During the Easter holidays ASV competed for the first time in the AMAC Soccer Tournament in Albir near Benidorm. The tournament featured three days of football for boys and girls varsity teams from five international schools: American School of Valencia, American School of Rabat (Morocco), Carlucci American International School (CAISL) in Lisbon, Portugal, American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST), and American School of Barcelona. Both ASV teams featured a mix of students from grade 8 to grade 11. While most other teams featured mainly Grade 10 to Grade 12 students.
On day one of the tournament our teams had similar fortunes as the girls beat Barcelona before losing to Lisbon while the boys lost to Lisbon before beating Barcelona. On day two both teams put in great performances to beat both Tunis and Rabat. Other results meant that the girls finished the group stage in second place while the boys were in third place on goal difference although they had the same number of points as both Lisbon and Barcelona.
The girls would face Barcelona in the semi-finals and the boys were to play Lisbon who definitely fancied themselves as favourites for the title. The final hurdle facing the girls was a match against Lisbon, the only undefeated team in the whole competition. The game was 1-1 at minute 90 and Lisbon scored two goals in quick succession to win 3-1 during the extra time. Second place represents an outstanding result for the girls who continue to go from strength to strength after winning the Valencia International Schools tournament for the second successive year earlier this academic year.
The boys had the challenge of defeating a very skillful Barcelona team in the final game. Extra-time came and went with no changes in the 1-1 score so teams had to face a dreaded penalty shootout. ASV kept their nerve under immense pressure and won the shootout 3-2 becoming champion of the tournament.
9 ASV players were selected for the All-Star Team: Cristina Villuendas, Rosetta Cassidy, Sara Vila and Elena Navarrete (girls team); Jose Calabuig, Martin Zamorano, Jesse Daniel, Dani Perez and Nacho Cartagena.
Andy Ojelade
Athletic Director
