South Jersey United Girls F.C.

The Comets Girls’ Academy Team were a highly competitive girls team, who competed in the Mid Atlantic Premier Soccer (MAPS), Region 1 Premier, Region 1 Colonial and South Jersey Girls Soccer Leagues during the 10 years they competed together. On Memorial Day weekend in 2008, the Comets competed in their last tournament together (The MAPS Summer Showcase) and went out in style by winning the tournament championship. Comets are now taking their game to the next level at Universities such as LaSalle, Case Western, Drexel, NJIT, St Peters and Kutztown.

In the ten years the team was together , they were the 2007 Discovery Cup Champion, 2008 MAPS Showcase Champion, 2005 NJ U15G State Cup National Championship Series Semifinalists, 2006 U16G Jefferson Cup Elite Flight Semifinalists, 2006 U16G MAPS/MSSL College Showcase Champiosn, 2005 U16G Score at the Shore Cup Flight Quarterfinalists, 2005 U15G PDA College Showcase Premier Flight Finalists, 2005 U15G Jefferson Cup Elite Flight Semifinalists, 2004 U15G Kirkwood Thanksgiving Tournament Premier Bracket Finalists, and 2004 U15G Champions at the West Deptford Thanksgiving and TBAA Preseason Kickoff Tournaments. In addition, they were the 2004 U14G USYSA Region 1 Directors Cup Premier Bracket Champions as well as the Spring 2004 Conference Champions for the Jersey Area Girls Soccer (JAGS) Regional Premier League, and 2004 U14G Potomac Memorial Tournament Premier Bracket Semifinalists.

The team was comprised of excellent players from the South Jersey area and provided serious soccer players with the training and playing opportunities they needed to improve their skills and become outstanding soccer players. Along with regular season games, the Comets played in numerous prestigious tournaments such as WAGS, Score at the Shore, Jefferson Cup, Bethesda, Potomac, PDA College Showcase, Orange Classic and JAGS (always seeking the best competition).

The team was managed and coached by Joe Allizzo and was privileged to be trained and coached by Socrates Nicolaidis, Director of Coaching & Elite Player Development for the Youth Soccer Alliance. Socrates is a professional coach/trainer with extensive youth soccer training experience who holds a United States Soccer Federation “B” license (national level certificate) and National Senior License from the Australian Soccer Federation. In 2000 and 2001 Socrates was a New Jersey ODP Area and State Head Coach. In addition, he guided the highly respected Medford Strikers Scream to the 2003 NJ State Cup U17 Finals and 2004 NJ State Cup U18 Semi-Finals. In 2006 he served as head women's coach of the Salem Community College Women's Soccer Team and head coach of the WPSL/MSSL Victory FC U23 women's team. In 2007 and 2008 Socrates served as the head women's coach of the highly respected New Jersey Wildcats of the W League.

Prior to coaching and training youth soccer teams, Socrates played for the Australian National Youth Team Squad during the 1980-1981 season and was awarded a two-year soccer scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (www.ais.org.au) in the Nation's Capital of Canberra in 1981. He is one of the three youngest players in Australian soccer history to start in the Australian Men’s National Soccer League at the age of 15.

In addition to team training during the playing season, the Comets participated in regular training clinics led by respected college coaches; followed a comprehensive speed and strength conditioning program in the off season; and attended seminars sponsored by Youth Soccer Alliance on proper nutrition for athletes and prevention of sports injuries. The Comets attended the University of Pennsylvania College Prep Academy soccer camp led by Penn Women's Head Coach, Darren Ambrose, and staffed by other respected local college coaches.

The Comets were an “open” team that was always interested in serious players who desired to work hard and compete at the highest level. Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Comets, is encouraged to contact Joe Allizzo by e-mail at joeallizzo@comcast.net or phone at 856-261-6950.

2009 U19 State Cup

The U19 Comets returned from their spring college seasons in time to participate in the U19 State Cup. The girls played tough, but lost a hard fought battle to their old rivals, the Wall Strikers, 1 - 0.

The girls are looking forward to returning next spring to play in the u23 women's summer league.