is reserved for only the very best teams in the state and must be earned.
The Lady Hammers beat CASL Elite Black, CUFC Gold, and tied NC Fusion in the preseason Twin-City Friendlies tournament. Those results against three of the top teams in the state foreshadowed the regular season in which they dominated the competition by notching eight wins with no losses and only 1 tie. Along the way, the Lady Hammers scored a league best of 20 goals and only allowed three.
At the conclusion of the season, the Lady Hammers competed in the NCYSA State Cup. In group play, they tied CASL Elite Black 0-0, beat NCA Alliance 2-0, and lost to TUSA Gold 1-0. A win or a tie against TUSA Gold in the final game would have meant a trip to the semifinals, but it was not to be. The Lady Hammers dominated play but conceded the lone TUSA goal on one of their only two shots in the game.
The team members are Anne-Elliott Taylor, Emilee Futrell, Kennedy Capps, Claudia Dixon, Madison Parker, Bailey Hardison, Reily Nelson, Mikayla Atkinson, Alysa McLaughlin, Elena Miller, Gabrielle Lyons, Susannah Snellgrove, Anna Vick and Halla Gilpin. U14 team members were born between Aug. 1, 2000 and July 31, 2001.
Nathan Bird, the coach of the Lady Hammers, said, “The girls have shown a remarkable work ethic, love for the game and an endless willingness to learn and apply the game throughout the year. A great group of ladies to work with and see develop and gain recognition in recent years. They truly deserve this success and will keep moving forward.” Coach Bird, a native of Nantwich, England, is Director of Coaching for EWSA as well as Regional Director for Premier UK Soccer. He holds numerous coaching licenses, including UEFA B License, NSCAA National Diploma, NSCAA National Youth License, and NSCAA Director of Coaching License.
EWSA tryouts for all age groups begins Monday, May 19 – 21, at East Wake Middle School in Knightdale.
EWSA serves Eastern Wake County, Knightdale, Zebulon, Wake Forest and Wendell. For further information, please contact Nathan Bird at nbird.premieruk@gmail.com.
