The Orangeville Storm 1999 Boys soccer team closed out an incredibly successful season by capturing the Southwest Region Soccer League U10 Premier Division championship.

The Storm went undefeated in league play, winning 12 and tying two. In those 14 games, the team surrendered only 14 goals, while tallying a leagueleading 50 - an average of over 3.5 goals per game.

Coach Chad Rose was pleased with the result. "The boys have worked hard all season to achieve this result. Our decision to forego leagues and games during the winter months to focus on training and development has paid off. Throughout the season, the boys showed consistency and game maturity at levels well beyond their years."

"The members of this team should be very proud of themselves. This is the first time that an Orangeville team has won first place at the highest level league that there is for its age group."

To win the division, the Storm had to defeat teams from Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Stratford which were made up of the best players these larger centres had to draw from.

"For a small club like Orangeville, this was a tremendous challenge and an incredible achievement" said Rose

While it represented the "icing on the cake," he was quick to point out that the league championship represented only part of what his team was able to achieve this year.

In addition to league play, a very busy tournament schedule saw the boys play a total of 46 games this season, compiling an impressive record of 34 wins, four draws and only eight losses along the way.

Of the eight losses, three came in tournament finals where championship games were tied after regulation and had to be settled on penalty kicks.

"The team had an amazing season and the numbers really tell the tale" said Rose. "The boys have seen the positive results of their hard work and determination. This, like many other things, is one of the 'life lessons' we as a coaching team have tried to instill in the boys . . that, regardless of what you are doing, you should always work hard and try your best."

Rose credited his assistant coaches, James Taaffe and John Viveiros, for their dedication and hard work, and also acknowledged the support of the boy's parents.

"This is without a doubt the best set of parents that I have had the privilege of working with. They have given the 100% commitment that we requested at the start of the season, and our successes are a tribute to their support and encouragement."

The team, sponsored by Johnny's Pizza, Orangeville Truck Centre, Tony's Garage, and Denise Dilbey of Meadowtowne Realty/Royal LePage, is already looking to next season, when it moves from mini to full-field play. Following tryouts in October, the boys will train through the winter with the goal of building on this year's successes in 2010.