The Soccer Pit Cobras began in 2008 and as we have grown throughout the years we have seen tremendous growth in our program. To say that one of our teams is 4 games away from a National Title is beyond our wildest dreams. The Soccer Pit Cobras U 17 boys have lost only one game since the second week of August. The boys claimed the USA League Title in Division 1. They entered Region C Competition in late February, a title which at times came close but finally happened this year, and then becoming Florida Champions after winning our state’s Presidents Cup. That victory earned us the right to represent Florida in the Region III Presidents Cup in College Station Texas. Ten other states earned the same right. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. Our bracket for round play consisted of South Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. We beat Georgia 5-2 in the opening game, South Texas 3-1 and Louisiana 4-0. We faced a tough Tennessee team in the semifinals and we beat them 2-0. That left North Carolina for the Championship game. We knew that they were good because they had outscored their opponents by large margins. The last thing I expected was to be three goals ahead after 21 minutes. The game ended with a 4-0 Cobras victory and the opportunity to travel to Tulsa Oklahoma to play for the National Title. I am very proud of our players and my coaching staff. Our kids played with courage and determination under very difficult weather. Temperatures during the tournament were between 95 and 100 degrees, but our kids battled through all of it to win this prestigious competition. Next step, Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 13th where we will play Utah, Ohio and New Jersey in a round robin format and the two top teams will play each other in the finals on Sunday, July 17th. We want to thank the many organizations that helped us get there, Lipman Produce, FCB, 1 by 1 Leadership Foundation, The Rotary Club, The Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, On the Spot Printing, Naples YMCA, The Carl Ripken Sr Foundation, Pepsico, Under Armour, FYSA, Northside Kiwanis, Bonita Azurri Storm Soccer Club, Health Care Network, Immokalee High School, NCEF has been an incredible partner in helping us in this endeavor and the many individuals that donated towards this project. Without all of you this would not have been possible. The Immokalee Soccer Pit Cobras U-17 team wins Southeast Regional President’s Cup. (Submitted photo/Curran McQuade)[/caption]