Christiansburg Soccer Club’s U12 Boys Phoenix team travelled to Winston Salem, Columbus Day weekend to compete in the ChallengeFest 2012 Soccer Tournament hosted by the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL).While there, they competed against four North Carolina teams.

Phoenix won their first game Saturday morning against Greensboro by a score of 2-0. Goalie Ethan Mills saved 7 shots on goal. Scoring goals for Phoenix were Ian Blanton and Madhi Issa. Defenders Avery Absher, Micheal Ward and Mahmud Atway and mid fielder Cayden Trobaugh made it virtually impossible for Greensboro to get within scoring range.

Saturday’s second game was played against Gaston, ending in a final score of Phoenix 9, Gaston 0. Forwards Ethan Mills, Ian Blanton, Ben Walden, Jackson Bulls, Nick Harrison and Madhi Issa were on fire. Once again Phoenix’s defense shut down most of Gaston’s scoring attempts. Angelo Rosso played in goal for Phoenix.

Sunday’s early morning game was played against the Twin City Twins and ended in a 5-0 victory for the CSC Phoenix. Goals were scored by Mills, Blanton(2) and Issa (1). Goalie, Avery Absher stopped 3 shots on goal.

Sunday afternoon’s championship game was played against the hosting team, nationally ranked CASL Wake Forest. Phoenix went ahead early in the game on a goal scored by Madhi Issa and then up 2-0 on a goal scored by Ian Blanton midway through the first. CASL scored late in the first half and it was 2-1 Phoenix. CASL then scored early in the second half evening the score 2-2. At the end of regulation the score was still tied 2-2.Tournament rules stated that a game ending in a tie would be determined by a penalty kick shoot-out. Each team would have 5 players taking a shot against the opposing goalie, the team scoring the most goals would win the game. Phoenix missed its first goal, CASL made their first one. Phoenix’s Michael Ward then scored. CASL’s second attempt hit the sidebar. Madhi Issa then scored for Phoenix. CASL’s third attempt was stopped by goalie Ethan Mills. Avery Absher then scored Phoenix’s winning goal, as CASL would go on to hit the cross bar with their 4^th attempt.

Assistant Coach Habeeb Issa said, "He never doubted these boys would win this tournament. I knew coming into the tournament that these boys were ready.”

Assistant Coach Todd Mills stated afterwards that “Phoenix played the best 4 games I’ve ever seen them play. They played with passion, dedication and with outstanding teamwork.”

Head Coach Scott Trobaugh said, “I’ve watched these boys work hard all season to get to this point. I couldn’t be more proud of the team they have become.”

CSC Phoenix is currently 4-0 in regular Blue Ridge Soccer League play. They have outscored their opponents 20-1. They will be back on the field Saturday against PYSL (Martinsville).

Photo: First row: Coach Scott Trobaugh. Second row: Cayden Trobaugh, Angelo Rosso, Madhi Issa, Mahmud Atway, Ben Walden, Ian Blanton, Jackson Bulls and Nick Harrison. Back row: Assistant Coach Habeeb Issa, Avery Absher, Ethan Mills, Michael Ward and Assistant Coach Todd Mills. (Photo submitted by Kim Trobaugh)