Youth/High School Soccer
From surprise to expectation, Penn Fusion 2009 girls have hardware in sight
A year after a surprising run to the national finals, Penn Fusion’s 2009 girls are back in Richmond with another shot at bringing home a national title to West Chester.
While the 2008 girls came up short in their bid for a return after winning an ECNL National Title in 2024, their younger peers are poised to represent the club as one of two girls teams from the area in Richmond (FC Delco 2012 girls are also there) and one other boys team (LVU Rush 2008).
“I think the judge of a high level team and a team that wants a little bit more is they’re getting back there again,” said head coach Ellis Badillo. “We went in there with a different level expectations, a different target on our back because of what the club’s done over last year. And they weren’t responded this year has been tremendous.”
Badillo has already coached in one final this year, having led the U-19 girls to the national final in San Diego earlier this month. The team came up short that day in a 2-0 loss to Slammers FC. That they have another team still with a shot at a national title in the competitive ECNL illustrates the program’s depth. In addition to the 2008 girls national championship a year ago, the 2007 girls were knocked out on penalties in the semifinal.
The 2009 girls won their division this season with a 9-0-1 record.
“I just think we got the structure in the club and on the back of what we did last year we kind of turned the corner, took the club to a whole new level,” Badillo said. “Coming into this year there was a different expectation, a different standard we set for ourselves as a club.”
One of the captains of the team, Sierra Smith, is back after missing out on the finals last year and her high school team’s PAISAA title winning season at Westtown School in the fall. She tore her ACL a day before nationals last year and was able to return to the field in April.
“I’ve been with this team since U-12 and we’ve come such a long way,” Smith said. “I’m just really grateful to be back on the field with my team, because this group is such a great group to be with that’s supports you on and off the field.”
The team is still carrying a couple injuries of note with Colby Costa and Amyah Alston injured but confidence is high within the group, which trained this week in the sun and heat on the grass at Delacy Soccer Complex in West Chester.
“We know what to expect,” said Julia Rick, whose brother Andrew Rick is a goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Union. “Last year we came in as a team that was not very prepared mentally. We were kind of shocked that we got there. This year, we’re definitely coming to win it all.”
Their quarterfinal match against XL Academy at 8 a.m. Friday and will be streamed live on Hudl.
