The Chelsea 02 Boys 3v3 team, (L to R) William Cardona, Julian Evans, Luke Thomas & Tucker Lepley, returned home from the MLK Holiday weekend at Disney’s Wide World of Sports as Kickit3v3 National Runners-up. Julian & Tucker are currently on the CSA Academy U9 Aberdeen teams.

The 4 boy squad, including one just recovering from pneumonia, earned the honor by fighting their way through the 35 field of teams that had advanced through qualifying and regional play to the nationals. Starting in the age group’s toughest pool, they dropped their 1st game to the eventual 3rd place winner before soundly beating 2 good teams that ended up 2nd and 4th in the consolation bracket to advance to the championship bracket. Two last minute comeback wins there against last years 5th place winners from CASL and this year’s 5th place winners from Chicago United put them in the semi-finals. There, they beat the defending national champs to advance to the finals where they lost to last year’s runners-up.

The boys success in Florida capped a wonderful year for the team. Last summer, they won the NC State Games and a 3v3 Worldwide tour event before making it through Kickit’s qualifying and regional tournaments without a loss until the Southeast Regional finals. Regrouping after the fall club season, they won the Charlotte Eagles Windstream Cup, playing up in the U10 Silver bracket, and a 3v3 World Tour event as they prepared for their trip to Disney.