SAYREVILLE – A youth soccer team in Sayreville has been honored for going undefeated.
Members of the Sayreville Soccer Club U9 Girls Blue Diamonds, a travel soccer team, were recognized at a June 26 Borough Council meeting. Each member of the team received a Certificate of Achievement from the council.
According to head coach Mary Ellen Dunn, the team went undefeated in the Eastern Development Program (EDP) Futures league, a soccer program for players aged 7-11.
Dunn said the Blue Diamonds won more than 30 EDP festival games, were 7-0 in the regular spring season, won a Father’s Day tournament held in Sayreville and won a tournament in Branchburg.
“[The players] started when they were five,” Dunn said. “We grouped them [after] they came out of our recreation program. This season, they were undefeated. They’re quite a special group of girls.”
“I’m really happy to have had the chance to coach these girls,” coach Jimmy Sierra said. “These are amazing girls [who] give everything.”
According to the certificate, read by Council President Daniel Buchanan, the Blue Diamonds are the first female team to be undefeated in EDP festivals.
Members of the council gave praise to the soccer players, their coaches and their parents.
“Sayreville is all very proud of you,” Councilman Pat Lembo said. “It goes to show you the coaches were right, hard work and dedication does pay off.”
“This is really wonderful,” Councilwoman Mary Novak said. “Next year, even better.”
“The commitment that you show at such a young age can only begin to show us what you’re going to do as you get older,” Councilwoman Victoria Kilpatrick said. “Parents, without you, they can’t achieve what they do.”
“I wish you the best of luck as you continue on and hopefully you have very long careers through high school and college,” Councilman Steven Grillo said. “I hope that we have Sayreville soccer stars for many years to come and you’re the inspiration for other young ladies and future generations.”
“To the parents, we all know travel takes a lot of time away from your homes and other children, so thank you for putting your time in,” Buchanan said. “To the coaching staff, you have a lot of time you put in and you invest in these young ladies as well. And it paid off.”
