Northern Virginia Repeats as U14 North American Champions

Northern Virginia Repeats as U14 North American Champions
Majestics Top Chicago Fire in Penalty Kicks, Jordan Kestel Named MVP
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Taken from USLSoccer.com

After being 30 seconds away from elimination during group play two days earlier, capturing their second consecutive Super Y-League North American Finals title was especially sweet for the Northern Virginia Majestics. The Majestics needed penalty kicks to get the job done for the second consecutive day, defeating the Chicago Fire Juniors by a 5-4 margin following a scoreless tie.

Central defender Jordan Kestel produced the winning kick in the sixth round, and even that produced its own level of drama as Kestel’s high shot hit the crossbar, bounced straight down and then back up off the crossbar and into the net. It forced Kestel’s teammates, primed to rush the field to celebrate, to do a studder-step on the sidelines before piling on their team MVP.

"Obviously you’ve got to be proud of the girls," Majestics Head Coach Chris Jones said. "Two days in a row penalty kicks and all the players came up huge."

Jones singled out the play of keeper Arianna Reichardt, who for the second day in a row made a huge stop after one of her teammates had missed. It was Reichardt’s save on the Chicago Fire’s sixth shooter that set up Kestel’s heroics. (Photo courtesy of Gerald Barnhart)