2025 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
Date: Monday, March 3, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:30 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Location: Somerset Inn, Troy
Ages: Open to 2012-2007/06 / U13-U19 female players
Tickets: $45 per person
RSVP Deadline: Friday, February 21, 2025
Central Girls Teams are invited to an exceptional evening as we celebrate our female athletes and provide special recognition to our seniors before our coaches and families.
Event Details:
- Attire: Semi-formal (e.g., party dresses)
- Dinner: Plated meal served at 6:00 PM
- Features: Guest speaker (to be announced), photo booth, raffle prizes, and silent auction.
- Guests: Each player may bring one parent/guardian (seniors may bring two parents/guardians).
Requests:
- Raffle/Silent Auction Items: Each team is asked to contribute an item or basket for the raffle or auction.
- Player Photos: Submit one high-quality photo of your player from the season for the slideshow.
- Email: events@lfcmi.com
- Subject Line: Include team and player name
- Deadline: One week before event.
- Note: Do not email photos to Karen Parker.
- Volunteers: Parents available to assist with room setup are encouraged to contact Jenn Perkins at perkins@lfcmi.com.
We look forward to celebrating this special evening with you and appreciate your support in making it memorable for our girls.
Warm regards,
Jennifer Perkins
perkins@lfcmi.com
2024 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
On Monday, March 4th, the Central 2011-2006/05 Girls Banquet took place at the Somerset Inn in Troy. The event was a joyful gathering that brought players and parents together to celebrate the 2023/24 season.
Following a sit-down dinner, attendees were treated to a speech from Avery Perkins, a member of the 2006/05 ECNL Girls team. She reflected on her time with the club since U8, sharing about the values learned and the memories and the lifelong friends and mentors she has made.
One of the highlights of the evening was the heartfelt recognition of the senior class. Thirty-two seniors in attendance from ECNL, ECNL-RL and Academy teams received a fitting tribute for their dedication and commitment over the years.
Furthermore, the banquet provided an opportunity to shine a spotlight on each team’s accomplishments during the season. The respective coaches took the stage to deliver a summary of team’s journey, while also bestowing two presitgious awards: the “Player’s Player” and the “Coach’s Player” awards. These awards recognized individuals who demonstrated exceptional performance, teamwork, and dedication throughout the season, underscoring their impact on the team’s success.
As part of the banquet’s cherished traditions, two deserving seniors were honored with $1,000 scholarships: Alaina Polsinelli for the Servant Leader Scholarship and Christina Fakhouri for the Dan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship.
Overall, the Central 2011-2006/05 Girls Banquet was a remarkable event fostering camaraderie, celebrating achievements, and providing lasting memories for all attendees.
A special thank you to Jenn Perkins for creating another wonderful event for our families and players. And thank you to her team, coaching staff, and parent volunteers.
Photo credit: David Veillette
2023 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
A memorable night for our Central 2010-2005 girls teams as the annual banquet was hosted at the Somerset Inn in Troy on Monday, March 6. The night was full of fun, laughter and great memories players will cherish forever. Nearly 400 players, parents, coaches and LFC Michigan staff came out to celebrate our older girls players.
This night was a sentimental send-off for our seniors. Senior speech was given by Alex William who has been part of our club family for the last seven years. More than 25 seniors were recognized and received gifts to take with them to college as mementos of their experiences and memories made with the club. In addition, two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to seniors. The Servant Leadership Scholarship presented by Big Boy was given to Maeve C and the Dan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship was given to Kate R to apply toward their college expenses.
More awards were given that night; for every team, the Coaches Player Award, personally selected by the coach, and the Players Player Award, selected by the players on the team, was given. The fun did not end there! The rest of the night was followed by fun raffle prizes for the girls that were donated by the teams.
A big “thank you” goes to our event coordinator, Jenn Perkins, and all the event helpers for hosting a great night for the girls, parents, coaches, and staff. #YNWA
Photo credit: David Veillette @Dv3digital
2022 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
Coaches, parents, and female players gathered to celebrate the Central 2009-2003 Girls teams at the annual banquet held at Somerset Inn in Troy.
Kicking off the event, Coaches Reid Friedrichs and Emma Voelker recognized more than 20 seniors from their ECNL and ECNL Regional League teams, sharing anecdotes and accomplishments from their time playing with the club and encouragement to make a positive impact on others.
Scholarships were awarded to two outstanding college-bound seniors, made possible by contributions to our annual Golf Outing and private donations.
Orley Krugel was presented with “Servant Leadership Scholarship,” started by the Amezcua family to honor Roberto Amezcua who was an immigrant known for the values he embraced and instilled in his children and grandchildren. Roberto passed away very recently, making last night’s presentation even more meaningful and emotional.
Drew Martin was awarded the “Dan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship,” given in memory of former Force FC coach and administrator and close friend to many in our soccer community.
Each team was recognized by their coach for their achievements and growth this season. Coaches also awarded two of their players with Player of the Year Awards, one voted by the players and the other by the coach.
