HVAA vs Everybody: Local club reaches new heights with four state cup winners

“HVAA vs Everybody” is a catchy slogan to put on a t-shirt but it’s also a phrase that captures the ethos of a local club that is growing and reaching new heights as evidenced in their four state cup winners in last month’s Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup finals at WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester.

“We behave, and we play and we coach with a chip on our shoulder a little bit, constantly the underdog,” said Brad Sorkin, the executive director of travel soccer at Huntingdon Valley Athletic Association. “The whole small club vibe isn’t really true anymore though. We’re going to have 44 travels teams this year.”

That small club that’s grown into a larger regional club that now competes for multiple state cups – there were six in the finals – is a credit to the development of coaches and the culture within the club, which has attracted and retained players that maybe in the past would’ve moved on to other clubs in search of trophies and bigger accolades.

“We’ve never had two state Cup winners in the same year,” Sorkin said. “It’s remarkable for us, and we’re very proud of it, and it’s hard to not be excited about regionals coming up locally.”

The cup success started on the Friday night of the state final weekend in Chester with the 2015 boys team (Fury) beating CASA 5-2 in the U-10 Challenge Cup final and it was followed by the 2011 girls team (Union) beating ENCO United on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in the U-14 Presidents Cup final, continued with the 2008 boys (Sting) beating Whitpain 3-2 in the U-17 Presidents Cup final and the 2010 boys (Stingers) outlasting Lighthouse SC Force on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the U-15 Presidents Cup final in what was the second to last final of the weekend.

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As cup finals go, there was plenty of adversity and drama that led to the four teams lifting the trophy on the stage set up in the shadow of Subaru Park.

The Union were down 2-0 in the first half and clawed their way back to a 2-2 draw and penalty shootout win while the Stingers were able to grab a late equalizer in the second overtime period to send their fierce battle with Lighthouse to penalties.

“These are the kind of kids that that HVAA is picking up, and these are the kind of teams we’re raising where it’s like 2-0 20 minutes in it doesn’t mean anything to them,” said coach Lena Staropoli, who also plays for the club’s successful women’s team. “We ended up coming back, tying it up with eight minutes left and then winning in PKs 4-1.”

Starpoli said she wasn’t surprised to see the way her team responded and closed out the game because of the improvement the group has been making.

“They beat us pretty bad a year ago,” Starpoli said of ENCO United. “But that’s been the theme, every year, every season, improving leaps over bounds.”

John Zuidema, who coaches the Stingers, has had a similar experience with his group.

“We set goals at the beginning of the year and winning the state cup and getting to be in regionals here in our backyard were part of those goals,” Zuidema said. “I’m really proud of them and how hard they’ve worked but they know this weekend how hard they’ll have to keep working playing on a bigger stage.”

While Stingers beat their friends and familiar rivals in their thrilling state cup final win, they will be facing unfamiliar opponents this weekend in hopes of advancing to the regional final, which would earn them a ticket to the National Presidents Cup in Tampa.

“These kids are built different and they represent a brand and style of play that is representative of Philly and is exciting to watch,” Zuidema said. “Even when they go down they have that confidence that they can come back and fight for a result.”

Call it Philly Tough, HVAA Pride or whatever you would like, the HVAA badge showing up on a bigger stage is all part of the growth and the hard work the staff and the coaches have put in to get the club where it is, on the cusp of even bigger and better things.

“This is great to have it at home.,” Sorkin said of the Eastern Presidents Cup. “I think we feel strongly like we have a good chance to advance, and if anybody makes nationals, we will send them.”

For the schedule and more information on the Eastern Presidents Cup, visit www.usyouthsoccer.org/eastern-presidents-cup. For more on HVAA, visit hvaasoccer.net.