Super-20 League Feature
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The Knoxville Soccer Academy Super-20 League men’s team finished their inaugural season on Monday and have officially clinched a bid to the 2012 North American Finals as South Atlantic Division champions. After defeating the Maryland Rush 4-0, the men sit atop the division standings with an 8-2 record and 24 points from a possible 30. Knoxville Soccer Academy is the fifth men’s team to punch a ticket to the Finals, being held at the state-of-the-art facilities of IMG Academy July 19-22 in Bradenton, Florida.
Second-place Triangle FC has two games remaining and could potentially draw level on points with Knoxville, but cannot surpass the Tennessee club because of tiebreaker scenarios. Triangle FC has a record of 6-2 and has gained 18 points.
Knoxville Soccer Academy Super-20 Men’s Head Coach Josh Scott commented on the season and the great opportunity that KSA will receive in traveling to Bradenton.
“The Knoxville Soccer Academy is very pleased with how the inaugural season has gone for our Super-20 teams,” he said. “As the Assistant Academy Director, I am delighted to see a group of young soccer players see success so soon in our newly-formed Super-20 programs. Being the first year, the Super-20 Men’s team has really gone beyond our expectations and has shown great character individually and as a team.
“Looking back at the season, we have come a long way since the first game where we lost on the road to Northern Virginia Royals. Since then, the players regrouped and showed great belief and talent to produce the record and season we have had over the past two months. Being the head coach of a great group of players with exciting potential, I truly think that they deserve to see more success in postseason play.
“I was impressed with how we stuck with our game style throughout the season and how we hammered home good individual performances and showed great team passion when needed,” Scott said. “We have some great players for the future here at KSA, and we also have some strong college and high school programs represented. With the combination of a great facility and support base from John Russell and Johnny Long, along with the knowledge, expertise, and philosophy which is passed down from our Academy Director Derek Broadley, the KSA Super-20 teams have some exciting seasons to come."
The world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education complex, IMG Academy has already hosted a myriad of soccer team training camps in 2012, including clubs such as the Seattle Sounders, D.C. United, Columbus Crew, Sweden’s Malmö FF, as well as the U.S. Women’s National Team preparing for the London Olympic Games and the Antigua & Barbuda Men’s National Team preparing for World Cup qualifying.
The 2012 Super-20 North American Finals will serve as an important player identification event for the PDL and W-League, as well as for U.S. National Teams. PDL and W-League coaches will be in attendance to scout talent, along with USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, a longtime USSF Staff Coach.