Exciting news for Internationals Soccer Club came this week from 7,000+ miles away as Keri Sarver, Jordan Brewster, Sydney Dawson, and the U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team finished first in the CFA International Women’s Youth Football Tournament in Duyun, China.
“It is very special and unique to see three individuals from the same club involved with a major international event,” Internationals SC Founder, President, and Director of Coaching Zdravko Popovic. “We had two players competing in the tournament and they were coached by our own Keri Sarver, a true homegrown talent. We were proud to see them compete and be successful against the fierce competition from China, Japan, and Iran. We wish them congratulations in such a tremendous accomplishment for our club and country.”
Sarver is the current Director of Coaching for Internationals Soccer Club, someone that has been associated with the club for years as she came up through the club as a youth player. Brewster and Dawson are current standouts with ISC who have also become regulars in the national team system after growing up in the club.
The U.S. defeated Iran 5-0 on Thursday to sweep all three games and guarantee a first-place finish for the red, white, and blue. The U.S. scored twice in the first half and three times in the second to finish atop the tournament table.
The USA went into the game needing a victory or a tie to win the tournament after winning matches on September 10th and 12th. The match marked just the second meeting between the USA and Iran in women’s soccer. Dawson would make an appearance against Iran as a substitute in the 63rd minute, while Brewster made the 18 as a substitute.
The U.S. defeated host China, 2-1, two days earlier in the second game for both teams at the tournament. Jordan Brewster and Sydney Dawson both received starting nods in the win.
The Americans opened the tournament with a 1-0 victory against Japan. Brewster and Dawson made the starting lineup in the victory.
It’s good to know that each win came against older competition as the other three countries sent their U-20 squads to participate in the event. Iran, China, and Japan have a long history of success in women’s soccer and each win was a historic feat for the ISC trio.
The tournament hardware is massive for all involved, but none more than Keri Sarver, who was appointed as the head coach of the U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team back in April. Very few head coaches claim hardware in a major tournament in their debut.
