GA U14 Champions Cup: Lou Fusz Spark

by Victor Olorunfemi

March 12, 2025

Players featured in this article:

Ava Carter | 2030

MF | Lou Fusz Illinois

With impressive defensive fortitude and two first-half goals, Lou Fusz pulled off a 2-1 victory to win the U14 GA Champions Cup.

Neither side found an early stronghold in a matchup of two highly physical teams. It took a moment of brilliance to open the scoring as Lou Fusz striker Kyann Craig delivered a breathtaking through ball for Emery Spector to finish past the on-rushing keeper.

Not to be outdone, Indy Premier striker Olivia Jones was a terror in her own right, winning fouls and going on solo runs that often took the center-back duo of Bailey Warren and Elin Austin to stop. The score remained 1-0 until the last minute of the first half when the Missouri-based club doubled its lead against the run of play. A hopeful Kenzi Nordike volley took a strange bounce, leading to an unfortunate goalkeeping mistake.

Credit to Indy Premier, they came out firing in the second half. Isabella Moreno and Zoey Montgomery continued their stellar combination play, while Kendalynn McDowell provided the physicality needed to match Ava Carter in the opposing midfield. Off the bench, Madelyn James added a spark for Premier as a small-in-stature but quick-thinking and technical midfielder who changed the game with her intelligent decision-making.

Through it all, Lou Fusz held strong, denying clear looks on goal whether it was the two center-backs, Carter in the midfield or Ava Blatnik and Annabel Pezzani at full-back. It increasingly seemed that any breakthrough would have to come from a set piece, which happened when Jones won a foul that resulted in a gorgeous curling free kick from Montgomery with six minutes to play.

While the Lou Fusz backline remained resolute, Indy Premier did find a dramatic equalizer with seconds remaining on a free kick cross, but it was ruled offside.

Lou Fusz now holds the Champions Cup trophy after falling just short in last summer’s national final, while Indy Premier stamped their credentials as one of the best in the country.

Player of the Match: Bailey Warren, Lou Fusz