The Blackbear United U17 Girls soccer team headed to Montreal, Quebec, with the goal of being competitive in the U18 age bracket and finishing their season on a positive note.

The athletes did that and more under the tutelage of coach Mike Noblet and Brad Ala – they came home with the title.

After finishing second in their group to advance to the semi-finals, the team knocked off Rapides Rousillion 2-1 to advance to the championship game.

In the final, Blackbear United dominated play and was crowned champion over Lions St. Leonard with a 4-0 win. This is the fourth time a Blackbear United team has won the tournament.

The Blackbear United players are Catherine LeClair, Bangor; Amy Hackett, Bangor; Megan Leibowitz, Pittsfield; Lauren Peer, Ellsworth; Hannah Breton, Greenville; Erin MacDermott, Bangor; Maggie Harding, Ellsworth; Alissa Dubois, Bangor; Callie Thompson, Waterville; Caitlin Kupferman, Knox; Rachel Roberts, Bangor; Molly Lammert, Glenburn; Casey Hartley, Bangor; Catherine Lammert, Glenburn and Maggie Kane, Bangor.

“The girls played very well,” Noblet said. “We played as a complete team and showed we really belonged – quite a few of the Brossard officials had glowing praise for the team and the way we played. One of the marshals came up to me after the Brossard game and told me that they were one of the most disciplined teams he had ever seen. It was a great trip and the girls played so well together. They were physical, never backed down and never, ever gave up. We scored almost immediately every time we fell behind and played very skilled soccer throughout. When the team needed to get fired up, they looked to their assistant coach Brad Ala for his inspirational speeches. It was a great well-rounded team effort.”

The U17 girls team had a very successful year, winning the Coastal Challenge Tournament over Father’s Day weekend at Bowdoin College. The girls also were semi-finalists in the State Cup competition.

To prepare for the Brossard Challenge, the U17 Girls played against MCI, Bangor and an English team that Blackbear United hosted from Watford, England. As part of the England exchange, the U17 girls team will head to England in April 2008 to play British clubs and school teams.

For information on Blackbear United FC, visit www.blackbearunited.com.