The 01 HFC Red G won the U16 Girls’ North Carolina Youth Soccer Association (NCYSA) Premier League, which is the highest statewide league in North Carolina. This is the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the

Highland Football Club (HFC) that a girls’ team has won the NCYSA Premier Division.

“We are extremely proud of the 01 HFC Red Girls for their NCYSA Premier Division Championship season,” said Michael Rottjakob, executive director, Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association/HFC.

The NCYSA Premier League is the highest statewide league in North Carolina and consists of top teams from across the state. The 01 HFC Red Girls competed against the Piedmont Triad Football Club Lady Black G; Lake Norman Soccer Club Eclipse Blue G; Charlotte United Footboy Club Gold G; Capitol Area Soccer League Ladies Black G; Pit Greenville Soccer Association Stars G; Triangle United Soccer Academy Gold G; Triangle Futbol Club Alliance Select G; and Charlotte Soccer Academy Charlotte Copa G to win the division. The team went 6-1-1 during the tough league schedule while scoring 15 goals and only allowing two goals.

“This is a fabulous accomplishment for all of the players. To be able to do something that has never been done in the history of the club makes it even more special. I cannot say enough good things about this group of players. As proud of them as I am for winning the league, I have to say that I am far more proud of them for the quality, possession-based soccer they have played all season long as well as the effort they consistently displayed at training and games,” said Jason ReMine, the director of the Girls’ Classic Program for HFC as well the coach of this team.

“It feels amazing to win the premier league and be on top. At the beginning of the season, I had no idea we would get this far, but I’m so proud to be on this team and couldn’t ask for better people as teammates. I think the biggest factor that contributed to our success was getting to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and learning to play with them,” said Polk County’s Reese Alley, defender/forward on the team.

The team is comprised of players from five different counties and 12 different schools throughout western North Carolina. The members of the 2016 HFC 1 Red Girls team are: Eden Hawkins (Hendersonville High); Ella Dockendorf (Carolina Day School); Reese Alley (Polk); Morgan Hill (RS Central); Kennedy Rucker and Keely Simmons (TC Roberson); Olivia Lenderman (Asheville High); Abilyn McConnell (Homeschool); Sara Groce, Annabelle Sparks and Emma Reimels (AC Reynolds); Camryn Bolick (Owen); Lauren Singleton (Pisgah) and Sarah Swaim (Tuscola).

The team is preparing for competition in the N.C. United States Youth Soccer (USYS) State Cup (November) and the Capitol Area Soccer League (CASL) College Girls Showcase (December).

– article submitted by Sherry Swaim