2015 US YOUTH SOCCER REGION I CHAMPIONS

Soccer News: Maryland Claims Five Region I Championships

Champions were named at the 2015 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships at the Barboursville Soccer Complex in Barboursville, West Virginia.

Beadling SC (PA-W) and Baltimore Celtic (MD) both claimed more than one championship for their club. Of the returning champions, three accomplished back-to-back regional titles: U18 Girls Beadling SC Thunder (PA-W), U17 Boys Baltimore Celtic (MD) and U18 Boys Manhattan SC PSG (NY-E).

2015 US Youth Soccer Region I Champions: 

U12 8v8 Girls:  HMMS Eagle FC Impact (PA-E)
U12 Girls:  Ginga FC (CT)
U13 Girls:  FC Frederick 01 (MD)
U14 Girls:  HBC Impact 00 (NY-E)
U15 Girls:  Penn Strikers (PA-E)
U16 Girls:  Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W)
U17 Girls:  NJ Stallions Dynamite (NJ)
U18 Girls:  Beadling Gunners (PA-W)
U19 Girls:  Beadling SC Thunder (PA-W)

Under-12 8v8 Boys:  Bethesda Blue (MD)
Under-12 Boys:  PDA Drogba (NJ)
Under-13 Boys:  Baltimore Celtic Darby 01/02 (MD)
Under-14 Boys:  McLean 00 Green (VA)
Under-15 Boys:  Fewster FC (MD)
Under-16 Boys:  Penn Fusion (PA-E)
Under-17 Boys:  Baltimore Celtic 97/98 (MD)
Under-18 Boys:  Manhattan SC PSG 96 (NY-E)
Under-19 Boys:  Massapequa Arsenal (NY-E)

Regional winners of the U13 through U19 age groups earn a berth to the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 21-26, at Mohawk Soccer Complex.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the U13 through U19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the U14 through U18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 96 teams.

Highlights from Final Games

Under-12 8v8 Boys

Bethesda Blue (MD) faced off against West Chester United Predators (PA-E) in the Under-12 8v8 Boys final. Bethesda’s Jose Ortega scored the only goal of the game to give Bethesda the 1-0 win and the Maryland side finished the Region I Championships undefeated.

Under-12 Boys

The U-12 Boys final was a rematch of the group play game between Lynbrook/East Rockaway SC Sting (NY-E) and PDA Drogba. This game was no different than the first as PDA repeated their 5-0 victory over Sting. It was an all-around effort from PDA has they had five different goal scorers. Stephen Duncan, Eric Watt and Dylan Kronick all scored in the first 30 minutes with Adam Berrocal and Stas Korzeniowski adding goals in the 32^nd and 46^th minutes respectively.

Under-13 Boys

With both Empire United – Rochester (NY-W) and Baltimore Celtic Darby (MD) coming into the game undefeated, one would have to leave with their first loss of the tournament. An Empire United own goal in the 4^th minute put Celtic up 1-0 early. Celtic’s Theodore Ndje scored a brace with two goals in the 46^th and 56^th minutes to extend up the lead to 3-0. Celtic held the score line and will now advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Tulsa.

Under-14 Boys

McLean 00 Green (VA) took an early lead with a goal from William Blake in just the first minute of play. PA Crew (PA-W) couldn’t find an equalizer and the half ended 1-0. McLean’s Yassine Elkahloun and Daniel Diaz-Bonilla scored two second half goals and the Virginia side would hold on to win 3-0.

Under-15 Boys

Both Fewster FC (MD) and Dix Hills Hurricanes (NY-E) fell short of semifinals last year but one would leave this year with as Regional Champions. Fewster jumped out to an early lead with goals in the 9^th and 12^th minutes by Devin McCarthy. Dix Hills’ Samuel Steinberg cut the lead in half with a 62^nd minute strike but McCarthy added his third goal of the game just seven minute later to get his hat-trick and Fewster the 3-1win.

Under-16 Boys

Regulation wasn’t enough to separate Penn Fusion 98 (PA-E) and Baltimore Celtic (MD). Neither team managed to score a goal in regulation, or extra time, and it would take kicks from the mark to decide a champion. Penn Fusion’s keeper Anthony Marcucci led his team through the kicks making an important save and then had his teammates do the rest. Even with the loss, Baltimore Celtic will advance to Nationals as Penn Fusion has already punched their ticket via the US Youth Soccer National League.

Under-17 Boys

It’s always a big matchup when you face the reigning Regional champions, but Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E) were also facing a Baltimore Celtic 97/98 (MD) who are defending National Champions. Baltimore took a first half lead in the 24^th minute of play on the lone goal of the game from Kevin Coleman. Celtic’s defense held off Lehigh Valley throughout the rest of the game and Celtic repeats as Regional champions. Lehigh Valley will still advance to the National Championships as Baltimore Celtic has already qualified for Nationals via National League.

Under-18 Boys

In a match between Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E), who won the 2013 National Championship and 2014 National Champions Manhattan SC PSG (NY-E) it would take extra time to split the two teams. With neither side able to score in regulation PSG’s Martin Dadaj would be the hero scoring in the 102^nd minute of the match. PSG would hold on to repeat as Region I Champions and now return to the US Youth Soccer National Championships to defend their title.

