Chatham Soccer Star Wins National Championship

CHATHAM, NJ - While the world celebrated the United States women soccer victory in the World Cup, a celebration was held a little close to home as a Chatham middle school student helped lead her team to a national title.

Eleven-year-old Riley Cross was pulled up an age group to play with the U13 soccer team at her elite club PDA for the National play-offs in San Diego, California. Although she was the youngest in the tournament, she ended up as the leading goal scorer for her team with three total goals, two which were in the championship game.

In fact, Cross scored the first and last goals of the tournament.

This is the first year in which the Elite Clubs National league decided to have a national competition for the U13 age group and after four days or play Cross' team defeated Virginia Development Academy in the National Finals to be the first ever U13 National Champions.

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