The Team Dayton U18 girls soccer team (pictured at bottom of page) recently won the championship of the Volvo Germantown Invitational Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee, December 7-8, 2002. Success at this level for Team Dayton Soccer Club is nothing new, but up until recently it has been enjoyed largely by the boys teams in the club. The U18 girls teams features Dayton’s top High School seniors, and one junior, and has players from all of the area’s strongest soccer programs. Centerville, Beavercreek, Oakwood, Xenia, Northmont, Greenon, Chaminade Julienne and Fairborn are all represented on the roster.

During the tournament the girls defeated three nationally ranked clubs on their way to the championship. During the opening round they knocked off #16 Germantown Fury FC from Tennessee 1-0 on a goal from Xenia High School’s Jessie Schmidt and an assist from Beavercreek’s Betsy Holbrook. In the semifinal game, they defeated #34 Lexington FC from Kentucky, also by a 1-0 score with the goal by Centerville’s Jen Hansen and an assist from Xenia’s Kristen Minton. In the championship game the girls tied #39 Andromeda SC from Houston, Texas 2-2 after regulation. Schmidt scored both goals on assists from Hansen and Oakwood High School’s Annette Ferraro. After two scoreless overtime periods Team Dayton won the penalty shootout 6-5 with goals from Ferraro, Hansen, Jen Klum (Oakwood), Schmidt, Sarah Helldoerfer (CJ), and Ashley Nevitt (Fairborn). Goalkeeper Liz Markley of Greenon High School saved Andromeda’s sixth penalty to win the title for Dayton.

In addition to the team’s success Markley was also named the Most Outstanding Goalkeeper of her age division, as well as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She posted three shutouts in four games and made several spectacular saves. Schmidt was named Offensive MVP of the tournament, scoring three goals and adding a penalty in the championship shootout.

Team Dayton 84 Girls Roster
Betsy Holbrook - Beavercreek High School
Julia Mastin - Beavercreek High School
Lori Stewart - Beavercreek High School
Debbie Szalejko - Beavercreek High School
Ashley Nevitt - Fairborn High School
Liz Markley - Greenon High School
Cynthia Bettcher - Oakwood High School
Annette Ferraro - Oakwood High School
Christina Mannarino - Oakwood High School
Jen Klum - Oakwood High School
Kristin Minton - Xenia High School
Jessie Schmidt - Xenia High School
Jodie Shoaf - Northmont High School
Stacey Thomas - Northmont High School
Jen Hansen - Centerville High School
Melissa Hailey - Centerville High School
Sarah Helldoerfer - Chaminade Julienne High School


Front row: Bettcher, Hailey, Helldoerfer, Mastin, Thomas, Szalejko, and Hollbrook
Back row: Markley, Schmidt, Minton, Ferraro, Hansen, Mannarino, Klum, and Nevitt
Not Pictured: Shoaf, Stewart

Copyright 2003: Team Dayton Soccer Club; All Rights reserved.