Lynn Breakers get a taste of international competition

The U18 Lynn Breakers Youth Soccer team took its game across the pond and returned with the Limerick Plate after finishing third in an international soccer tournament at the University of Limerick in Ireland.The Lynn contingent took on several elite club all-star teams and managed to finish 2-2-1.?The level of competition was incredible,” coach Tim Phelan said, noting that the Dublin team is considered the best in its age group in that country.Phelan said his team was considered a long shot to even be competitive, but the girls proved their doubters wrong. Lynn?s first game was against Tipperary County Select. The score was tied 1-1 at the half on a goal by Francesca Galeazzi. The second half was a different story.?The Breakers? confidence built and their speed, aggressiveness and passing turned an even game into a lopsided game … they played the best soccer of their lives in the second half of this game,” Phelan said.The Breakers scored four goals in the second half, with Krista Cuozzo netting a pair and Galeazzi adding two. Several different players contributed assists. The Breakers won that game, 5-2.The second game was against Dublin Metropolitan. Phelan said many of the players on that team are vying for spots on the Irish international team.Phelan said the Breakers hung tough, but Dublin scored on a penalty kick and by the half, led 2-0. Lynn ended up losing, 4-0. The Breakers finished out their group play against the Limerick County Club team and eventually qualified for the Limerick Plate Championship game against the Montco Select All-Star team from Philadelphia.Lynn went into its final game without its starting sweeper and fastest defender, Katherine Lozano, who injured her ankle the previous game. Philadelphia had the wind the first half and seemed to control play, but Lynn?s defense, led by Rebecca Potter, kept the opposition at bay.The tide started to turn in the second half when midfielders Briana Silva, Ali Sloan, Meghan Phelan and Rachel Hanlon began to dominate play in the midfield.Silva broke the scoreless tie with about 10 minutes remaining. Galeazzi was able to slip through two defenders and pass the ball to Silva, who put a left-footed shot into the lower left corner from 18 yards out in what turned out to be the game-winner. The division the Breakers competed in had 12 teams.Although the focus was on soccer, the girls did get an opportunity to do a little sightseeing. They kissed the Blarney Stone, visited the Cliffs of Moher and checked out King John?s Castle and Bunratty Castle. They stayed in a dormitory at the University of Limerick. In addition, they also visited a couple of small towns to get a feel for the country.The team returned home Monday (the players were away for eight days). Most of the players are heading off to college in a couple of weeks, but a couple, like Silva, still have some high school soccer left to play. Galeazzi, a three-sport athlete at Classical, is planning to play at Salve Regina. Phelan said he?s been trying to convince a few more to give college soccer a shot, but he?s not sure how that will work out.The team includes Taegon Nelson, Nicolette Angelli, Meghan Phelan, Karissa Burton, Francesca Galeazzi, Katherine Lozano, Veronica Uk, Brianna Goulet, Briana Silva, Ali Sloan, Rachael Roy, Rebecca Potter, Krista Cuozzo, Erin McManus, Rachel Hanlon and Jillian Strileckis.