Greetings!
As 2024 moved from winter into spring and eventually summer, so did Cook Inlet SC with cementing its place as Alaska’s premier youth soccer club. The second quarter of the year saw extraordinary growth with the club’s recreational program while its competitive program saw unprecedented success when it comes to Alaskan teams competing at national events out-of-state. As such, we are thoroughly proud of the accomplishments of our players, coaches, team managers, treasurers, families, alumni, and staff have all achieved over the first half of the year!
With that, please enjoy below a rundown of club news from the second quarter of 2024 both on and off the pitch!
In this edition:
- Community Partners
- Rec Program Update
- Comp Program Update
- Alumni Update
- Board of Directors Update
Cook Inlet SC is proud of its partnership with Northrim Bank for the benefit of Alaska’s youth. Through a generous donation from Northrim Bank, Cook Inlet SC is able to carry out its mission to administer the best competitive and recreational youth soccer programs in the state, mentor the next generation of community leaders and help Alaskans develop healthy lifestyle habits through playing the beautiful game.
As the Official Banking Partner of Cook Inlet SC, Northrim Bank has performed banking services for Cook Inlet SC and its teams for many years. In addition, Northrim Bank helped CISC traverse complicated COVID federal aid programs and thanks to Northrim Bank’s guidance, Cook Inlet SC emerged from the 2020 COVID shutdown in a strong financial position, able still to continue developing Alaska’s youth on and off the field.
“We are extremely excited to work with Northrim Bank. Through partnerships like this, Cook Inlet SC can have a greater impact, serve more Alaskans and help propel Alaska soccer to the next level,” said Cook Inlet SC Executive Director Scott Hickox.
As a major partner, Northrim Bank’s logo appears on the front of all competitive team jerseys, warm-up tops, training jerseys, fan gear and coaching tops. Additionally, Northrim Bank representatives donate their time to lead periodic financial literacy seminars to help CISC families prepare for their financial futures.
To learn more about Northrim Bank and how they best serve their customers in all of Alaska, please visit their website at northrimbank.com.
CISC RECREATIONAL SOCCER SEASONS
Anchorage’s most affordable, largest, and comprehensive youth recreational soccer program continues to see unprecedented growth, seeing just under 700 players registered for the Summer Outdoor Season! That’s on top of the over 850 players registered for the Winter & Spring 2024 Seasons! Cook Inlet SC’s Recreational program is on pace to make 2024 an ASTONISHING year and one of the best in the club’s history!
With that, registration for the CISC Fall 2024 Outdoor Recreational Soccer Season, presented by Kendall Auto Alaska, is currently open with spots filling up fast!
The seven-week season will commence on July 29 and conclude on September 12, 2024 with practices and games taking place between Monday through Thursday evenings (depending on the division).The U4 Lil’ Strikers Division will play once or twice per week with practices consisting of fun, age-appropriate activities within the 45-minute session. The U6 and older divisions will practice once per week for an hour with the second day being reserved for games. Games will commence the second week of the season.
For more information on the CISC Fall 2024 Outdoor Recreational Soccer Season, presented by Kendall Auto Alaska, please visit HERE.
Additionally, you are interested in becoming involved with the Recreational program, please email staff. We are always on the lookout for coaches and referees.
In-state and out-of-state, our Competitive teams have been taking care of business. Check out some of the highlights below:
2024 FAR WEST REGIONALS
Four Cook Inlet SC teams – 06B, 08G Elite, 10G Elite & 11G Elite – competed at the 2024 US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships in Honolulu, HI between June 21-27, 2024. The Far West Regionals is a part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing approximately 185,000 players on over 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The US Youth Soccer National Championships is the culmination of a yearlong series of competitions for boys and girls teams in multiple age brackets as teams earn their way from the top teams in their state to the regional championship tournaments.
After finishing atop their group 2W 0L 1D with 4GF 1GA, the Cook Inlet SC 08G Elite team advanced to the final of the U16 Girls Division. Unfortunately, their run ended in a 2-0 loss versus a tough Hawaii Rush 08G team. All was not lost though as the Cook Inlet SC 08G will still travel to the 2024 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Orlando in July after HI Rush foregoed their spot. Onto the Sunshine State for these AMAZING young ladies!
The Cook Inlet SC 010G Elite team advanced to the quarterfinals after finishing second in their group with a 1W 1L 1D record with 3GF 3GA. Well done ladies!
