Tri-City Soccer Association’s U13 Pink Panthers were the victors in Colorado’s American Cup, held in Denver last weekend, allowing their opponents just two goals in five games and controlling the ball on their half of the field 80 percent of the time.

In the first round of the tournament, Katie Meyer tapped in a goal in the first 35 seconds of the game, starting the Panthers on the road to a 10-0 rout against the Aurora Soccer Club. Other goals were scored by Gina Franchini, Piedra Lightfoot, Maddy Stephens, Liz Powell, Amanda Graffis and Emelia Allee-Jumbo.

The second game, against the North Aurora Soccer Association Taz-Maniacs, was considerably tougher, ending in a 0-0 tie although the Panthers held their opponents to just five possessions into scoring territory and just one scoring attempt. The Panthers had numerous shots on goal, but the Maniac goalkeeper turned in an outstanding performance to stop them all.

Sunday morning, the Panthers met Lakewood’s Colorado Rush Pistols, who scored on a breakaway 10 minutes into the first half. Panther goalie Randa Olsen slipped in the mudpit in front of the goal while attempting to block the shot. But again the Panthers dominated play and controlled the remainder of the game. Lightfoot tied the game at 43 minutes with a goal from the top of the box, and Graffis ran down a goalie deflection and carried it to the goal for the Flight A win.

In the preliminary round of the playoffs, against Colorado Storm, from Cherry Creek, strong defensive performances by Jessie Love-Nichols, Savanah Tanner, Powell and Esther Harclerode forced their opponents to boom the ball down the field in generally futile attempts to penetrate the Panthers’ tight control. Meyer fired a shot from the top of the penalty box early in the game, and Graffis added a crossing goal into the corner in the second half to secure a victory and a chance at the title.

The championship game proved to be a rematch with the Taz-Maniacs, who had continued their undefeated season after their second-round tie with the Pink Panthers. Gina Franchini, who left the game injured early in the first half, returned in the final 10 minutes to score a crossing goal hard into the net on an assist by Maddy Stephens. That proved to be the only score of the four halves of play between the two strong teams. In one of the best defensive performances of the year, Amy Johnson turned in a stellar game, rounding up ball after ball, and Olson had a crucial stop in the closing minutes to ice the victory.

The American Cup program was initiated by US Youth Soccer to enhance the accomplishments of the developmental player by participating in a state championship tournament. The American Cup is designed to encourage developmental players by allowing them to compete for the goal of being state champions. The tournament is open to all teams, U9 through U19, registered with the Colorado State Youth Soccer Association.