ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: Members of the Princeton Football Club (PFC) Boca U-16 (2002) boys’ team show off the medals they earned for winning their age group at the U.S. Club National Cup in Aurora, Colo. PFC Boca defeated FC Cardinals Man City (N.C.) 3-1 in the final. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Xavier Guerreiro, Connor Staples, Aron Szoke, Brandon Sagbo, Jose Rodriguez-Chacon, Silvio Aparicio, Ian Cabrera, Noah LaPoint, Daniel Ingersoll, and Herbert Ramirez. In the back row, from left, are head coach Yordan Hristov, Jared Bell, Andres Argueta, Simon Sheppard, and Ian Pompliano.

By Bill Alden

As his Princeton Football Club (PFC) Boca U-16 (2002) got ready to start play in the U.S. Club National Cup in Aurora, Colo. last month, Yordan Hristov urged his players to savor the experience.

“I said, ‘guys look where you are, we are at the highest stage; you had a dream and this is where we are at the moment,’” said PFC Boca head coach Hristov.

“I want you to enjoy every second of it. This is the toughest competition of all of them but with the way we play and everybody’s contribution, we have a phenomenal chance of achieving something that you are going to remember for the rest of your life, that you are going to tell stories about to your kids and your grandchildren.”

Making some memories that will last for a lifetime, the club proceeded to go 3-0 in group play, defeating the South Dakota United Crew 2-0, GPS Charleston (S.C) 1-0, and Y-16 International (Ind.) 2-1 to earn a spot in the national final where it top the FC Cardinals Man City (N.C.) 3-1.

In reflecting on the team’s success, Hristov attributed much of it a ball possession style and unselfish play.

“It is a constant ball movement with relentless passing; basically the ball circulates through the entire group of players,” said Hristov, who got goals from Jose Rodriguez-Chacon, Ian Pompliano, Herbert Ramirez, Brandon Sagbo, and Daniel Ingersoll in group play.

“It is always going to where there is open space. It is never individual-based style, we are a team-oriented group. We always to move the ball. We always try to make it as hard for possible for the opposition to get the ball.”

Coming into the final against the Cardinals, PFC Boca was more than ready for the challenge.

“We did a little homework on that team,” said Hristov, noting there was a day between the semis and final, giving his staff the chance to scout the FC Cardinals.

“We prepared; we did some planning and then we had a team meeting and we discussed who were the key players, what were the tendencies, and how are they trying to play. We had a plan going into final.”

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Ingersoll and Sagbo, PFC Boca yielded a second-half tally and experienced some anxious moments down the stretch of the contest.

“We got to a little bit of an interesting time; they were trying to create something, they pushed us hard,” said Hristov.

“There were a few minutes with a lack of composure from our side. They pressed with numbers, they left two players behind but they opened up opportunities for us.”

But Princeton High’s Pompliano cashed in an opportunity to make 3-1 and end the Cardinals’ charge.

“He was very composed; he went through the defender a couple of times, he took it from one side and touched it to the other,” said Hristov.

“It was beautiful; the defender was on the ground, he put it in the goal, and that was it.”

Achieving the goal of a national title was a breakthrough for PFC Boca and the club as a whole.

“This is the highest achievement that we, as a team and the club, have accomplished; this is very exciting, not just for the players on the team but for the entire club and the entire PFC community,” said Hristov, noting he was getting e-mails and texts from club families throughout the competition.

“We had a PFC camp going and we streamed the game live through FaceTime and right before the game, about 30 of those young players were all singing and supporting the team. That really motivated the players; they were like, we have got to get this, look at that, everyone is behind us.”

In Hristov’s view, one of the most exciting aspects of coaching the squad was seeing how the players supported each other.

“They go to different schools but once they come to the training sessions and the games, they are together, enjoying every minute of it,” said Hristov.

“They have fun and they realize when they have to step it up and compete, they do that together.”