We are grateful to our programming director Jenn Perkins, the LFC Central staff, and helpers for organizing and staffing this event for our players and parents to enjoy. And many thanks to the wonderful hospitality of Somerset Inn of Troy.
Thank you to all the girls and the parents for attending, as well as those who donated raffle and silent auction items, which helps to make this celebration possible.
2020 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
Another spectacular night celebrating the Central players at the annual Girls Banquet and Senior Recognition on Thursday, February 6th at Somerset Inn.
Our guest speaker was Marisa Viggiano, who grew up in Dakota, MI, was ranked as the No. 25 recruit in the nation after high school, and played D1 soccer at Northwestern University. At 23, she’s just completed her first professional season with NWSL’s Orlando Pride, and plays alongside several of her heroes, including Marta, Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris. Marisa encouraged the girls to dream big and work hard.
New to our program this year were Player of the Year Awards, given to those outstanding players that best exemplify the club’s values known as The Liverpool Way — Ambition, Commitment, Dignity and Unity. Two awards were given for each team from 2008-2002, with one recipient chosen by the Players and the other chosen by the Coaches.
In addition, the 2020 MSYSA State Cup trophy was on display to celebrate the 2006 Girls Academy team championship last fall.
To wrap up the evening, the club was pleased to give scholarships to two graduating seniors. Lara Bruce received the Dan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship and Lara Mathias received the MassMutual Great Lakes Servant Leadership Award.
2019 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
The annual banquet for our Central U7-U18 Girls Teams was held last night. It was a festive evening for the nearly 350 in attendance, as they celebrated our female athletes and their team successes so far this season and gave the high school girls a special send-off. Our graduating seniors were also honored and then presented with gifts by our youngest players. Everyone enjoyed fantastic venue with great food and drinks, as well as an exciting raffle with donated prizes and silent auction items.
Keynote speaker was Dani Haelewyn Evans, a former Force FC club player and coach and current player for the Detroit Sun of the United Women’s Soccer League. Dani shared her personal journey from her first time on the pitch at five years old that sparked a passion for soccer, to winning back-to-back national championships with Force FC and coach Andy Wagstaff, to attaining her current status as captain of a semi-professional team in Detroit.
Along the way, she experienced many bumps in the road and had to change her course, but she encouraged the players to set personal goals and be ready to adapt and not get discouraged if those goals need to change. Her message and her experiences were an inspiration to all the young female athletes in the room.
This year, scholarships were awarded to two outstanding college-bound seniors, made possible by contributions to our annual Golf Outing and private donations.
The first Dan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship, given in memory of former Force FC coach and administrator and close friend to many in our soccer community, was awarded to Sydney Petoskey by his wife Lisa O’Shea.
Jenna Hart was presented with Servant Leadership Scholarship in honor of Roberto Amezcua. Manuel Amezcua expressed his deep gratitude for his immigrant father and mother and the values they embraced and instilled in him and his brothers, and how he found these values to closely align with Liverpool FC Michigan’s values of Ambition, Commitment, Dignity and Unity.
A very special “thank you” goes to our special events coordinator Jenn Perkins and her helpers for organizing and staffing this event for our players and families to enjoy. Also thanks to Somerset Inn of Troy for their hospitality.
2018 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
What a night to celebrate our female athletes!
LFCIA-MI Central held its second annual Girls’ Banquet & Senior Recognition last night. The evening was tremendous fun for all the girls, who enjoyed raffle prizes, dinner with their teammates, and a very special guest.
Each girls’ team from U8 to U18 had their time in the spotlight as proud coaches shared stories about their players’ efforts, ambitions and successes. It was a special night to recognize our seniors before they leave to begin their last high school season. Coach Kevin Garner acknowledged the girls’ growth and maturity on and off the pitch, working together to finish out their club career as MRL division champions. Congratulations, Seniors!
Our guest speaker was US Women’s National Team Player Ali Krieger, who started every game at right back for the 2015 World Cup Champions team. In addition to her national team duties, Ali also plays for the NWSL’s Orlando Pride. She is a former US Olympian and UEFA Champions League winner.
Ali encouraged our young athletes to never stop pursuing their dreams, even when it feels too hard or frustrating. She challenged them to find happiness in themselves and to surround themselves with positive and inspiring people. She also challenged everyone in the room, players and parents, to continue to support equal opportunities in the game.
Thank you to Jennifer Perkins for organizing another fantastic event. And thank you to all the parents and their contributions to the silent auction and raffle which make this event possible.
2017 Girls Team Banquet & Senior Recognition
On January 26, 2017, the Club hosted a special night to celebrate our 2016/17 girls’ teams and recognize our graduating seniors. Players of all ages enjoyed a festive evening off the field with their teammates and families. We were joined by FC Kansas City midfielder Yael Averbuch, who gave personal anecdotes and insights about her journey to becoming both a professional and national team player.
Many thanks to all the girls and the families who attended, to those who donated raffle and auction items, and to Jenn Perkins and the event committee for putting on such a special and memorable evening.
