FUTSOC ENIGMA WINS 2015 POTOMAC MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

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FUTSOC ENIGMA once again has reached the pinnacle of youth soccer in the U.S., by winning the famed 2015 POTOMAC MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT Powered by Under Armour, at the highest showcase bracket in the event.

Played at the spectacular and nationally renowned Germantown SoccerPlex, our boys took the event by storm, displaying our unique brand of play in defeating top national competition along the way. After an opening “stumble” against a feisty Clifton Stallions SC Stampede, New Jersey’s 2nd ranked team and 51st in the nation in a game totally dominated by our boys, ENIGMA rolled off back to back victories against tournament favorite World Class FC ‘96 Premier by 3::0 and then 3::1 against Connecticut No. 2 and state cup finalist NJSA POLSKA NORWALK. With the victory, we took the powerful group on the strength of 6 goals scored and only 2 given up, against some of the top teams in the U.S.

The Championship match pitted us against the highly renowned Connecticut State Champions and Region 1 Champions, CFC UNITED 96/97. This nationally top ranked opponent provided us with a very intriguing matchup, pitting two very different soccer play styles – our worthy opponents favoring the traditional European long ball, all out running approach against our variable tempo, ball control, ground-play, possession style.

Opening play in the first half, had them push us back with wave upon wave of furious attack – with 4 or 5 legitimate goal scoring chances, which our defensive lines managed with great effectiveness and countered equally effective as we demonstrated a 3-2-4-1 tactical formation. The intention, to gradually debilitate the physically larger opponent into a second half transformation, which would eventually grant us greater control of the match. As if choreographed, the half ended with a 0::0 tie. Our boys had effectively contained the quality opponent and begun to frustrate their general futile attempts at goal.

In the second half, ENIGMA realigned into its traditional 3:2:3:2 formation, bringing in its rested lethal forward attack against a tiring CFC, and at about the 50th minute, after various close opportunities, the first goal was a lethal score by forward Stanley Theodore on a through pass that caught their midfield and backline in transition. At the 61st minute, Stanley Theodore turned a goalkeeper miss-kick into a quick steal and a sudden shot, which caught the keeper totally off guard, for a 2::0 lead. With the game almost concluded, a set play corner kick worked to their height advantage and they drew to within one goal as time ran out.

ENIGMA had won its 5th tournament of the year (its 6th final) and was applauded and commended by all fans and the multitude of scouts present. It was a defining performance for our elite squad, and the product of years of true player development, fine tuning of our squad and the culmination of the ambitious tournament schedule set forth at the outset of the year. This third full cycle of the famed Project ENIGMA had attained the same status of its predecessors...national recognition among the best teams in the country, great interest in virtually all our players and a plethora of scholarship offers from collegiate scouts present.

The last event for ENIGMA this season, is the inaugural NYC Global Showcase to be held in Manhattan, New York City in July, with champion teams from many foreign countries and top teams from all over the U.S.

We wish to acknowledge the support participation of our guests from FC Plant City – Ivan Castro, Pedro Espinal and Luis Morales, who provided this squad with great technical and tactical support and top level quality performances. Ivan’s midfield direction and distribution, Pedro’s defensive sector control and containment and Luis’s lateral defensive attack runs down the flank, were key components to our success.

ENIGMA / POTOMAC (17): George Cunha, Alejandro Pages, Raheem Flemming, Myke Zamor, Keon Waite, Vincenzo Companion, Jemerson Moris, Gabriel Gonzalez, Daniel Atilano, Victor Henriquez, Ivan Castro, Pedro Espinal, Landon Lupo, Luis Morales, Francisco Nicolaris, Romelaire Ambroise and Stanley Theodore.

RECORD: 3W-0T-1L GF: 8 GA: 3