Eagles On the Verge of U.S. Soccer History

The FIFA Women's World Cup final in Frankfurt, Germany isn't the only soccer game of historical significance being played Sunday. 

Approximately 4,500 miles away at Lovers Lane Soccer Complex in Bowling Green, KY., Kelsea Smith of Pepperdine and her Under-23 Eagles SC team will vie for an unprecedented fourth age-specific national title.

The Waves' red-shirt junior defender started 38 of 39 games her first two seasons, twice earning All-West Coast Conference honorable mention, and this summer she has reunited with her Eagles teammates for a run at history.

On Friday evening, the Camarillo-based club shut out D'Feeters of Dallas, 5-0, to advance to the finals of the United States Adult Soccer National Championships, where it will meet the Kansas City Wizards.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. local time Sunday, but could be moved to an earlier time so it doesn't conflict with the United States-Japan World Cup final.

"The team executed very well," Eagles Coach Vince Thomas said of Friday's semifinal victory. "Our back line of Coco Goodson, Amelia Mathis, Shannon McFadden and KC Smith played great in front of [goalkeeper] Chante Sandiford, and our playmakers were very good at setting the table."

Smith is the only member of the U23 Eagles who hails from Camarillo. She was a standout at Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, leading the Lions to three CIF titles while being named to the All-CIF, All-Ventura County and All-Tri-Valley League first teams after scoring 18 goals her senior year.

"Amanda Lisberger and Emily Cressy on the outside set up most of the goals with great crosses and constant penetration into the box," Thomas added. "That in turn gave our big hitters, Lindsay Bullock, Kelsey Kraft, Haley Boynsen and Lauren Jackson opportunities to score and all four of them did so." 

The Eagles won U.S. Youth Soccer National titles in the U14 division in 2004 and the U17 division in 2007. Last year, they defeated Arizona Rush Nike to win the U23 title and now the six-time Cal South State Champions will try for a repeat--and a page in the record book. 

The Eagles played a rigorous exhibition schedule to prepare for their quest for yet another national championship, including games versus the United States' U23 national team and the Pali Blues.  

“It's amazing what this team has accomplished starting when they were just 13-year-olds,” Thomas said. “Now, as young women, they have a chance to do what no team ever has."

The Eagles' U23 roster (listed alphabetically) is as follows:

Haley Boysen -- USC (Moorpark, CA)

Lindsay Bullock -- Long Beach State (Manhattan Beach, CA)

Charney Burk -- UCLA (North Tustin, CA)

Judy Christopher -- UC Irvine (Ontario, CA)

Ally Courtnall -- UCLA (Thousand Oaks, CA)

Emily Cressy -- University of Kansas (Ventura, CA)

Courtney Goodson -- UC Irvine (Ramona, CA)

Lauren Jackson -- University of Kansas (Long Beach, CA)

Kelsey Kraft -- University of Oklahoma (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)

Amanda Lisberger -- University of Texas (Pacific Palisades, CA)

Amelia Mathis -- UCLA (Ventura, CA) 

Shannon McFadden -- Washington State (Ventura, CA)

Monique Pendleberry -- UC Irvine (Newbury Park, CA)

Chante Sandiford -- UCLA (Owing Mills, MD)

Kelsea Smith -- Pepperdine (Camarillo, CA)