> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Southern Indiana United's U15 Strikers proved to be the best when they won the Mockingbird Valley-hosted Louisville Cup this past weekend.

In the bracket stages, Coach Paul Duckworth's charges beat Louisville Soccer Alliance East 3-0 (Matthew Jerrell two, Oscar Rodriguez) and Evansville 2-0, with Jerrell bagging another goal.

Then in the Champions Cup final, the boys beat hosts Mockingbird Classic 2-1 on Sunday, with both goals scored by Isaiah Salazar .

In fact, the team was just seconds from going through the whole tournament without being scored on, as they conceded on a corner with the last kick of the game.

The cup win comes during a good spell for Strikers, who are tied at the top of the Indiana Soccer League after 2-0 wins against Cutters and Pike Indy Burn and a 2-2 tie against Junior Irish.

The team is also looking forward to a good showing at this year's Indiana Presidents Cup, the preliminary round of which takes place from May 18-20.

The event, now in its second year, is a middle-tier competition between the State and Challenge Cup levels.

Southern Indiana United was represented by four teams in total at the Louisville Cup, with the others playing at the U11, U16 and U17/18 levels.



Soccer Fun in the Sun

The 11th annual Fun In The Sun Soccer Camp will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in New Albany from June 4-7.

The camp caters to boys and girls from 4-11, and will be split into two age categories — the Sun Munchkins (ages 4-7, $45 per player, 5:30-6:30 pm) and the Rising Suns (ages 8-11, $55 per player, 5:30-7:00 pm).

There is an early-bird discount of $5 off if payment is received by May 12.

Fun in the Sun is run by Providence head girls' coach Dave Smith, who founded the Net-Surfers Futbol Club in 1995. Smith's Pioneers captured the Indiana High School Class A state championship in 2011.

“This camp is for beginners, kids who have played a little soccer and kids who have played a lot of soccer,” said Smith. “Our coaching staff includes two former All-Americans, a current goalkeeper at the Division I level and many others, not to mention a healthy presence of the state champion Providence girls' soccer team.”

One of the coaches at the camp will be talented University of Kentucky goalkeeper Kayla King, who was a first-team All-State goalkeeper at DuPont Manual High School, as well as being a four-time state cup champion for her club team. Kayla has served as trainer in residence for the Providence girls' soccer team.

Other coaches include former Louisville senior captain Lindsay Boling; Manchester College two-season leading scorer and Providence graduate Laura “Bird” Jenkins; and Mallory Lampson, who was a team captain at Louisville.

As well as picking up some useful coaching tips, all campers will receive a Fun in the Sun T-shirt.

For further information, call 812-283-6084 or 502-445-0354, or email smith4futbol@insightbb.com.



You can contact Aidan Kelly at aidokaydo@gmail.com.