Capital Fall Classic: Characters and competition at SportsQuest on Saturday

By Jimmy LaRoue

Midlothian, Va. - How do a newspaper cartoonist and a planning commissioner coach a soccer team?

They draw up a plan for success.

Jim McCloskey, a cartoonist with The News Leader of Staunton, Va., is the head coach of the Augusta FC Fusion U16, with Waynesboro Planning Commissioner Dave Biehl his assistant.

AFC tied their opening match in Group B of the U16/U17 Superior bracket earlier in the day before defeating FASA U17 Premier 3-2 under cold, clear skies at SportsQuest during the Capital Fall Classic on Saturday, hosted by the Richmond Strikers Soccer Club.

"It's a great opportunity for these boys to play against different competition," McCloskey said. "We're used to some teams in the [Shenandoah] Valley, different levels of competition. We know when we come here we're going to play teams from all over the state that are very quality, high-caliber."

McCloskey praised SportsQuest's artificial-turf fields, and said the team is enjoying its getaway while building up team camaraderie during its only tournament of the year. He said they would plan to come back as long as they were seeded properly and the level of competition was good.

"We pretty much just do just one a season," McCloskey said. "And this is the one we usually come to as a club. We're real happy because it's run very well, good competition. It really challenges them and it's good."

AFC's players represent four or five different high schools in the Augusta County area, McCloskey said, noting how much they have grown as players and people since the U-11 level.

"I want them to be challenged, I want them to have a good time and have fun," McCloskey said. "We all want to win of course. You can't stress too much about that, you know, but generally we try to win, and if not, we try to play the best soccer that we can. When these boys play for these schools, we want them to be the best players for their individual schools."

Another highlight in the Capital Fall Classic was the appearance of Soccer Elite AR U17 of Puerto Rico. While it had lost its first match, 5-1 to Augusta FC U18 Boys Red, it tied Beach FC Crew (Black) 1-1 in a physical, highly competitive and sometimes contentious match. A team representative complimented the tournament, saying "everything's perfect."

VIP United FC Wildcats closed out nearly 12 hours of Capital Fall Classic soccer on the nighttime slickness of SportsQuest's artificial turf with a win over Richmond Strikers U17 Premier in the U16 U16/17 Superior division. 

Another day of matches will begin this morning, with winners in the Premier divisions automatically qualified for next spring's Jefferson Cup.

[ +Check out PSW's full CFC coverage, including live twitter updates, at our tournament round-up page ]

[ +Click here for full schedule and venue information at the CFC's official website ]

Original coverage by Potomac Soccer Wire

[ +Saturday: Chilly morning heats up with match action across Richmond ]

[ +Saturday: Packed crowds take in action at windy West Creek ]

[ +Saturday: Capital Park hosts full day of girls' matches ]

[ +Sunday: New River United's Lima goes out on a high note ]

[ +Sunday: Past players now coaching in long-running tourney ]

[ +Sunday: 2011 Capital Fall Classic division champions ]

[ +Capital Fall Classic: Saturday in photos ]

[ +Capital Fall Classic: Lima goes out on a high note ]

[ +Capital Fall Classic: Ashburn's Hamid predicts nationwide recognition for tournament ]