Incoming Freshmen Win U18 National Championship

Aug. 1, 2011

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Members of the Marquette University women's soccer team's incoming freshmen class capped a banner year with FC Milwaukee winning the U18 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Sunday in Phoenix, Ariz.

Mary Luba, Jacie Jermier, Gabby Kailas, Mady Vicker and Maggie Edlebeck played integral roles throughout the tournament to help FC Milwaukee to its first U.S. Youth Soccer national title.

After losing its first game to Colorado Rush, 1-0, FC Milwaukee bounced back with back-to-back shut-out wins over Team Boca (Fla.), 1-0, and FC Stars of Massachusetts, 3-0. Vicker scored FC Milwaukee's third goal against the Region I champion, which helped it secure its spot in the title match.

FC Milwaukee faced Colorado Rush in the title match and the two teams played to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. FC Milwaukee took the early lead, 1-0, thanks to a goal from Luba in the 54th minute, but Colorado scored the equalizer in the 75th minute to force the extra time.

In overtime, FC quickly went ahead 3-1 scoring two goals in the 95th and 96th minutes, while Vicker recorded FC's final goal in the 107th minute to win the title, 4-2. The squad was coached by Christian Lavers, who has also coached a handful of Marquette student-athletes including Ally Miller, Ashley Stemmeler, Katie Hishmeh and Sam Vicker.

Along with Luba, Jermier, Kailas, Vicker and Edlebeck, fellow classmate Haley Fritzlen also was a member of a national championship team as she helped KCFC Intensity win the U18 ECNL National Championship.

The Golden Eagles will report for pre-season training camp Wednesday, Aug. 3. The team will participate in Marquette Soccer's fifth annual Fan Fest on Friday, Aug. 12, before playing at Wisconsin for its lone exhibition game of the season on Saturday, Aug. 13. Marquette officially opens the 2011 season on Friday, Aug. 19 against Western Michigan at Valley Fields at 7:30 p.m.