The Valley United 2018/2019 Girls White U8 soccer team captured the championship at the 2026 Thriller Classic, hosted by OV Toros FC in Morgan Hill on Oct. 24-25.
The Scotts Valley-based team finished the weekend with three wins and one loss, scoring 10 goals while allowing five.
Valley United opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to the Hollister Tremors 2019G Black before bouncing back with a 3-0 victory over OV Toros FC U8G Pre Academy.
On Sunday, the team continued its momentum with a 3-1 win over Silicon Valley Alliance AYSO, setting up a championship rematch against Hollister.
This time, Valley United came away with a 4-2 victory to claim the tournament title.
Skylar Caldwell led the offensive effort in the championship game, scoring three goals. Goalkeeper Willow Downey also delivered a strong performance, making a series of saves to help secure the win.
The championship reflected a team effort from all nine players, with contributions throughout the weekend on defense, in passing and in creating scoring opportunities.
“The team’s resilience after its opening loss, willingness to work together and unwavering encouragement of one another were instrumental in its success,” according to Valley United’s coaching staff.
The championship roster included Ellie Beck, Ava Dunlap, Amelia Chadwick, Lily Charlebois, Willow Downey, Everly Nelson, Lucy Smart, Claire Frank and Skylar Caldwell.
Jeff Nelson served as head coach, with George Chadwick and Michael Caldwell as assistant coaches. Emilie Cate was the team manager.
“For these young athletes, the Thriller Classic championship represents more than a tournament victory. It reflects their hard work, perseverance, friendships, and the joy of competing together,” according to coaches. “The team proudly represented Valley United and the Scotts Valley community, bringing home a championship that every player helped earn.”
