The Michigan Gators 97 Blue soccer team traveled to Dayton Ohio over the Labor Day weekend to compete in the 28th Annual Mead CUSA Cup. The girls competed in the 5 Star Division U11 Age Group against soccer clubs from throughout the Midwest and completed a perfect six game sweep with a 5-0 shutout in the championship game against Cardinals Premier 96 of Cincinnati.

The 5 Star Division at this age group included the top rated U11 Michigan Hawks Black, along with premier teams from football clubs located in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The Gator girls reached the quarterfinals of the tournament after victories over Ohio Westside Premier 96 (4-2), Tennessee LFC Premier White 96 (3-1) and GFC Arsenal Blue (5-0). In the quarterfinals, the girls squared off against a tough Warren County United Blue from the Cincinnati area. The Warren County team recently won the Arsenal Cup Tournament played in mid-August. The Gators prevailed with a 1-0 victory late Sunday evening and would face the #1 rated Michigan Hawks Black Monday morning in the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, the Gators broke a scoreless tie midway in the 2nd half and completed their assault to the Mead Cup finals with the 1-0 victory over the Hawks. In the finals against Cardinals Premier, the Gators scored early and often, racing to a 4-0 halftime lead and coasting to the championship by the final score of 5-0.

The Gators 97 Blue is led by Coach Curtis Ward, who also coached the Troy Elite U9 Boys and Troy Elite U10 Boys to championships at this same Mead Cup event. Congratulations to Coach Curtis and his U11 girls. Tremendous team play!