With the 2008 Spring Premiere season a distant memory, the North Meck Storm Red ladies continued their solid late season play with a convincing 2-0 victory against a tough Triangle United Gold squad in State Cup action.  The big win, coupled with the team's even more impressive 3-1 victory over the Region III Winston Salem Lady Twins White the week prior, advanced the girls to the state's most elite group at the U14 age bracket and a well earned spot in the Final Four!

The North Meck ladies have been on a tear lately, and have saved their best soccer for the most important time of the year.  With only 2 subs in last week's two State Cup games and 3 subs this past weekend, the girls have dug deep against tremendous competition.  Being put in a State Cup bracket with two Region III teams, no one gave the girls a chance to advance, but they seem to thrive as the underdog.

That underdog status will definitely continue next weekend, as the Storm Red will face CASL Spartan Elite, the #1 U14 girl's team in the state and the #3 team in all of Region III play.  Looks like North Meck doesn't have a chance, so they are exactly where they like to be!  Go Storm Red, and congratulations for making the State Cup Final Four!   You are a pleasure to watch and are truly a great group of young ladies who never quit and always play with passion and determination.  You are all awesome!!! 

Don't count the North Meck ladies out just yet.  After drawing by far the toughest bracket at the North Carolina State Cup and having to face two highly ranked Region III teams in the first weekend of play, the Storm Red came out swinging.

Saturday's game against cross town rival CSC Blue was an intense one, as usual.  CSC went out to a 2-0 halftime lead displaying some fantastic ball handling, but North Meck did not fold.  The Storm Red ladies came out attacking in the second half and drew within 1 with a nice chip shot from well outside the box.  Trailing 1-2, North Meck kept up the pressure and was all over the CSC goal right up until the final whistle, but could not find the equalizer against one of the state's top teams.

Sunday's game was against another Region III team, the Winston-Salem Lady Twins White.  Knowing they needed a win to keep any hope alive to advance in the State Cup, the Storm Red ladies played with incredible intensity and passion.  The Lady Twins showed why they are Region III team by opening the scoring with a very nice goal off of a free kick, but North Meck came roaring back with a beautiful header off of their own free kick to tie it up at 1-1 at the break.  Not one minute into the second half, the Storm Red put together a nice series of passes and quickly went up 2-1.  Continuing the attack, and playing hard nosed and in your face defense, North Meck added an insurance goal about midway into half number two and walked away with an impressive 3-1 win.

Next Sunday's State Cup game in Asheville could be the deciding factor as to whether or not the North Meck ladies make the State's Final Four.  There are many variables to play out, but the ladies are in a good position to advance, as they should be after playing some fantastic and inspired soccer.  They will face Triangle United Gold in that all important third game.  Each team has beaten the other this season, and both were heated and physical battles, so it should make for an exciting Mother's Day in Asheville.  Go Storm Red!  

The North Meck Storm Red ladies saved some of their best soccer this season for this past weekend's 1st annual Southern Soccer Showcase in Winston-Salem.  Hopefully, their strong play will continue into State Cup which is just around the corner.

Saturday's contests saw two dominant Storm Red performances against Winston-Salem Blue and Triangle United Gold.  While the Winston game ended up a 0-0 tie, North Meck completely dominated play and kept the game around the Winston net the entire game.  The tremendous play continued vs. Triangle United Gold in game number two on Saturday.  Play was much more physical vs the Gold, but the Storm Red ladies controlled possession throughout and cruised to a 2-0 victory.

Sunday's match saw cross town rival and Region III team CSC Blue as the opponent.  To make matters worse, the North Meck ladies were playing into a stiff wind in the first half as well as up a sloping field.  While CSC did manage to put a terrific shot off the post and into the net, it was the only goal they would score all day.  In the second half, and now with the wind and the slope, North Meck really put the pressure on CSC Blue, but could not find the equalizer despite many opportunities.  It was a well played game by two very good teams.

Next up is State Cup for North Meck.  If they can continue the solid play, perhaps the Storm Red ladies can make some noise there.  Go Storm Red!