The best of the best

The biggest tournament of their lives starts Wednesday.

After all, it can’t get much bigger than the United States Youth Soccer national championships, which take place next week in Lancaster, Mass.

But, for Mikhaila Bowden and Nikki Fedele, the journey to this point with the Southern California Blues Under-15 girls’ soccer team has already been memorable.

Bowden, who will be a junior at Ocean View High, is a starting defender for the Blues, who won the Region IV title last month in Lancaster. Fedele, a junior-to-be at Edison, also stepped up at that tournament.

Fedele used to come off the bench, but she started the first game at regionals and proceeded to make it hard for Coach Jeff Pearson to take her out of the lineup. It was Fedele that scored the first goal in the title game, taking a cross and scoring in the first half of what would become a 3-1 win over Sereno of Arizona. Danielle Spriggs and Mackenzie Akins added goals for the Blues.

“It was insane,” Fedele said. “I had just, five minutes before it, missed an open net. But scoring a goal was amazing.”

Pearson said he couldn’t help but smile from the sideline. Fedele and Bowden, as well as their teammates, have the kind of contagious energy that makes them great teammates — and extremely dangerous for opponents at the same time.

“Nikki has a crazy, off-the-wall personality and it shows in her soccer playing,” Pearson said. “She’s a high-energy player. We’re always having conversations about calming her thoughts down while she’s playing; she wants to do so much.”

So does Bowden, the 2009 Golden West League Offensive MVP who scores goals for Ocean View and stops others from doing so for the Blues. Pearson called her one of the most fearless players he’s ever coached. She’s a leader on the back line that Pearson likes to think of as his “steel curtain.”

“She demonstrates tremendous courage and athletic ability in ball-winning,” Pearson said. “And the kid just has a vibrant personality.”

Despite the different positions Bowden and Fedele play, similarities abound for the two oldest players on the Under-15 squad. Both have been playing soccer since they were 4 years old. And both also share the same birthday — Aug. 22 (for the record, Bowden is five hours older).

Sweet 16 is coming up, and a national title would certainly be a nice early birthday present. But things weren’t always rosy for the team.

Pearson became coach midway through last year, when the Under-15s finished eighth in the Coast Soccer League — not exactly a banner achievement for a program like the Blues.

“The team was in shambles, trying to find an identity,” Pearson said. “It was just a struggle.”

Yet they kept working. Weekend training retreats to Big Bear helped get everyone on the same page.

“It was kind of tough,” Bowden said. “Our chemistry wasn’t that great, but as time went on, we were together more. We started to understand each other more, on the field and off the field.”

Eighth place turned into first place, and the team had its way at the regional finals. After tying a team from Utah in the opener, the Blues outscored opponents, 13-4, over the final five games.

“We came in thinking one game at a time, but we expected six games,” Fedele said. “We knew we were there for six games.”

And as for the a possible national title?

“It seems so far away...” Fedele said, pausing.

“...But really close at the same time,” Bowden finished.

Confident, without being cocky. Pearson would be proud.

“Nikki and Mikhaila are very good soccer players, but they’re tremendous human beings,” he said. “In 20 years, I hope I know both of them.”

The Blues Under-15s begin the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships on Wednesday morning, with a game against the Dallas Texans. Teams will play round-robin matches through July 24.

The national championship match is set for July 25.