The Richmond Hill Hornets U12G rec soccer team completed a very successful fall season by winning the CGSA Savannah Rec Cup tournament held Nov. 21-22. This is the second year in a row the Hornets have won this tournament.
The Hornets won four games to take the title. In the first game, against the CGSA Comets, speedy Hornet striker Michelle Davis came out on fire, scoring 4 goals in the first 10 minutes. Michelle was banished to the bench to save her opponents further embarrassment, returning late in the game to score the Hornets final goal in an overwhelming 12-0 victory.
The second game, against the Effingham Cyclones, proved much more difficult. In a back and forward struggle, the Cyclones took a 3-1 lead. The Hornets fought back to 5-3 and seemed to have the game well in hand when uncharacteristic defensive mistakes allowed the Cyclones to tie the game 5-5, but the Hornets increased their efforts and a late goal sealed a 6-5 Hornet victory.
In the semifinal game on Sunday morning, the Hornets strolled to an easy 5-0 victory over the CGSA Fighting Irish. The highlight of the game came when Hornet goalkeeper Mackenzee McCauley raced upfield to blast a free kick from 25 yards into the far corner of the net.
The final game saw a rematch with the Effingham Cyclones who had finished second in group A but won their semifinal match against the winners of Group B, the Hampton-Varnville Crossfire from South Carolina. The Hornets were ready for the challenge, dominating the Cyclones in the first half and taking an early lead when good work on the left wing from the Karfakis twins, Sia and Katina, resulted in a pass across the goal and a simple tap-in at the far post for Sabria Marquez. The Cyclones then surprisingly equalized the score 1-1 on a rare attack. Hornet defender Amber Reagan took it upon herself to erase this insult, charging upfield and firing the ball low and hard into the opponents net. Two second half goals sealed the Hornet victory and gave them the title.
Midfielder Angela Kaye was the top goal scorer for the Hornets and for the tournament, scoring 9 goals for the second week-end in a row. Michelle Davis scored 7 goals, Brianna Wathan, Sia Karfakis, Sabria Marquez and Morgan Willard each scored two goals. Katina Karfakis, Mackenzee McCauley and Amber Reagan each scored one goal. Rachel Hammesfahr, Caitlin Elkins and Faith Kelley played solid defense throughout the tournament.
The Hornets enjoyed a record of 15-0 for the fall rec season, winning the local league championship and the Kohl’s American Cup in addition to the Savannah Rec. Cup, outscoring their opponents by 96 goals to 13.
The Richmond Hill Hornets are part of RHRA and the Richmond Hill Soccer Club. Over the past 5 years, Hornet teams have enjoyed outstanding success, winning multiple local championships, the rec state championship twice, the rec district championship twice, the Kohl’s American Cup (Atlanta) twice, the Savannah Rec Cup twice, the Piggly Wiggly Shoot-out (Mount Pleasant SC), and the Farm Rich Seaside Challenge (Jekyll Island). The Hornets also have second place finishes at a rec state championship, rec. district championship, Savannah Rec Cup, Piggly Wiggly Shoot-out and James Island Cup (SC). The next challenge for the Hornets will be at the Girls Rock select soccer tournament, held in Savannah in January.