Cheongshim International Academy Celebrates Runner-Up Victory at Gapyeong County Soccer Tournament

On October 29, 2024, the Cheongshim International Academy (Hawks) soccer team showcased their strength and skill by securing the runner-up position at the Gapyeong County Soccer Tournament. This tournament organized its matchups through random selection, with each team playing two preliminary matches. The two teams with the highest points advanced to the finals. Cheongshim International Academy faced Cheongpyeong High School in their first match, followed by Gapyeong High School in the second.

In the first match against Cheongpyeong High School, Cheongshim dominated the first half with strong ball possession. In the second half, Shin Jooyoung (19) scored the first goal with a stunning curved shot, boosting the team’s morale. Park Joonseo (19) then added another goal, securing a 2-0 victory and putting the team in a stable position to prepare for the next game.

The second match against Gapyeong High School also saw Cheongshim International Academy implementing their training. During a corner kick in the first half, Shin Dongjoo (19) sent a precise cross that Kim Woojin (19) finished with a header to score. This scene highlighted the effectiveness of Cheongshim International Academy’s persistent set-piece drills. Unfortunately, a defensive error in the second half led to a conceded goal, marking the team’s first-ever goal conceded in the tournament. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, and Cheongshim International Academy advanced to the finals with one win and one draw, placing them second in the preliminaries.

The finals kicked off at 3:00 p.m., and Cheongshim International Academy started strong, applying pressure to seize control of the game. However, while defending against a counterattack, a foul led to a free-kick opportunity for Gapyeong High School, which they converted into a goal. Gapyeong then scored again, increasing their lead to 2-0. Cheongshim did not back down, intensifying its efforts. During a corner kick, they scored a comeback goal with a perfect cross and header.

However, As the match progressed, the referee made several controversial decisions that favored Gapyeong High School, creating challenges for Cheongshim. Despite these unfavorable calls, the team persevered but ultimately finished as runners-up. Although disappointed by their first loss, the team viewed this experience as a stepping stone to grow stronger for future competitions.

Director Jung Min-gu commented, “Being runner-up is rewarding, but we will work even harder to win next time.” Team Senior Captain Kim Woo-jin added, “For three months, we put in the effort to create a team with Cheongshim’s unique characteristics, and I am proud that we could showcase our training efforts during the matches. Although this was our first loss, we’ll use this experience to continue growing.” Team Junior Captain Jung Chan-ho shared, “Since becoming the captain in the second semester, I have felt a strong sense of responsibility and worked hard to conduct systematic training. I am proud that we achieved the school’s first runner-up finish and will improve on the areas that need work to secure the championship next year.”

CSIA player roster: 지온(1), 박민욱(14), 이상진(47), 이동희(10), 이예찬(41), 장윤재(22), 신동주(18), 지호(3), 정찬호(16), 정지용(2), 이원준(6), 이건우(15), 안재권(62), 백수영(27), 허재영(9), 한효진(25), 최현빈(99), 신주영(11), 김우진(7)

CSIA director, maneger: 정민구, 김단아, 안연조, 한서경