WILLIAMSBURG — The Tidewater Sharks U12 soccer team won several tournaments this year and ended the season by winning the Virginia State Cup and achieving a No. 1 ranking in the state.
The Sharks had to come back from two goals down in the final five minutes to win the Blue Ridge Labor Day Cup in their first game of the season, setting the stage for a successful season.
“The first tournament of the year really set the tone for us. I knew we had a good team and some good players, but I think that tournament set the tone for the whole year. That game was one of those games where I was like, 'How did that happen?' but really that's what this team has been all season. We've faced adversity but our guys always found a way to win,” said coach Chris Scrofani.
Last fall, the boys team also won the River City Cup and the Capital Fall Classic, finishing second in the league through half of the fall season.
As the spring season began, the boys won the Jefferson Cup and the Memorial Day Invitational Williamsburg tournament trophy.
“I'll be the first to say we weren't always the best team or the better team in those games, but our guys understood our dynamic and continued to do that all season,” Scrofani said.
As the spring season draws to a close, the Tidewater Sharks sit atop the Virginia Premier Soccer League standings.
The boys competed against some of the best teams in Northern Virginia for the Virginia State Cup, with each match decided by penalty shootout.
In the quarterfinals against Herndon, the teams finished tied at one point each. After two five-minute overtime periods, the Sharks took the lead and added two more points. On the final play of the game, Herndon scored off a corner kick, sending the game into a penalty shootout.
In the semifinals, the Sharks faced Prince William, the team Scrofani played for as a youngster. The Sharks scored early, but Prince William fought back quickly. Once again, the game ended tied, but Prince William took the lead with three minutes left in extra time. The Sharks won a free kick from the box with 30 seconds left and scored to tie the game and send it into a penalty shootout.
In the final against Arlington, the team fought hard. The Sharks goalkeeper blocked all three of Arlington's shots, and the Sharks scored three goals. After the final whistle, Scrofani met with his team on the field to celebrate the victory. After realizing the victory, Scrofani had a simple message for his team:
“I told them it was very special for me because I've won as a player and this is the first time I've won as a coach. I believe this is the most talented team I've ever coached and I really wanted them to enjoy the moment and celebrate what they've accomplished not only in this tournament but all year,” Scrofani said.
Finally, the team at GotSoccer.com ranked the Sharks No. 1 in the state of Virginia.
“We've achieved a No. 1 ranking this season, which is huge. GotSoccer is the official ranking for club teams. Being ranked No. 1 in the state of Virginia is a first for any Sharks team, but it's a huge accomplishment because of all the success the boys have had this year,” Scrofani said.
The current U12 team will join Virginia Reign FC for the 2024-25 season.
For more information on the Tidewater Sharks, visit sharks-soccer.com.
