Photo: Four Dutch Fork, Chapin Girls Among Top Winners at National Soccer Showcase

Four girls from Chapin and Dutch Fork high schools are part of the South Carolina United FC’s 96 Girls Elite team that tied for first place in the Jefferson Cup College Showcase. 

Below is information provided by Coach Tomasz Kluszczynski:

The Jefferson Cup, which was held March 15-17, has become associated with tournaments such as the Dallas Cup, The San Diego Surf Cup, WAGS Women’s Tournament, and the Disney College Showcase as one of the five premier North American tournaments in the country.

Finishing tied for first place in their college showcase bracket, the girls accomplished back-to-back top finishes in Richmond; as they won their flight last year, as well as winning their flight at Disney in January.

They drew their first game 1-1 vs YMS Premier from Pennslyvania, playing exciting brand of soccer in spite of only having one substitute due to numerous team members having high school games Friday night.

The team won Saturday's game 2-0 against Potomac Hotspur from Maryland and Sundays game 4-0 despite the 35 degree weather, and mix of sleet and rain. The girls also put on a fantastic display against an extremely physical Tom Rivers Elite team from New Jersey.

All weekend our ladies represented South Carolina very well, and showed a great amount of attacking play, fantastic defending and stellar goalkeeping giving up only 1 goal and scoring 7.  Their performance was showcased in front of 30 plus college coaches watching each of their games including: Miami, Maryland, FIU, Villanova, Pittsburgh, St. Joe's; stellar academic institutions as William & Mary, West Point, Navy, Drexel, and many more.

Pictured above (Name, High School):

• Claire Stephan, Blythewood
• Logan Humphries, Ridge View
• Hannah Cowan, Blythewood
• Taylor Barber, Blythewood 
• Jordan Dawsey, Chapin
• Kirsty Ellinger, Columbia / Dreher
• Kasey Parker, Columbia / Dreher 
• Emily Jermstad, Dutch Fork
• Mary-Jordan Hiller, Dutch Fork
• Marin Miller, Mount Pleasant / Academic Magnet HS
• Ashley Edmunds, Spring Valley
• Raven Rose, Evans, Ga / Greenbrier
• Natalie Thompson, Evans, Ga / Greenbrier
• Jessica Schifer, Aiken / South Aiken
• Mikaela Schifer, Aiken/ South Aiken
• Hayley Younginer, Dutch Fork