And the Cook Inlet SC 11G Elite team also advanced to the quarterfinals after finishing second in their group with a 2W 1L 0D record with 4GF 4GA. Excellent job as well ladies!
Finally, the Cook Inlet SC 06B played admirably over their three games of group play, but were unfortunate to not advance to the knockout stage as they finished with a record of 1W 2L 0D with 5GF 6GA.
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to all the Cook Inlet SC teams for playing inspiring soccer while at Far West Regionals and for representing Cook Inlet SC with honor during the competition.
2024 FAR WEST PRESIDENTS CUP
The Cook Inlet SC 12B Elite, 10B Elite, 09B, and 07G Premier teams all competed in the 2024 US Youth Soccer Far West Presidents Cup in Salt Lake City, UT between June 14-18, 2024. The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is designed for those teams seeking additional challenges to play against teams of similar abilities for a national title. The Presidents Cup provides a progressive, competitive experience to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie and community from the state to regional to national levels of US Youth Soccer.
The Cook Inlet SC 07G Premier team finished with a record of 0W 3L 0D with 4GF 15GA over three games of group play. The Cook Inlet SC 09B finished with a record of 0W 2L 1D with 4GF 10GA over three games of group play. The Cook Inlet SC 10B Elite (pictured) finished second in their group with a record of 2W 1L 0D with 8GF 8GA over three games.
And finally, the 12B Elite (pictured), competing in their first US Youth Soccer regional event, finished with a record of 0W 3L 0D with 5GF 26GA over three games of group play.
Well done to all teams for playing superbly while representing Cook Inlet SC with distinction at the 2024 US Youth Soccer Far West Presidents Cup this year!
NATIONAL LEAGUE P.R.O. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
CONGRATULATIONS to the Cook Inlet SC 07G Elite & 09G Elite teams for qualifying for the 2024 USYS National Championships!
The US Youth Soccer National Championships is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing approximately 185,000 players on over 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.
The Cook Inlet SC 07G Elite team went UNDEFEATED over four games, outscoring their opponents 8 GF 2 GA while the Cook Inlet SC 09G Elite team acquired a Wildcard Berth after earning a place in the Final for the U15 Girls Division!
Both teams will travel to Orlando, FL to compete at the 2024 USYS National Championships, which will take place July 23 – July 28.
Cook Inlet SC is very proud of both teams for achieving this accomplishment and looks forward to seeing them do AMAZING things on the field in Florida later this Summer!!
ELITE 64 NORTHWEST
Cook Inlet SC is honored and proud to be admitted into the USYS National League’s Elite 64, which is a Tier 1 club-based division in the US Youth Soccer National League, for the 2024-2025 Season for our U13 and older Girls teams!
“It is incredibly exciting for our Alaskan club to have an opportunity to compete with some of the most distinguished clubs in the country. Elite 64 presents a fantastic opportunity that is exclusive in Alaska to our club for our competitive girls program to train, grow, and compete at the highest levels,” said Cook Inlet SC Executive Director Scott Hickox.
He added, “Cook Inlet SC set out to develop and advance our teams within the competitive structures provided by USYS. Our club concentrated on capitalizing and improving on our opportunities with an ultimate goal of acceptance into Elite 64, which is a significant milestone for Alaskan soccer and one that our leadership envisioned since first hearing about the league in 2021. Now, we can truly say that an Alaskan club is able to offer reliable opportunities competing against the best USYS clubs in the nation.”
SUPERCOPA+ 2024
The Cook Inlet SC 10G Elite team competed in the SUPERCOPA+ 2024 tournament between May 24-27 in Tampa, FL.
The SUPERCOPA+ is an invitation only tournament and strives to provide the highest level of competition in the United States for U12-U16 Boys and Girls competitive youth teams despite the affiliation or league participation. With nationwide teams being invited, SUPERCOPA+ is providing not only the best competition, but also the most diverse competition across the country.
Competing in the U14 Division, the 10G Elite team finished with a record of 1W 0L 2D with 4GF 11GA over three games of group play. Qualifying for the knockout stages, the 10G Elite fell 1-3 in the quarterfinals to a tough South Florida Football Academy team.
The team, however, played phenomenal soccer over the event and represented Cook Inlet SC with distinction!
2024 ALASKA AIRLINES CUP
Cook Inlet SC showed well in the kick-off event of the Summer Season, the 2024 Alaska Airlines Cup, which was played May 30-June 2, 2024!
