National tourney team plays to win

The tenacity of the FC Stars of Massachusetts U14 girls' soccer squad has set the team apart.

Nandini Mehta has suited up for the FC Stars of Massachusetts soccer program the last four years. She has bonded with numerous teammates, cultivated many friendships, and trained under a number of coaches with different styles.

When she landed on FC's 14-and-under roster last spring, however, the atmosphere was a bit different.

"It was like everyone played so well together, we all knew our parts," said the 14-year-old Lexington resident. "We all wanted to win every game. It's like we never even think of losing because we just don't believe it's an option."

The FC Stars are based in Acton, but has trained this season at the Mass Youth Soccer complex in Lancaster, and includes girls from the western suburbs of Stow, Sudbury, Westborough, and Maynard.

The team's tenacity has set the squad apart, serving as the foundation for a trip to this week's national tournament in Little Rock, Ark. One of 31 teams in the Stars' program, the 14-and-under team captured the US Youth Soccer Region 1 championship recently in Brunswick, Maine, and departed on Monday for the national championship.

Mehta, one of the squad's veteran players, triggers the attack from her starting spot at left halfback. She and her teammates comprise "a quite special group," according to Stars club director Jason Dewhurst.

"Their will to win. That's what is so special about this team," said Dewhurst. "They have a home-grown desire to beat opponents. They don't really know when they've been beaten and keep playing with a desire to win for every single minute. It's a trait that's very, very important, but you don't see it too often."

The team's captains, Matilda Hart of Acton and Gabrielle Sloan of Stow, set the tone while goalie Maggie Brown of Wilmington is the back line of the defense.

After a convincing victory over Vermont in the first round of the regionals, the Stars earned a thrilling overtime win against the No. 1-ranked team in the region, the Pennsylvania Strikers, in the semifinals. Midfielder Corey Persson of Danvers netted the winning goal.

In the championship game, the Stars prevailed in overtime again, stopping a strong Virginia team, 2-1, with Peabody's Hayley Dowd providing the late-game heroics.

"It was this crazy, edge-of-your-seat feeling," said starter Hayley Katkowski of Westford. "It was so exciting when we won the semis because no one thought we could do it. Then the finals went into overtime and we just knew what we had to do. This is one of the most special teams I've been on because everyone wants to win. This team plays with the most heart of any team I've been on."

The Stars kicked off the nationals against Toro Bravo, Neb., yesterday morning and face the ARYSL San Juan Spirits this morning at 11:30. Round-robin play will wrap up tomorrow against D'Feeters 94. The championship is scheduled for Saturday evening.

Little Rock is the final destination for the squad, which has traveled more than 21,000 miles since fall, when a trip to North Carolina kicked off the season.

In February, the team traveled to Arizona, followed by a journey to Las Vegas in March and another to Oregon in May.

It's a big commitment, sacrificing weekends with friends for soccer tournaments, and family dinners for evening practices.

"It happens a lot, when I want to go somewhere and I can't go because I have soccer," said Katkowski. "But my friends know what's important to me."

But for Madison Acton of Sudbury, all the effort is worth it. "This has been one of the most fun times I've ever had on a soccer team," said Acton. "They way we mix together, the way we get along and laugh together is so awesome."

"We're all in it together," said Mehta. "We work together on the field and we're good friends off the field. I think what makes us unique is we really believe in ourselves. At regionals, five or six of us sat and talked about nationals. It was like losing was never thought of . . . it never is."

Sapna Pathak can be reached at sportsgalsp@gmail.com.