When the full time whistle blew on their 8-1 victory in the U.S. Youth Soccer Eastern regional final earlier this month at Tuckahoe Turf Farm, the players on the field for Real Jersey FC’s 2006 girls team barely reacted at first.
Whether it was exhaustion from the heat and humidity or the bigger prize on their minds, their victory that day in New Jersey was the first step toward something they’ve collectively been working toward since two summers ago in Kansas.
Up 1-0 with a chance to advance to the national final as U13s, Real Jersey saw their hopes vanish when the Michigan Jaguars scored two unanswered goals to win the match 2-1.