The Moo Chili Llamas (Boys U-11) won the District II

Championship with a victory over the Blue Tornados last Sunday by a score 2 to 1 in

the American Cup. The Blue Tornados of Bellevue got on the board early

with a breakaway shot that skipped under the Llama’s diving goalie,

Marshall Lloyd.

Although the Llama’s were down for a few minutes, they put

mid-field pressure on the Blue Tornados with aggressive defensive and hustle.

Team Captain Taylor Wise led the offensive and defensive pressure in the

middle with strong support by Mackenzie Donnel and Jace Derwin. These

three players drew the assignment to stop the dangerous scoring attack of

the Tornados. Tight man-marking kept the ball out of the middle and

frustrated the Tornados’ offense. With a few minutes left in the half, the Llama’s

right wing, Jeff Chapman, blasted a long shot that tied the game going into

halftime.

Although the Moo Chili Llamas outplayed the Tornados in the

second half, credit the outstanding defense of the Tornados for stopping

multiple shots on goal by the Llamas. With about 15 minutes to go in the

game, Jace Derwin crossed the ball into the center of the goal box, and the

Tornados’ defender deflected the ball into their own goal for the Chili score.

With high-fives and cheers from parents and friends, the Moo Chili Llamas held

the potent Tornado offense scoreless in the second half to take home the

gold medal for the District II Championship.

“They played with so much heart; what a fantastic game,” said

Evan Acey’s mom. At the end of the game Evan’s dad passed out the

sparkling cider. Two weeks from now the Moo Chili Llamas will play in the

American Cup State Championship Tournament in Everett.