Pali Rox! Win U12 Tournament

It’s not how big you are, but how skilled you are that matters. Example No. 1 is Pali Rox!, a local AYSO girls U11 all-star team coached by Phil Pecsok. The Rox! traveled to Simi Valley on New Year’s weekend to play older, more experienced teams in a U12 tournament and, lo and behold, the Rox! won the championship. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” Coach Pecsok said. “This was a 16-team tournament against strong U12 teams and over five games we proved we were better.” Playing at Foundation Fields in a tough pool with four teams, of which only one advanced to the elimination round, the Rox! battled Moorpark’s “A” squad to a 2-2 tie on Saturday, with Elizabeth Seaman and Kaitlyn Nyman each scoring. Then, against Agoura?s “A” team, Seaman scored off a corner kick for a 1-0 Rox! victory. A 2-0 triumph over Camarillo’s “B” team advanced the Rox! to the playoffs against three other pool winners. In Mondays’ semifinal, Elizabeth Seaman scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway in the fourth quarter and Palisades prevailed over Canyon Country, 2-1. Burbank blanked Thousand Oaks, 3-0, in the other semifinal. The championship game was evenly played in the first half as Burbank tried to capitalize on its size and strength advantages. The Rox!, however, were not intimidated and their skill took over in the second half. Emma Seaman, Anna and Seaman each scored a goal in Palisades’ 6-0 victory. Goalie Alex Jackson allowed one goal in 13 quarters as goalie. The defense posted three shutouts, led by Carmen Flood, Julia Barlow and Tara Nikkhoo. Forwards Kaitlyn Nyman, Keely Lance, Anna Husted and Taylor Pecsok all scored for the Rox!. Rounding out the squad were midfielders Hannah De Silva and Laila Touran. U10 Boys The Riptide, Palisades’ U10 boys AYSO all-star team, finished third at the Simi Valley tournament, prevailing over Agoura in a shootout as Brendan Sanderson and Jacob Pink converted their penalty kicks. A week before, the Riptide won the Christmas Classic in Torrance. The team played six games in two days to capture the Santa Claus trophy. After winning its first two games by scores of 5-0 and 8-0, with nine different players scoring, Riptide lost 2-1 but earned a wildcard bid to the quarterfinals. There, Palisades blanked Palos Verdes, 3-0, before upending Thousand Oaks, 3-1, in the semifinals. Riptide started the scoring on Will Rozelle’s header off a cross from Alex Ramsbottom lofted a beautiful left-footed cross to Will Rozelle who headed the ball into the goal. Pali’s defense, led by Sanderson, Vincent DeSantis, Nick Richmond, David Grinsfelder, James Kanoff and Matteo Weniz, held off a late charge to secure the win. The final match was a rematch against Agoura Hills. Pali led 2-0 at halftime thanks to assists from Matteo Weniz and Jordan Golden. The game was tied 2-2 with less than a minute remaining when Riptide’s Jonah Jacobson scored on a breakaway to secure Riptide’s 3-2 victory. Other Riptide players not at the tournament were Pink, Blake Lewis, Daniel Furman and Jake Suddleson.