Lincolnshire Lightning Boys & Girls Soccer Teams Win Palatine Celtic Cup Championships

On Labor Day morning in Palatine, the Lincolnshire Lightning Boys U13 Red travel soccer team worked their hardest to secure a season-opening tournament championship. The team, coached by Dave Hart, beat Lyons Township Select 02/03 in overtime penalty kicks (PK) to win the Boys U13 Silver Division championship in the 2014 Palatine Celtic Cup Tournament.

After the championship game ended in a 1 - 1 draw in a driving rain storm, the teams played two five minute overtime periods that also went scoreless. In a dramatic ending to a well-played game by both teams, Lincolnshire scored on its third penalty kick try and then blocked a Lyons Township PK strike at the net to secure the overtime victory. It was a very impressive win for the emerging Lightning Boys team - beating a Lyons Township squad that had been ranked #37 in Illinois by GotSoccer.com.

To get to the finals, Lincolnshire first beat the AC Milan soccer club from suburban Detroit, 5 -1 on Saturday morning before winning their second match of the day 2 - 0 against Wilmette Wings U13 Premier. On Sunday, the Lightning earned their third straight tournament victory, this time over Chicago City SC Red North, 5 -1 before advancing to the Labor Day Final against Lyons Township.

The Lincolnshire Lightning Girls U10 team also won their Palatine Celtic Cup Tournament championship on Labor Day. The U10 Girls captured the White Division championship after beating Chicago Fire Jrs. North 4 -2 in the Semi-Finals and then defeating Heat United 04/05 from Huntley in the Final by a score of 3 - 2.

Other Lincolnshire Lightning soccer teams also played well at this year's Palatine Celtic Cup Tournament. The Boys U12 team faced tough competition from around the Midwest - advancing to the Final of the White Division championship and taking 2nd place.