Submitted by St. Thomas Soccer Club and photo by Chloe Tunstill
The St. Thomas Reds won the 21st annual Brockport International Soccer Festival in convincing fashion the weekend of July 19-20, defeating Webster Green 3-0 in the championship final.
Representing the St. Thomas Soccer Club, the U11 boys’ soccer team traveled to Brockport, New York for the two-day tournament and earned three straight wins against their American competition in round robin play.
On Saturday (July 19), St. Thomas knocked off Webster, 5-2, and the Penfield Rangers, 3-1. With first-place secured and a berth in the final guaranteed, the Reds blanked the host Brockport Blizzards 5-0 early Sunday (July 20) morning in the pouring rain.
Kings of New York: The St. Thomas Reds (U11 Boys) won the 21st annual Brockport International Soccer Festival, one of western New York’s largest soccer tournaments
Front row (l to r): Daniel Guernsey, A.J. Stanat and Grant Ferguson; Second row: Jake Lister; Third row (l to r): Luke Verdel, Dillon Richman, Jack Tunstill, Kaiden Banks, Danny Bacon, Evan Geurts, Clark Renaud and Gavin Barnhouse. Fourth Row (l to r): Associate Coach Phil Tunstill and Head Coach Jeff Renaud.
“The Brockport win was a culmination of everything we’ve been working towards as a team for the past three seasons,” said Jeff Renaud, Head Coach of the St. Thomas Reds. “The boys moved the ball brilliantly and played with a high level of respect for their opponents and each other.”
Sponsored by Muma Manufacturing in St. Thomas, the Reds have eight players that have competed together since 2012 when the team formed as an U9 boys’ soccer team to compete in the London and District Youth Soccer League (LDYSL). Over the past two winters, an influx of new talent has joined the team, providing the Reds with excellent depth and, more importantly, invaluable character.
With 28 boys’ and girls’ divisions and more than 100 teams playing on 25 fields in and around Brockport, the International is one of western New York’s largest soccer tournaments.
“The competition in New York was first-rate, and the tournament was extremely well organized,” added Renaud. “I was very proud that opposing coaches, officials and tournament organizers commented on the Reds’ energy on the pitch, accountability towards each other and the team’s all-around sportsmanship. We look forward to returning next year to defend our championship.”
