NPL National Cup Championship Games Recap

U13 PDA 1999 (N.J.) 1, FC Dallas Pre-Academy 0

PDA keeper Hunter Pinho doesn’t shrink on the big stage. Instead, he stretches lengths above his 5-foot-8 stature. 

Monday, Pinho gave his team a shutout effort and forward Josh Burnett finished a strike from just inside the box in the 26 minute to help PDA to a 1-0 win over FC Dallas Pre-Academy in the championship game.

After Burnett’s goal, FC Dallas Pre-Academy’s Carlos Avilez, a member of the U.S. U14 Boys National Team, came into net for the second half and turned away five shots to keep the game razor close until the final whistle.

“He was the reason they stayed in the game,” PDA coach Sam Nellins said afterward. “What a terrific performance.”

Meanwhile, Pinho stayed poised in the other net and finished the tournament with back-to-back shutouts.

“Sure, I had some nerves but I was really confident coming in,” Pinho said. “This is the spot I want to be in, and I have to prove I deserve to be here. I think I did that for my team.”