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Chi leading way for Solar
By Cory J. Mageors, Staff Writer
Solar ’89 spent its final game in pool play Friday trying not to show the KC Wizards Juniors (Kansas) all of the tricks in their magician’s hat.
Instead of battling it out on the final day like most teams were doing, the two teams were able to kick back because they had already qualified for the finals of the US Youth Soccer National Championships. That allowed the coaches to keep players fresh, keep them healthy and seemingly treat the match as a friendly that ended in a 1-1 tie.
“They didn’t show me nothing, and I didn’t show them nothing,” said Kevin Smith, Solar head coach.
“I don’t think they will want a drink off of me on Sunday,” Smith said. “It will be far too fiery and competitive then. Today we just wanted to get through healthy and tee it off on Sunday. You can bet it will be a cracker jackin’ game.”
Solar ’89 has spent the last nine years forging their way to title after title. Since 2000, there has been no other Classic League Champion but Solar. They have won the Disney Showcase, the Surf Cup and the Dallas Cup and even have come out of Region III as champions.
But the one title this team does not own is National Champions.
Sunday, however, Solar will have a final opportunity to earn that designation.
“These boys have won just about everything they could win,” Smith said. “And how fitting is it that their last game together as a full team, since playing together as a U11 team, will be playing for the national title? It really is a great opportunity for them.”
With all good things, obstacles are often encountered. And in this US Youth Soccer National Championships, Solar has certainly had to overcome their share of adversity to make it to the finals.
Monday, Plano Senior graduate Tex McCullough had surgery to repair cartilage in his knee. Starter and Plano graduate Corben Bone was studying at Wake Forest and unable to attend the first two games. Hunter Jumper was missing for a bit, and Casey Herd was injured in the middle of the tournament, giving Solar a sizeable disadvantage against the Wizards.
“I have one of my best defenders out to boot,” Smith said. “We have had some big-time players out for this run and still have been able to get to the finals. I think that is a credit to the team and the character of the players we have here.”
In Solar’s Friday game with the Wizards, while little was learned, some notes were picked up.
The Wizards are a bigger team physically than Solar and with height and size, they can make better plays on set pieces such as corner kicks and penalty kicks, something Smith hopes to hold to a minimum.
But just like Goliath learned, size is not all that matters.
“I think we are quicker and faster than they are,” Bone said. “We have lots of speed on the outside and I think that is something we can use to our advantage. We saw today that when we got the ball on the outside we were able to do some things and I think we have the offensive edge.”
While Bone, a NCAA Champion and former PARADE Magazine All-American, is a highly touted player for Solar, one of his former Plano West opponents could make the difference on Sunday.
Alex Chi has three of the nine Solar goals in the tournament. Chi scored the first two goals in a game against Freestate United (Maryland) and then added his third goal to tie the Wizards on Friday.
Chi proved capable of leading a soccer team in his time as captain of the Wolves, and now plays at Harvard.
“He is just a great all-around player,” Bone said. “He is constantly battling for position and getting in front of the goal. He deserves every goal he gets because he puts pressure on the opposing defense.”
With Chi and Bone as well as Plano graduate Bryan Hicks and Plano East alumnus Brock Duckworth vying for a title in their final game, it would be a magical ending for the Solar squad.
“This isn’t our first little rodeo,” Smith said. “But what a way to go out.”
And one that they feel is possible.
“These guys won’t let anything stand in their way,” Bone said.
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