Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo claimed the MRL Premier Division title and secured an automatic berth into the USYSA Regionals in June 2012 with 2 wins in Wixom, MI this weekend. A 4-1 win over Michigan Hawks was followed by a 2-0 win over Michigan Rush to clinch the title.

Jesse Salazar’s Team Chicago Academy-Tigers moved into second place in the IWSL U16 AB South Division after two very good performances this past weekend.

One week after beating Plainfield Legends on their home field, the Tigers confirmed their previous victory by putting on a passing show in the first half leading to two goals. The first of which was by Rachel Schneider, her first of her season, and the second by Tracey McCoy from a very difficult angle. The second half was more tense, but the shutout, started by Chauntelle Johnson, was completed by Jillian Garbars in goal.

Sunday’s game was against Eclipse, who beat the Tigers twice at the beginning of the season during the NSR Gold Cup, once in group play and the other was for the championship. The game got off on the wrong foot when Eclipse scored a wide open header on a corner kick to go ahead 1-0 less than 15 minutes into the game. Despite the rough start, the Tiges kept their composure as they quickly showed how much they have improved during the season by continuing to pass and create chances from all levels of the pitch.

The score was leveled by Nicole Gapen (the second first time scorer of the weekend) off a corner. Before the end of the half the score was 3-1 with goals from Sabrina Georgeff, assisted by Marin McElroy, and Tracey McCoy, unassisted. With Eclipse pushing up to get back into the game, the Tigers’ last goal was a team effort. It started by Stepahnie Kulczycki’s well-timed tackle and outlet pass to Sabrina Georgeff. She quickly drew two defenders and beat them both with a through-ball giving Tracey McCoy a breakaway, who calmly beat an on-rushing goalie to put the game out of reach.

In goal, Chauntelle Johnson finished the the second half of an overall solid defensive performance that Jillian Garbars started. Their job was made easier all weekend by help from a versatile group of 7 defenders: Kristen Schneider, Kelly Shugh, Lindsay Van Blaricom, Rachel Pavlinec, Mady Aubuchon, Stephanie Kulczycki, and Rachel Schneider.

The weekend’s wins move the Tigers into 2nd place in their division, 6-4-2 on the season and 4-0-1 in their last 5 games.

It was another victorious day for Team Chicago Academy teams as Team Chicago Academy-Internacional beat WI Rush 5-2 to solidify its first place position in the U15 First Division, followed by Team Chicago Academy-Santos defeating LCU 4-1 in the U16 First Division to maintain its perfect record and move into first place, and finally Team Chicago Academy-Brasília defeated SLSG Metro 1-0 in U13 MRL qualification.

Internacional got a hat-trick from Kiley Czerwinski and goals by Abby Flynn and a stunning goal by Tati Espinosa to secure the win. Santos got a brace from Kaela Leskovar in the first half followed by a Kelsey Pruett goal and an AJ Jakuszewski PK in the second half. Assists by Olivia Schmitt 2, Katie Ciesiulka, Talise Romain, Heather Handwork, and Rachael Brots. Brasília got its goal from Lupe Anguiano from a Rachel Erdman cross. Megan Keefer earned the shutout in goal.

Team Chicago Academy-Internacional defeated KM United Blue 2-1 in U15 MRL First Division play extending its win-streak to three games and moving into first place. Sam O’Brien bagged the brace to secure the win.

Internacional faces WI Rush Blue in the final MRL game of the season tomorrow at 10am at Sportscore II.

Team Chicago Academy-Santos followed up with a convincing 4-0 win against WI Rush to maintain its perfect record in U16 MRL First Division play.

Kristen Brots and Heather Handwork each bagged a brace to secure the win. Kaela Leskovar provided a couple of assists, and Abbey Mazur pitched in with another assist. Courtney Keefer earned the shutout in goal with stellar defensive support from AJ Jakuszewski, Rachael Brots, Abbey Mazur, Talise Romain, Kelsey Pruett, and Madi Harris.

Santos faces LCU tomorrow at Noon at Sportscore II in Rockford.

By Erik Brady, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Experts testifying at a Senate committee hearing on concussion and the marketing of sports equipment said Wednesday that there is no such thing as concussion-proof helmets, mouth guards or head bands.

“The potential harm that I see being caused by products that claim to prevent concussion when they do not is far more than simply the financial harm of paying more for something that isn’t likely to work as claimed,” said Jeffrey S. Kutcher of the neurology department at the University of Michigan. “The public deserves to know that equipment has a significant, but inherently limited, ability to prevent concussions.”

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W. Va.), chair of the Senate committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said in his opening remarks that “any company that claims” its products “will protect young athletes from concussions is making an empty, unsubstantiated promise.”

Rockefeller did not name any companies, but during the questioning portion of the hearing Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) singled out Riddell football helmets, Brain-Pad mouth guards, ForceField headbands and Brain Guard dietary supplements.

Udall held up a copy of the package that said the mouthguards create “Brain Safety Space.” “I don’t know what brain safety space really means,” Kutcher said. Udall also said Riddell claims an independent study shows its Revolution helmets reduce the risk of concussion by 31% versus traditional helmets. “There is no significant basis to make that claim,” Kutcher said. He questioned the quality of the study and the basis for the percentage claim.

Udall has called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate claims such as these. He has introduced legislation that would make it a crime to sell sporting equipment that makes false or misleading claims about product safety. “No sports equipment can prevent all concussions,” Udall said, “despite any advertising claims to the contrary.” No representatives of the companies in question attended the hearing.

Other speakers at the hearing included Alexis Ball, whose soccer career at the University of New Mexico was cut short by multiple concussions, and Steven Threet, who played quarterback at Michigan and Arizona State before his career was also ended by a series of concussions. “Concussion awareness needs to be more prevalent among athletes and coaches in our society,” Ball said. “People also need to understand that wearing protective gear does not stop concussions from occurring.” “If a helmet could guarantee protection from concussions,” Threet said, “I would still be playing football.”

Mike Oliver, executive director and legal counsel for the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, said: “Any device or supplement promoted as being able to prevent, diagnose or cure a concussion must be supported by scientific data and peer-reviewed research. The same is true with regard to standards for protective equipment.”

Ann McKee, professor of Neurology and Pathology at the Boston University School of Medicine, said she has found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease, in autopsies of former athletes as young as 17.

“Nothing is simple about this issue,” Rockefeller said. “That’s why I find it so disturbing that some sports equipment manufacturers are exploiting our growing concerns about sports concussions.”