Wizards Juniors make national finals

The Kansas City Wizards Juniors have qualified for the finals of the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships.
The boys U19 team – which features Blue Springs High School graduates Chase McCoy and Tyler Nichol and Blue Springs South graduate Ian Christenson – improved to 2-0 in the four-team tournament with a 3-1 victory over Colorado Rush Nike.
On Wednesday’s opening day, the Wizards Juniors edged Freestate United of Maryland 3-2.
The Wizards Juniors played Solar 89 of Texas this morning in the final game of the round-robin portion. With six points, Kansas City is assured of a spot in Sunday’s championship against Solar 89.
Solar 89 has won both its games, beating Colorado Rush Nike 4-3 on Wednesday and blanking Freestate United 4-0 Thursday.
McCoy put the finishing touches on the 3-1 win over Colorado Rush Nike with a goal in the 90th minute.
Giovanni Edward had given Kansas City a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 12th minute before Colorado tied it on Benjamin Medina’s goal early in the second half.
Curt McDonald’s goal in the 78th minute put the Wizards Juniors ahead for good and McCoy sealed it 12 minutes later in the final moments.
On Wednesday, William Koss scored in the 84th minute to lift the Wizards Juniors to the victory.
Coleton Henning scored in the 18th minute for a 1-0 Wizards Juniors lead, but Freestate scored in the 29th and 65th minutes to take the lead.
Edward, though, scored in the 74th minute to tie it and Koss got the game-winner 10 minutes later.