Coach Thomas Leads ASA Premier 99 to State Championship

Former Baltimore Sun Coach of the year Bob Thomas led his ASA Premier 99 team to their first State Championship on Sunday. In a rematch of the 2015 Maryland Girls State Cup Championship game, ASA Premier 99 girls soccer team took the field Sunday June 5 and outplayed FC Frederick 1-0 to win their first State Championship. ASA Premier 99 had to overcome adversity, and at one time played with only 10 players because of injuries. ASA was up to the challenge, and their defense shut down a determined FC Frederick attack. ASA’s game winner came when Midfielder Katie Hoffman won the ball in ASA’s defending 3rd, made a full field run and found the foot of Harleigh White at the top of the box who turned and fired a pin point cross to the back post that was finished by a highlight reel header by Alexis Kasco. A defensive rotation of Angela Puhl, Keaton Neal, Cassie Wolfe, Ashtyn Bethel, and Taylor Washington, along with stellar goal keeping by Maddie Wheeler kept FC Frederick off the board. Coach Thomas who currently coaches the Girls ASA Premier 99 and Boys ASA Premier 01 team said “we fought through some challenges today, but we never gave up and we stayed in the fight, and that is the sign of a champion”.

Bob Thomas has been a teacher and youth soccer coach in Anne Arundel country for 16+ years. The win was his 2nd State Championship win as a coach and the 1st for his ASA Premier 99 girls team. ASA Premier 99 parents echoed their praise for the job that Coach Thomas has done with the team in such a short time. One parent said "He is a great role model for the players on and off the field and sets a great example for the girls to follow both in soccer and in life". ASA Premier 99 will now travel to the Region 1 Championships in West Virginia at the end of June to play for a spot in the National Championships in Texas in July.

Pictured L to R: Bottom Row Ashtyn Bethel, Angela Puhl, Kaylee Kumar, Katie Hoffman, Maddie Wheeler, Keaton Neal, Taylor Washington, Alisha Holcombe, Cassie Wolfe. L to R: Back Row Head Coach Bob Thomas, Anna Shevchuk, Tessa Quade, Harleigh White, Allie Wolfe, Megan Baker, Alexis Kasco, Madison Pisone, Calle Garneau, Maddie Jenner, Asst Coach Matt Rogers