With a winning percentage of .887 (55 wins, two losses, five ties), a star player bordering on a production level equal to 60 percent of the entire team’s offensive output, and a committed parent component caravanning to locations all over Northern California, an under the age of nine (U-9) team of footballers became champions and holders of the Nor Cal State Cup title.
The Sonoma County-based Thunder of Santa Rosa, a girl’s soccer club, stormed through a grueling 62 game schedule to become the champs of Northern California after winning their final game (a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation time), an overtime penalty kick thriller over the Livermore Fusion.
When asked what he thought about the skill level of the top performing players, Henry Belmonte, a former collegiate soccer player at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, said, “Their skill level is remarkable. Their abilities and the facilities that they play at are truly advanced compared to twenty years ago.” Belmonte’s daughter, Gabriella, was the third highest scorer on the Thunder with 17 goals and nine assists.
The Thunder’s star player and leading scorer in both goals and assists, Michaela Rosenbaum, rose to the occasion all season by scoring 122 goals. In addition, Rosenbaum dealt out 25 assists to her fellow teammates for a team leading 147 total points (goals and assists combined), or a mindboggling average of 2.37 points per game over 62 games.
Michael Rosenbaum, Michaela’s father, said, “What I’m most proud about is that Michaela continues to be coachable and disciplined. She’s definitely determined and committed to getting better at this game each and every day.”
Michaela started playing soccer at the age of three and by the age of five began taking private lessons. Her drive toward improving her athletic skill set is related to an inherent combination of pure heart and the rewards related to a continued training regimen and hard work. It’s not a parental push that guides her, but rather, a supportive family effort and a game that’s endeared worldwide.
Why haven’t you heard about the Santa Rosa Thunder and its team and individual accomplishments before now? Is there gender bias with reference to local journalistic and media coverage related to youth sports? Some might argue that female youth sports are catching up to their male counterparts. However, catching up is not on a level plane with equality.
Go Thunder and congratulations on your soccer championship run!
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