đź“Ł Girls Academy Winter Champions Cup Recap 2025
The HTX Girls Academy Program sent all six GA teams to the Girls Academy Champions Cup and Winter Showcase held at SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco, CA, competing in top-tier brackets against some of the nation’s strongest clubs.
Across the event, each team played three matches, showcasing their talent in front of hundreds of college coaches and national team scouts. The GA13 team, attending the event for the first time, made a memorable debut with three excellent performances and two wins.
This year’s high-profile matchups also served as qualification and seeding for the Girls Academy Champions Cup Finals, set for March at IMG Academy in Florida. With every game carrying meaningful implications, the weekend delivered a series of high-quality, fast-paced battles in scenic southern California.
🌟 Team Highlights
Five of the six teams advanced to the knockout rounds, with two teams securing standout performances:
The HTX 13 GA team made an impressive debut at their first GA event, opening the weekend with back to back 4–0 victories before facing national powerhouse TopHat from Atlanta. HTX struck first, taking a 1–0 lead, but TopHat responded with two quick goals to go ahead 2–1. Just before halftime, Raeghan Arnold delivered once again, scoring her eighth goal in three games to bring the match level at 2–2. The second half turned into a fierce, end-to-end battle, with both teams pushing for a winner. In the final minutes, TopHat found the deciding goal and eventually closed out a 4–2 win. Despite the result, Raeghan Arnold (pictured below) set a new event scoring record with eight goals, including two hat tricks.
HTX 12 GA swept all three games and locked in the top seed for the next round. With three more shutouts this weekend, the team has now conceded 2 goals in 19 matches. Goalkeeper Madi Smith (pictured below) continues her incredible season, recording 18 shutouts in 20 appearances, 17 with 12GA and an additional clean sheet with 11GA.
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12/5 | Florida United | 0-0 |
| 12/6 | STA | 0-3 |
| 12/8 | West Coast FC | 0-0 |
| Date | Opponent | Score |
| 12/4 | SC Del Sol | 1-3 |
| 12/5 | Florida United | 1-1 |
| 12/7 | Virginia Revolution | 3-1 |
| Date | Opponent | Score |
| 12/4 | Michigan Jaguars | 1-1 |
| 12/5 | City SC | 0-3 |
| 12/7 | NEFC | 0-1 |
| Date | Opponent | Score |
| 12/6 | Virgina Revolution | 3-0 |
| 12/7 | Indy Premier | 0-2 |
| 12/9 | Galaxy SC | 0-2 |
| Date | Opponent | Score |
| 12/7 | NEFC | 3-0 |
| 12/8 | Florida United | 2-1 |
| 12/9 | Beadling SC | 1-0 |
The current players from the reigning 2025 US Youth Soccer National Champions were also presented with an Adidas gift card recognizing their outstanding achievement from the prestigious ESPN Wide World of SportsComplex in Orlando, FL that was played in July.
“This event is a perfect combination of opportunity and adversity. The opponents are strong, and the scouts show up in abundance. For those who are prepared, it’s a great opportunity to prove yourself amongst the best players in the GA," said Andrew Squire, Girls Director. "HTX is now recognized in the GA as one of the top clubs and with that honor comes a responsibility to perform and thrive in an elite game environment. Champions Cup is unique because players must showcase their individual talent, play a role in the team success and contribute to the Club’s Champion Cup ambition. The additional layer significance is what meshes our 6-team program together and creates the unity between our teams and staff. When one team is having success at an event like this, it resonates through the whole program driving our standards and ambition. We are looking forward to the next round in March.”
“I want to thank our players, parents, and coaching staff for their commitment throughout a very successful fall season," said Randy Evans, Technical Director. "I’m grateful for everyone’s contribution and proud of the progress we continue to make.”
Coaching Staff Attending:
Randy Evans, Technical Director
Andrew Squire, Girls Director
Hiroyuki Suzuki, Team Coach
Andrea Casella, Team Coach
William Fowlkes, Team Coach
Deusdedit Caguana, GK Coach
To find an HTX Soccer program near you for any age or experience level, visit www.htxsoccer.com
HTX Soccer is the largest youth soccer club in the Greater Houston area, with over 8,500 players ranging from recreational to elite levels, ages 3 to 19. Serving a 100-mile radius from Downtown Houston, HTX represents the true heart of soccer in the city and its surrounding communities. Since 2006, HTX has helped more than 780 players advance to collegiate soccer—more than any other club in the region. The club has also seen 67 players selected for youth national team activities, and 17 players go on to play professionally around the world.
HTX’s elite boys’ teams compete in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), while the elite girls’ teams participate in the Girls Academy (G.A.) League—both top-tier platforms in U.S. youth soccer.
HTX Soccer is proud to be home to:
🏆 🏆 Back-to-back USYS U13 Girls National Champions (2024 & 2025)
🏆 2025 U19 Girls Academy Champions Cup National Champions
🏆 2025 U15 Girls Academy Champions Cup National Finalists
HTX continues to set the standard for youth soccer development and competition—locally, regionally, and nationally.
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