Lady Hammers Finish Amazing Season with a Loss in US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Finals

Somers FC 13U Girls Soccer just completed their season with a 21-1-6 overall record, and the sole loss was to the New England Surf in the finals of the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regionals. Unable to hold a 2-1 halftime lead, the Lady Hammers fell 5-2 in the Championship game. But better than any trophy, their coach revels in both the growth he’s seen in the last five years, and a cohesion that goes beyond the field.

“It’s something you cannot buy with money,” said head Coach Milan Davidovic. “These kids became a family.”

The journey began for the coach in 2016 and has since enlarged for the kids. After playing professionally in his native Serbia, Davidovic coached the woman’s team at Missouri Valley College to two NCAA tournament appearances and moved to New York when he met his future wife here. He was soon invited to take over FC Soccer in Somers, and the program grew from one or two teams to the ten it has today.

For his part, a very vocal prance along the sidelines can’t be missed on game day, and he has no apologies. “I had behind me three wars,” Davidovic revealed. “I learned everything is about staying together with my friends and fighting with them for something in their life. This is what I’m trying to say to our teams. We need to stay together, and we need to work as hard as possible to achieve our goals.”

So not always understood on opposing sidelines, the coach cherishes the parental support on his side of the field, and everything is kept in the family. This especially when things go awry. “The struggles made us harder and stronger and turned us into the team we are now,” he asserted.

Bad news for everyone else, the defensive is a pretty good kick starter, and with only 6 goals allowed in the last 14 games, Davidovic admits his goalies can get a little bored sometimes. As for his offense, the Lady Hammers take to the opponent’s side of the field with a strut above their years. “They play the most mature soccer in the entire state,” Davidovic exclaimed. “They are something special.”

Still, with all the larger programs across the Northeast, Davidovic wasn’t expecting a run to the finals. But the Hammers won 4-3 in the first round versus Rhode Island Surf and then leveled off with a 0-0 tie against Virginia’s Skyline Elite. “We had a lot of chances but couldn’t score,” said the coach.

Hanging a donut or stalling in any game, though, doesn’t ever send the team into a panic. “We all work hard and figure out the little problems together,” said Davidovic.

More than just words and Empire FC 2008 from West Virginia learned the hard way in the round of 16. “We won 9-0,” beamed Davidovic.

The next two rounds weren't so accommodating, though. But on the strength of goals by Paige Pena, Fiona Kelleher and Lily Mazzella, Somers took Springfield South Country 3-2, and Pena’s lone goal sent the Hammers to the finals with a 1-0 victory over Pennsylvania’s Beadling SC 2008.

So the nationals a game away, the nail was halfway down at intermission. Unfortunately, Davidovic felt the tide of emotion was too much for the Lady Hammers to ride. Failing behind in the second half, he said, “We couldn’t raise ourselves.”

The girls weren’t the only ones who felt the tumult of the emotional rollercoaster either. “I was crying,” said Davidovic.

Of course, the salty discharge abound was a mix of pride and sadness. “We couldn’t figure out our emotion,” said the coach.

Even so, the girls and their coach put aside the confusion by returning to their center. “We did something big for our community,” he said. “Everything we do is about Somers.”

On the other hand, the coach is certain that this year’s experience will bind the girls that much more and leaves his sights set on the highest podium. “Next year is our year,” Davidovic concluded.

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