Under-19 Boys

After a 5-0 loss in group play to Massapequa Arsenal (NY-E), Annandale Untied FC Hawks (VA) were looking to change their fortune in the Under-19 Boys final. Arsenal jumped in the lead just 13 minutes into the game when Cory Santangelo pulled the New York side ahead 1-0. Annandale battled to get an equalizer but in the second half a 52^nd minute own goal put Arsenal up 2-0. Arsenal held out for the 2-0 win and now advance to Nationals to play for the most storied trophy in youth sports, the Under-19 James P. McGuire Cup.

Under-12 8v8 Girls

Both HMMS Eagle FC Impact (PA-E) and North United Rush (PA-W) were undefeated heading into the final match. After a scoreless first half the all Pennsylvania final was decided in the second half when Ava Brackett found the back of the net. With the win HMMS wins the Region I Championship and finishes the tournament undefeated and without allowing a single goal against.

Under-12 Girls

Ginga FC (CT) was crowned the first 2015 Region I Champion this year when they defeated NJ Rush 02 (NJ) Monday in the Under-12 Girls final. Ginga’s two goals from Julia Bogen and Olivia Dubuc were enough to surpass the lone goal from Rush’s Victoria D’Imperio and give Ginga the 2-1 win.

Under-13 Girls

After allowing only one goal through group play, FC Frederick 01’s (MD) strong defense held off the Empire United Soccer Academy – Rochester (NY-W) attack enough to claim the Under-13 Girls final. FC Frederick took a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Hannah Thompson and Sara Hohn. Empire’s Madison Tortora pulled a goal back in the 36^th minute but the Maryland side defended well against all counterattacks thrown their way and Frederick claims the Under-13 Girls title with the 2-1 victory.

Under-14 Girls

After defeating the defending champions South Shore Select Elite (MA) yesterday, HBC Impact 00 (NY-E) claimed the Under-14 Girls title by defeating NVSC Jr. Majestics 00 (VA) 3-0 in the final. HBC’s Nina Carlomusto scored in the 35^th minute and then teammates Lauren Mastandrea and Gina Giovinco scored in the 64^th and 69^th minutes. NVSC was unable to answer and the match ended 3-0 in favor of HBC.

Under-15 Girls

Penn Strikers (PA-E) got on the board early against Smithtown Kickers SC Hotspur (NY-E) when Emily McNesby beat her defender around the left edge. McNesby got powered her shot passed the keeper for the 1-0 advantage. Emily Tracewell extended the lead when a low shot by Kayla Mesaros was deflected by the Smithtown kicker straight into Tracewell’s path who knocked it home to make the score 2-0. McNesby added her second goal of the game in the 20^th minute when she was taken down in the box after cutting passed her defender. She calmly slotted her penalty kick home to give them a 3-0 lead. Strikers didn’t let up and Brooke Schutter added two second half goals to bring the final score to 5-0 for Strikers.

Under-16 Girls

Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W) have been doing a lot of winning lately. After winning the Region I Champions League they also won their State Cup and advanced to Region I Championships. Through group play and semifinals they didn’t allow a single goal to be scored against them and that didn’t change in the final match. Beadling’s Emma Thomas scored the game’s lone goal in the 26^th minute of play with the goal being the only goal allowed by ABGC Annandale United FC (VA) all tournament. After scoring the goal, Beadling clamped down the defensive pressure and was able to hold off Annandale from finding an equalizer. Beadling finish the tournament undefeated without allowing a single goal to be scored against them.

Under-17 Girls

After just missing qualifying for Nationals via the National League, NJ Stallions Dynamite (NJ) needed a win today in order to advance to Tulsa. It didn’t look good early when Taylor Bennett knocked how a free kick in the 2^nd minute of play to give Syracuse Development Academy 97/98 (NY-W) the 1-0 lead. Stallions answered back with Tomison Kennedy got taken down in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. Shannon Burns stepped up and boomed her PK passed the keeper to even the score. Stallions would take the lead just two minutes later when Ida DiClemente received the ball behind the defense and slotted how her shot to bring the score to 2-1. The goals kept flowing as just two minutes later Taylor Bennett equalized when she put in another beautiful free-kick into the upper right corner from 25 yards out. The teams battled through the second half but got the game winner from Kristen Vinciguerra when she headed home an Olivia Szeker-Cortes cross to bring the final score to 3-2.

Under-18 Girls

In an Under-18 Girls game played with five top goal scorers in the age-group between Beading Gunners (PA-W) and McLean 96 Green (VA) only one goal would separate the teams at the final whistle. After a scoreless first half, Beadling’s Italia Biondi scored the game winner and her fourth goal of the tournament in the 62^nd minute. Beadling would hold on to claim the Under-18 Girls title and finish the tournament with five straight wins.

Under-19 Girls

The Under-19 Girls final had to be decided by kicks from the mark after neither Beadling SC Thunder (PA-W) nor Continental FC Premier 95 (PA-E) could break a 1-1 tie by the end of extra time. Maggie Scott gave Beadling the lead in the 41^st minute of play but was answer quickly by Continental FC Premier’s Tayler Jamison just two minutes later. After extra time Beadling would grab the win during kicks from the mark when field player Theresa Scheiffarth, who was filling in after Beadling’s starting keeper got hurt, would make the final save to give their team a 4-3 edge in kicks. With the win, Beadling SC Thunder defend their Regional title and advanced to Nationals for the third straight year.

Game Scores:

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