Longtime friends join forces to win national youth soccer title

August 17, 2007 

by Chris Helterbrand
    Local soccer players Emily Bowman and Quinn Tookey have been good friends since they were in third-grade, playing together for several area select teams before joining Dallas-based '93 Sting Royal.
    They helped the squad overcome many obstacles this summer, completing a memorable run to the top by winning the 2007 Elmer Ehlers Cup trophy and the girls U14 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship.
    Sting Royal went 2-1 in pool play at the tournament—played last month at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco—with their only loss coming against Slammers FC of Newport Beach, CA, 3-0.
    They went on to beat Stars FC of Massachussetts in the next round, 4-2, before defeating Carmel United from Indianapolis 3-0. 
    The top two teams in pool play advanced to the final, which proved to be a rematch of the earlier encounter between Sting Royal and Slammers FC.
    Sting Royal was intent on avenging its earlier loss, with team members elevating their level of play in front of an enthusiastic crowd estimated to be in excess of 500 people.
    Sting Royal scored on a penalty kick approximately 20 minutes into the first half when forward Jessica Howard was taken down from behind in the box.  Brooke Johnston converted the kick to give Sting Royal a 1-0 lead before the defense for both teams took over.
    Sting Royal needed extra time in the final before prevailing, with Brittany Nash scoring what would prove to be the game-winner five minutes into the second overtime.
    "It definitely helped that we were on our own turf," said Bowman. "It was a great experience—and the first time our club team has been able to accomplish a national championship in the last 10 years."
    Bowman—who plays center midfielder for the team—said the win was also a well-received going away present for Sting Royal club president Bill Kinder, who had previously announced he would be leaving the organization.
    "Ever since we were nine, they were telling us they wanted us to win the national championship," said Tookey, who played outside back for '93 Sting Royal. "It was really good to be able to accomplish that, because we've worked through injuries; through state; through regionals; through nationals—and even though we had a short-handed bench—we were able to get it done."
    Tookey and Bowman will be suiting up for different teams at the high school level, with Quinn enrolled as a freshman at Colleyville Heritage, while Emily is starting her first year at Grapevine High School.
    The irony of playing against each other next spring after joining forces to win a national championship isn't lost upon them, but both agree their friendship will endure.
    "We'll go at each other and knock each other down just like we do in practice—and then laugh about it and get up and get over it," Tookey said. "It will be a fun rivalry, because we're both very competitive."
    "I'm really looking forward to it," Bowman said. "I can't wait to get started [at Grapevine], and I'm hoping to make an impact for my school team."