Rudbeckianska still on track for a four-peat

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer (& Schwan's USA CUP Media Director)

The Schwan's USA CUP Weekend tournament ended last night. Going into the Weekend tournament, we were watching two teams who were returning double champions -- Weekend and Weeklong -- from the 2006 tournament, Cliftonville FDC from Northern Ireland in the 13 boys division and Rudbeckianska from Sweden in the 19 boys group.

Both teams stayed alive until the final day of the Weekend tournament. Cliftonville was the first to fall, losing 1-0 in the morning semifinals against Jogo Bonito from Bridgeport, Conn.

Rudbeckianska faced a tough challenge in their semifinal game, playing a man down due to a red card, the Swedish team nipped the Saint Paul Blackhawks 1-0 in a shootout that went to the eighth shooter. They had an easier time in the championship that afternoon, dominating the South Kendall Soccer Club from Miami, Fla. 4-0.

Left: Rudbeckianska (white/red jerseys) rolls to a 4-0 victory in the Weekend championship game Sunday afternoon.

So heading into the Weeklong tournament, the four-peat is still alive for Rudbeckianska. If you want to catch one of their games, here is their pool play schedule:

Tuesday, 9:15, Field A1, against MBSA Blast.

Wednesday, 13:30, Field U1, against NMSA Invaders.

Thursday, 9:15 Field H3, against Wayzata Gunners.

There's one other interesting fact about this team. Their coach, Per-Ola Olsson, will be going for his seventh Schwan's USA CUP championship. In addition to the three with Rudbeckianska, he won three championships with a different Swedish club, Carlforska.