Fall Classic 2008 Results

Despite a chilly start in the morning, over 300 players and their fans arrived bright and early for the Fall Classic 2008. This year we welcomed 41 teams from all over the Southwest, as far way as Denton, TX, Denver, CO and Tucson, AZ.

The round-robin stage was played all day Saturday and teams competed in 48 games. The games ended just as the sun set.

On Sunday competition was fierce in the knockout stage, many games went into overtime and PKs to determine a winner.

The Men’s OPEN final was a very competitive game between the Colorado Springs “Rovers Soccer Club” and the local ASL premier team “Brethren”. The visitors from Colorado clinched the win in a tight final, 2-1.

In the Men’s recreational 3rd place game, the “German Sundowners” a German Airforce team from White Sands met the “International Superstars” from Las Cruces, NM. The game was tied 1-1 after regular time and went into overtime. With just 1 minute left in the second half of overtime, the “International Superstars” won the game with a “Golden Goal” and took 3 3rd place trophy home.

The Men’s Intermediate Final between the local teams “Umoja Stars” and “Eclipse” was still tied after overtime 1-1 and had to be decided in PK’s. The first round of 5 kicks left both teams tied again and in a nail biter final “Umoja Stars” took the win with 7-6 in PK’s.

The longest and most fierce final was played in the Women OPEN Division. The two AWSL premier teams “Mighty Wombats” and “Bratz” played for the Championship at 2.30 PM. The teams tied the game in regular time and overtime 3-3. The decision once again had to come down to PK’s. The two teams kept it exciting for the spectators, after some missed kicks and fantastic saves by the goalkeepers, the Mighty Wombats clinched the title with 13-12 (Pk’s).

Congratulations to the Divisions winners:

• Rover Soccer Club (Colorado Springs) — MEN OPEN
• Mighty Wombats (AWSL) — WOMEN OPEN
• Umoja Stars (ASL) — MEN INTERMEDIATE
• PK’s (AWSL) — WOMEN INTERMEDIATE
• AFC (ASL) — MEN RECREATIONAL
• Diamonds (Las Cruces) — WOMEN RECREATIONAL
• Colorado Sporting (Denver) — COED OPEN
• Filthy Animals (ASL) — COED RECREATIONAL

Thank you to all the teams for making the day such an enjoyable and successful event. Particular mention must go to all the traveling soccer teams. We look forward to seeing you all again at next year’s event.

Special thanks to El Semanario Deportivo for covering the tournament this year. Spanish speakers, be sure to read their accounts of the tournament attached below.

View pictures from this, and previous years.

If you got some good pictures from the tournament and want to see them posted here send them to erinl@nmssa.com.