On a blustery, rainy Saturday, the Magpies took the field against the Thunder.  Both teams had two victories and no losses.  The victor would most likely advance to the championship round.  The teams fought long and hard, 60 minutes of grueling, physical soccer, and when the whistle was blown to conclude the game, the Thunder were on top, 2-1.  This represented the first loss ever by this Upper Dublin team, but the players and coaches could not sit  back and sulk.  The game against F.C. Rock loomed large, with the victor of that game assured a berth in the championship round (both teams with records of two wins and one loss).  The Magpies dried off, took a short break, and returned to the field to play F.C. Rock.  In another hard fought classic, the Magpies were 15 minutes from elimination, down 1-0.  Somehow, digging deep inside, the players found a will to fight back and scored a tying goal down the stretch.  The game ended knotted 1-1, but by virtue of a tiebreaker, Upper Dublin advanced to the championship round.

     The tournament championship was scheduled for the following Sunday, but was postponed due to torrential rains.  The championship was delayed until the next Saturday.  Knowing the task at hand, the Magpie team held a spirited practice Wednesday night, knowing that Saturday would be war.  Also advancing to the championship round were the Ukrainian Thunder, Council Rock Outlaws, and the Hulmeville Hammerjax.  The stage was set.  Saturday dawned in a foul mood - wind, rain, raw, but the tournament was to go on.  The semifinal game pitted the Magpies vs. the Council Rock team.  Rain started just before the start of the game, and continued throughout.  The Magpies were in complete control of the game, starting strong and never looking back in a 5-1 victory.  In the other semifinal, the Thunder prevailed over the Hulmeville squad.

     The championship game was set.  Upper Dublin vs. the Thunder.  Both teams hungry for the championship.  The weather offered on relief to either side.  It continued to rain throughout the day.  The match started, and the Thunder scored in the first 15 minutes.  The Magpies absorbed the blow, but did not flinch.  They stood firm against the wind.  They took over the play and tied the score during the first half.  At the break, the score was 1-1.  The Magpies started the second half as if it belonged to them.  They looked into the eyes of the Thunder, into the eye of the storm, and did not blink.  The second half was theirs.  Upper Dublin scored three unanswered goals and earned a hard fought 4-1 victory.  The Magpies had entered this tournament undefeated.  They left it not undefeated, but perhaps more importantly, as champions who had tasted the bitter fruit of defeat and learned what it takes to achieve success against good teams, to face adversity eye-to-eye and succeed.