PDA Blue 2009 squad won the Nike Premier Cup on Saturday, July 27, a tournament featuring 12 top Under-15 teams from 12 different countries.

The New Jersey power and 2023 ECNL U14 National Champions defeated a South Korean All-Star team in a penalty shootout to capture the crown after a 0-0 draw at the Nike Globe Headquarters in Portland.

Featuring teams from Mexico, Brazil, England, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Germany, Spain and Australia, PDA Blue went undefeated in six games, winning four of them.

Drawn into a group with FC Nordsjælland, VfL Wolfsburg and Brazilian club Ferroviaria, PDA Blue the group with three wins in three. In the opener, PDA bested Nordsjælland by a 4-3 score. Amari Manning scored two goals, with Alyssa Hammoud and Deus Stanislaus adding another each. Both Stanislaus and Manning were called into the U.S. U15 GNT team for next week's Concacaf Championship.

It was a much more comfortable result in the second group game against Wolfsburg. Hammoud scored a goal and setup another, while Danica Tsapatsaris, Stanislaus and Lidia Gilch also scored. Midfielder Cali Smith assisted on Stanislaus’ goal, as the midfield trio of that duo and Elizabeth Rubin helped set the platform for the win.

A 1-0 shutout win against Ferroviaria secured first place in the group. Lee tallied the winner, with an assist from Hammoud, while the defense, anchored by Sandra O'Neill and Quinlan Donahue helped goalkeeper Jordan Reigrod keep a clean sheet.

Entering the quarterfinals as the top seed, a Liga MX All-Star team awaited in the knockout rounds. It was once again a 1-0 win, with Manning setting up Stanislaus for an emphatic header. The midfield trio of Stanislaus, Smith and Rubin helped control the center of the park, while Manning’s dynamism helped create several scoring chances. O'Neill, Donahue and Maggie Averell set the defensive platform ahead of Reigrod once again.

A matchup against the Urawa Red Diamonds waited in the next round, with a spot in the finals on the line. There was little that separated the two sides, PDA opting to press and disrupt Urawa’s possession game. After the Japanese side scored with 18 minutes to go, Makena Lee tallied the equalizer from a set piece. With the score tied at 1-1, the game went straight to penalties. Sandra O'Neill’s penalty secured a spot in the final.

The KFA All Star team advanced to the final, and it was another epic test for PDA. Both sides had chances to win it in the game, though were unable to find the back of the net. It was capped off by a 7-6 shootout win for the NJ side, as Samantha Trimble converted the decisive spot kick after Reigrod made a save.

PDA Blue 2009 Nike Premier Cup Roster

00 - Jordan Reigrod
0 - Ava Hogan
3 - Danica Tsapatsaris
4 - Maggie Averell
6 - Quinlan Donahue
7 - Cali Smith
8 - Alyssa Hammoud
9 - Makena Lee
10 - Gabrielle Parker
11 - Deus Stanislaus
13 - Madisyn Abella
14 - Amari Manning
17 - Sandra O'Neill
18 - Anna Groseibl
19 - Lidia Gilch
21 - Elizabeth Rubin
23 - Jordan Marini
29 - Christine Basciano
99 - Samantha Trimble

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