FEDERAL WAY — The North Kitsap Ballistic 00 BU-11 soccer club formed about two-and-a-half months ago. On Aug. 12, the team participated in its first tournament.

Two days later, NK Ballistic was a championship team.

“It’s pretty surprising,” head coach Rodney Green said.

Of the teams in the bracket, at least two had a developmental program to prepare the players for this season, Green said. It usually takes a group of players between one to two years before they win a championship, he said.

NK Ballistic, consisting of 13 boys ages 10 and 11, scored 15 goals during the tournament, versus six scored against the team, Green said.

Ballistic earned its way to the finals with one win, one tie and a loss.

The tournament began with Ballistic defeating Harbor Premier B00 Green 6-0. A game against Sparta 2000 resulted in a 2-2 tie and the semi-final game against MVP Rapids 00 White ended with a 7-2 loss.

“We went into (the tournament) not knowing what to expect,” Green said. “We only played scrimmages … You get into tournaments and it’s a lot more competitive.”

In the final against Sparta, Ballistic was down 2-0 before the half.

“Sparta was a really tough team,” Ballistic player Jordan Sanchez, 10, said. “Sparta was a battle.”

Though the team was down in points, Jordan said the players kept their heads up and didn’t let it affect them. Constant passing and keeping pressure on the Sparta players was the key, he said.

After coming back with a 2-2 tie, Ballistic took the lead in the final minutes, ending it 3-2.

In all, Ballistic earned 24 points during the three-day tournament. Sparta came in second with 18.

Putting pressure on their opponents with constant shooting made it relatively easy for Ballistic’s goalie.

“I like goalie a lot and in this tournament, there wasn’t really that much pressure on me,” Jacob Green, 10, said.

In order to get where they are, the team practices two days per week. Green said a lot of running can contribute to their success on the field.

For now, the team will continue to practice as it prepares for the Bainbridge Island Cup in two weeks. After that, the team may move to another league and possibly to indoor soccer for the winter, Green said.

“A lot of it was just their heart. It was neat to watch,” Green said.