The Mountain Lions continued the success of Western Pennsylvania Futsal teams earlier this month by capturing the U-14 Futsal National Championship, which was held in Baltimore Md.” The Mountain Lions won the national championship in convincing style, outscoring opponents from Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, and California 26-6. The squad defeated the Expos of New England Futsal in the championship match, 2-1. 

The Mountain Lions, who trained throughout the winter at Prince of Peace Parish on Pittsburgh’s South side, played their home games in the Keystone Indoor Kicks league at the Monroeville sports center. The players, who experienced a long layoff from futsal during the spring while fulfilling outdoor soccer obligations, reconvened in June to prepare for nationals. The squad only had a handful of practices at the Community College of Allegheny County’s Boyce Campus. to prepare for national competition But the layoff and limited practice time didn’t affect the Mountain Lions.

The game planning of coach Joenal Castma and successful execution consisting of a stingy defense, solid goal keeping, and timely scoring by the boys played a tremendous role in winning the championship.Throughout all of their regular Futsal league games this past winter, a Christmas tournament at Keystone Kicks,  the state qualifier in January and the National Championship tournament, the team never lost a game and only trailed twice.

Players on the roster include defender Matt Buckley and forward Dominic Canello (Keystone Oaks), forward Phil Fives (North Allegheny), goalie Frankie Gregg (Central Catholic), forward Djeli Kouyate (Schenley), defender Sam Scifo (Woodland Hills), defender Josh Turnley (Beaver) and forward Matt Venanzi (Peters Township) Castma has most recently played soccer for the Riverhounds and the Hatian National Team as well as winning a Futsal National Championship himself in 2007 competing with a team in the Men’s Open Division