The Ottawa Fury U14 Girls team has qualified for the 2011 SYL Championships in December after recording three straight shut-outs over the weekend.

On the the road the girls went into the weekend knowing that anything less than seven of nine points would be needed to get them into the championship picture and right from the opening whistle on Friday the team seem determined to make it happen.

The opening game Friday night in Lexington was a rescheduled match from May when the Fury and Lady Knights were forced to the sidelines by lightening.  This time the lightening came in the form of the Fury attack with striker Sam Grove running off a natural hat trick in just under fifteen minutes from the opening kick-off.

The score finished at 3-0 but the game set the tone for the rest of the weekend according to head coach Bill Ault, "The quick start and over all dominance of our play let us get everyone into the game and distribute the effort saving some much needed energy for the rest of the weekend.

Brigit Dejardins and Isabel Pinto Lee each recorded and assist and set the standard for their play over the weekend while goalkeeper Margot Shore recorded her fourth shutout of the season and first of three on the weekend.

After the late evening kick-off on Friday the Fury were right back at on Saturday kicking off at Noon against the Seacoast United Phantoms.  Grove added two more to give her a team leading 11 for the season with Pinto Lee added the third, her first of the year to give the Fury their second 3-0 win of the weekend and put them in position to qualify for the championships in December.  Desjardins added to her team leading assist total setting up two of the three goals.

"We weren't quite as dominant as Friday but with the short turn around time and the heat it was another excellent effort by the girls in less than ideal conditions," said Ault.

Sunday at noon the Fury faced the second place Seacoast United Wanderers who they had beaten 3-2 at home.  Those expecting another tight game were not to be disappointed as the teams battled to an exciting 0-0 tie with both teams defensive units standing tall.

According to Ault that defensive work is one of the main reasons this team is going to Tampa.

"When I arrived in April it was one area we agreed as a team had to be better after giving up 15 goals in 12 games last season.  This year we got that down to 11 in 14 games a tremendous improvement at any level."

That improvement comes down to two thing according to Ault team work and individual sacrifice.

"We moved some players around when I first got here and not everyone was happy about it but they agreed to the changes to help the team.  It took a while to settle in but in the last 11 games we've given up just six goals and recorded five shut-outs.  I'd put my back line up against any in the division."

The 2011 Super Y-League North American Finals presented by Umbro - is set for December 2-6 in Tampa, Florida.

According to the Chinese calendar 2010 is deemed 'the year of the tiger', but after the year that the Ottawa Fury had 2010 truly was 'the year of the Fury'. From successes on the international scene with teams in France and England to youth players signing professional contacts to the W-League and PDL teams run in the playoffs it was an exciting season for the Fury. 2010 was capped of by the U17 capturing the Super Y-League North American Championship and the Fury Youth Program being ranked #2 in North America. With John Pugh's recent partnership with OSEG and his efforts to bring a professional soccer team to Ottawa 2011 is sure to be another exciting year for soccer in our Nation's Capital!