Youth is served with local soccer franchise owner ahead of her time

Hudson Valley Crusaders owner finding great success at young age

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When Hannah Esslie founded the Hudson Valley Crusaders of the United Women’s Soccer League, she was thought to be the youngest sports franchise owner in the country. That was four years ago, when she was a student at Cairo-Durham High School.

Now, Esslie has two teams under the Crusaders’ umbrella. The League One team plays at the highest level of UWS competition and the League Two team has won back to back championships.