Strikers will play Elkhart County United in the semi-final on Saturday (7 p.m.), and the winner play the victor of the Indiana Invaders/Pike Indy Burn game on Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.).
“We are hopeful for victory, but glad to be part of the experience,” said Duckworth.
Southern Indiana United has a good recent record in the Challenge Cup as a club. In 2007, its U14 Rampage (now U17s) won the tournament, and the following year, its U14 Mavericks (now U16s) made the final.
Strikers hope to follow in both teams’ footsteps by making it to the championship decider. To get to the last four stage, the team beat Westfield Select (2-0) and tied with Tippecanoe (0-0) before clinching its finals spot on goal difference with a 4-0 win over NWI United FC.
“Last year we missed out on advancing by a one goal difference,” said Duckworth. “This year, we advanced by that. The lads are working hard fine tuning their skills, as well as practicing their penalty kicks, just in case it's a tie.”
Duckworth said it’s been a tough season for the boys following expansion from a roster of 14 playing 8 versus 8 to a roster of 18, playing 11 versus 11, with five of last season's players leaving.
“Several of the new players had not played select and had to work hard to get up to the speed of it,” he said. “Fortunately, we had seven players participate in the ODP, with four being selected to the state teams that helped out with the new lads.”
He said occasional lapses in the Kentucky Select Soccer League resulted in losses and a fourth place in both the fall and the spring seasons, but both times we were only two points behind the winner.
“The disappointment in the league, however, has been more than made up for by winning the Winchester Classic tournament in the fall, and now advancing in the Challenge Cup.”
Overall, Strikers have played 19 games this year and have lost just three times (9-3-7).
Saturday will be an eventful one for coach Duckworth , whose team will be playing the same day that his homeland, England, takes on USA in the World Cup in South Africa.
“We will travel up early to watch England hopefully beat the U.S., as Indiana Youth Soccer is having a big party at the fields Saturday,” he said. “I will be wearing my old England Rooney shirt.”
More than 295 teams ranging in age from U11 to U17 have participated in this year’s Challenge Cup tournament, which is open to travel and recreational plus teams from Indiana.
Above: U13 Strikers pictured preparing for the Indiana State Challenge Cup this weekend.
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