The Coast Rangers (U9 boys) of The Charleston United Soccer Club (CUSC) recently won the 2017 SC Youth Soccer 2017 Publix Palmetto Academy Cup in Irmo.

The Coast Rangers are coached by James Poole a West Ashley native and resident, he has coached six plus years for CUSC. Poole was assisted this season by Ciaran Traquair, the women’s head soccer coach at The Citadel.

“This team has come a long way and to come back from Columbia with this win I know is special for the players, their families and coach Poole,” says Stephen Wakeham CUSC Club President.

The team played in SCYSA PMSL Open division and placed 2nd only to the Aiken S.C. Bulls, they ended league play with only one loss, three ties, and three wins. The core of this team has been together for more than four seasons and their hard work and dedication paid off with a State Championship.

While they didn’t win it all, the two CUSC U9 girls teams also did extremely well, coming in second and third place at the 2017 Publix Palmetto Academy Cup Championships.

The Lady Strikers, who are coached by Todd Cathcart, a teacher at Orange Grove Elementary in West Ashley and assistant coach Joel Britt, were state finalists. Both Cathcart and Britt grew up playing soccer in West Ashley and are now passing on their love of the game to local children.

“We are very proud of this group, to be in the finals back to back against this competition is a testament to their early development and coaching,” says Wakeham.

The CUSC Blue Wave (U9 Girls) placed third in Division 1, just behind CUSC’s Lady Strikers. Prior to the Publix Palmetto Academy Cup State Finalists, the girls made it to the championship game in the Charleston Spring Classic and lost to a very good Discovery team from Rock Hill in a penalty kick shootout.

 

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