The Pali Sting, a group that formed as a girls U10 AYSO all-star team two years ago and played again as 11-year-olds, returned for one last blaze of glory on Memorial Day weekend when they reunited for a tournament in La Jolla.
Mark Douglas, whose daughter, Caroline, played on the team, sent an e-mail to all the families a few months prior, asking if the girls wanted to get together for one last tournament, and everyone agreed. The Sting won the tournament with four victories, outscoring its opponents 17-3.
In the championship match, the Sting found themselves down 1-0 at halftime, but stormed back with five unanswered goals to win to take the title, 5-1.
For coaches Jen Bleakley and Adam Glick, it was more of the same for a selfless group that never strayed from the concept of always remaining unified.
“They have a very team-oriented approach,” Bleakley said. “It’s the idea of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and everyone rowing the boat in the same direction. They just have great affection for each other, and love being together and playing together. They have a special feeling for one another.”
Bleakley added that most of the girls did not know each other before they came together in AYSO, but the team’s chemistry was remarkable – sleepovers, parents becoming friends – and that in turn has led to on-field success. As a U10 AYSO team, the Sting won eight of their 10 tournaments.
The roster included Douglas, Carter Beardmore, KK Bishop, Josie Bleakley, Ava Button, Caroline Flintoft, Maddy Glick, Annabelle Heisel, Kate Holt, Izzy Levi, Isabelle Lewis, Cameron Rawlings, Ashley Sammann, Bridget Stokdyk, Cameron Stokes and Kiley Wallace.
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