The Memorial Day Classic is a United States Soccer-sanctioned event and hosts premier teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Canada.

Kinzua Soccer Club is a travel soccer organization based out of North Warren, operating under USA Soccer out of the Pennsylvania West division. Kinzua soccer offers a competitive level of soccer for the area’s youth, ranging in ages 9 to 18 and plays teams from the Southern Tier of New York and Western Pennsylvania. Currently the club has 22 coaches, 12 teams and 168 active players.

Two years ago, on Memorial Day weekend, the U12 Kinzua Queens sat crying on the bench at this tournament after being knocked out in the first three games. It was an early elimination. There wasn’t a dry eye on that bench. But instead of giving up and settling for being a good travel soccer team, they chose to outwork everyone, running up hills, staying late at practices, having extra practices, practicing in the muck and in heavy rain. They wanted to be the best.

When the pandemic hit, they could have taken time off, as many did, but the Queens didn’t. They did virtual online Zoom training sessions multiple times a week for months and dialed in their foot skills and coordination. Then, add in all the countless hours of individual foot skills training, juggling, and dribbling, and they continued to outwork everyone two years to the day.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Gigliotti of GnG Photography Callan Gigliotti connects on a header.

At this year’s Memorial Day Classic tournament in Erie, the Kinzua Queens went undefeated with a record of 5-0 over the weekend. They had two wins over very tough Erie teams (scores 5-0 and 2-0) and three wins against very tough Pittsburgh tournament teams (scores 4-2, 3-1 and 3-2). For the first time ever, a Kinzua Soccer Club team has brought the coveted Memorial Day Tournament champion cup back home to Warren.

Two years to the day, instead of sitting crying on the bench, they reign as champions of one of Erie’s most competitive tournaments.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Gigliotti of GnG Photography The Queens are pictured after winning the championship.