The Cook Inlet SC 14B Elite, 11G Elite, and 08G Elite teams (pictured) all won in their respective age groups, outscoring opponents for a combined 53 GF 6GA for a +47 goal differential. WOW!!!
Additionally, the 14/15B, 14G Elite, and 12G Elite teams all did Cook Inlet SC proud by playing remarkable soccer as well while earning a place to the finals of their respective age group.
Well done to all the Cook Inlet SC teams who participated in this event!
2024 CHUGIAK SUMMER CLASSIC
CONGRATULATIONS to all the Cook Inlet SC teams who participated in the inaugural Chugiak Summer Classic between June 28-29, 2024.
Cook Inlet SC showed well with the following results:
U10 Girls: Cook Inlet SC 2015G Scarlet (Finalists)
U11 Girls: Cook Inlet SC 2014 Girls Mia (Finalists) (Pictured)
U12 Girls: Cook Inlet SC 2013 Girls (Finalists)
U13 Girls: Cook Inlet SC 2012 Girls (Champions)
U14 Boys: Cook Inlet SC 2011 Boys Elite (Finalists)
U17 Boys: Cook Inlet SC 2008 Boys (Finalists)
Well done to all of our CISC players who competed in this first ever annual event!
GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CONGRATULATIONS to Cook Inlet SC’s own Jack Hickox (06B: South HS) on being named the 2023-24 Gatorade Alaska Boys Soccer Player of the Year!
The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes the nation’s most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. That’s what makes this award the most prestigious honor in High School sports.
Additionally, Gatorade Play It Forward works in collaboration with the Gatorade Player of the Year to empower each state Player of the Year to choose a local or national youth sports organization to receive a $1,000 grant from Gatorade, which Jack selected Cook Inlet SC as this year’s recipient!
Congratulations again to Jack!!
Your CISC family ❤️’s you and are so proud of you for earning this honor!!
UPSL
Cook Inlet SC’s UPSL Men’s & Women’s teams, which play in Alaska’s premier soccer league for adults, kicked off their 2024 season in June and are showing why the competition is the top destination for CISC senior players lookin to elevate their game.
For more information regarding Cook Inlet SC’s UPSL team, to include trying out, please e-mail info@cookinletsc.com.
Cook Inlet SC alumnus scores first MLS goal and transfers to Mexico
It’s been a busy summer thus far for Cook Inlet SC alumnus Obed Vargas (05B).
It started with Obed scoring his first MLS goal on April 30 in Philadelphia versus the Union. The goal came in the 22nd minute and was a difference maker in the Sounders’s 3-2 win over The U.
Then on June 13, Obed, who played for the U.S.A. at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina and most recently with the U-23 team, announced he had optioned a FIFA-approved one-time switch from the United States to represent Mexico at the international level.
It’s been a dream of Obed’s to represent El Tri since he was a boy and when the opportunity presented itself, even though a tough decision, he followed his heart.
And Cook Inlet SC is proud to have been part of Obed’s soccer journey and is happy for him and his family.
Cook Inlet SC has sent more players to the next level than any other club in the state. Check out our club alumni currently playing, and click on their school to see their latest stats: https://cookinletsc.com/competitive/alumni/
Did we forget about a Cook Inlet SC alumnus who is still playing? Send updates and photos to info@cookinletsc.com.
The next Cook Inlet SC Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 9 at 6:30pm at the Cook Inlet SC Offices.
For public comments or to send a message to the full Board, please e-mail board@cookinletsc.com.
Additionally, if you are interested in the affairs of the club and have a few hours to volunteer each month, Cook Inlet SC is actively recruiting board and committee members to help take us to the next level.
To join the board or serve on a committee, please e-mail to info@cookinletsc.com for an application.
Send in your action shots!
Don’t forget to send your action shots to pr@cookinletsc.com along with details about the submission. Please limit submissions to three per event. Only clear videos and photos will be considered for posting.
Interested in sponsoring Alaska’s premier youth sports organization?
As a 501(c)(3) CISC is dependent on donors and sponsorships to continue delivering the best soccer programs in the state. We have tax-deductible sponsorship packages to meet every budget and are committed to making sure sponsorship are mutually beneficial. To discuss your tax-deductible sponsorship today, email pr@cookinletsc.com.
Cook Inlet Soccer Club (501)(c)(3) | 907-344-PLAY | Email