A Journey to the National Stage
A U‑9 girls soccer team representing Edwardsville and Glen Carbon is bound for Florida, where it will compete in the Premier SuperCopa national tournament.
The squad earned its spot by capturing the Nike Cup of Champions last September at Soccer Park in Fenton, finishing the season with a 32‑2‑2 record and four tournament titles.
Under the guidance of head coach Mike Hobin, the team will retain all 11 players for the next season, transitioning from 7‑versus‑7 to 9‑versus‑9 competition while continuing to face older opponents.
Opening play begins Thursday against Real Colorado 2017 G National, followed by a Friday matchup with Fort Worth All Stars FC 2017 G and the nationally top‑ranked So Cal Blues U‑9 Lime from Mission Viejo, California.
After pool play, the 22‑team field will be reshaped into single‑elimination brackets, with bracket action slated for Saturday, promising high‑stakes encounters against some of the country’s best youth teams.
The players say they are excited and ready, having trained hard throughout the season to earn a place on the national stage.