US Youth Soccer National Championships Kick Off in Frisco, Texas
The opening matches of the US Youth Soccer National Championships conclude in Frisco, Texas, as teams close out day one of their run at a national title. The tournament consists of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the U13 through U19 Boys and Girls, 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.
Youth Soccer News: Games kicked off Tuesday at the 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas. The teams took the stage, making their first push to earn one of the 14 National titles that will be awarded this weekend. The field of 96 teams is comprised of the nation’s top players in the U13 through U19 Boys and Girls age groups.
Group play takes place over the course of three days and will conclude on Thursday. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. The top two teams in the U13 and U19 age groups will advance to the National Championship final on Saturday, while the top two teams in each group in U14 through U18 play advance to their respective semifinals.
The event is estimated to bring more than $5 million to the local economy. In addition to the impact locally, the championships provide college coaches from around the country with a premier stage to evaluate future collegiate players, offering a tremendous impact to players and their families. Many college coaches and U.S. Soccer scouts lined the sidelines on Tuesday to watch the players make their first push for the 2016 National Championship.
All of the teams competing in Frisco earned their place in the National Championships via success in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series or the US Youth Soccer National League.
Stories, photos and videos are available following games. Real time scoring is available here.
A few highlights from Tuesday’s matches…
U13 Girls: Cincinnati United Premier Gold (OH-S) 0-4 Solar Chelsea Red (TX-N)
In the matchup between Cincinnati United Premier Gold (OH-S) and Solar Chelsea Red (TX-N), Solar Chelsea came out victorious after tallying four goals. The first came in the ninth minute when Raigen Powell received the ball inside the corner of the 18-yard box and shot the ball to the left bottom corner of the goal. It was Powell again to earn the second goal as she dribbled to the top of the box and drove the ball to the right side of the net, keeping the ball on the ground. Solar Chelsea continued to pressure, and Powell scored her third goal of the game when she ran onto a through ball between the Cincinnati United Premier defenders and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper’s head. Trinity Byars topped off the 4-0 win with a goal in the 50th minute.
U14 Girls: Tennessee SC 20 (TN) 1-0 Waza FC East 02 Black (MI)
Tennessee SC 20 (TN), the National League Blue Champion, defeated Waza FC East 02 Black (MI), the Region II representative, with one Emily Sanchez goal to kick off their 2016 National Championships campaign. After a scoreless first half, Sanchez gave Tennessee SC the lead as she put the ball in the back of the net in the 52nd minute. Tennessee SC held Waza FC off for the remainder of the match, claiming the close 1-0 victory.
U15 Girls: FC Pride 01 Elite (IN) 2-0 FC Salmon Creek Nemesis 00 Ellertson (OR)
FC Pride 01 Elite (IN) earned a 2-0 victory over FC Salmon Creek Nemesis 00 Ellertson (OR) in their first game of the National Championships. Heather MacNab placed the ball in the goal twice as she scored one goal in each half. In the 33rd minute, MacNab drove a diagonal ball toward the goal from far outside the 18-yard box, and the ball flew over FC Salmon Creek’s goalkeeper into the left corner of the net. MacNab’s second goal occurred in the 63rd minute, when she took another long shot from the center of the field, sending the ball to the top right corner of the net.
U16 Girls: La Roca Premier PO (UT) 2-0 Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W)
Two first half goals earned 2015 National Championships finalist, La Roca Premier PO (UT), the 2-0 win against Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W). Fourteen minutes into the match, Marli Niederhauser scored the first goal, and in the 38th minute, Olivia Wade attained the second to give La Roca some breathing room for the remainder of the match.
U17 Girls: Team Chicago Academy – Brasilia (IL) 0-1 CR S Burgundy Rapids (NC)
In a matchup between two newcomers to the National Championships, CR S Burgundy Rapids (NC) started off with a 1-0 victory over Team Chicago Academy – Brasilia (IL). After a scoreless first half, the only goal of the match came from Courtney Walker who scored in the 56th minute.
U18 Girls: NJ Stallions Dynamite (NJ) 0-2 Ambassadors FC (OH-N)
Ambassadors FC (OH-N), 2013 National Championship finalists, took the 2-0 win over NJ Stallions Dynamite (NJ). Both goals came in the first half as Sarah Krause netted one in the 25th minute, and Hope Lewandoski scored in the 41st minute.
U19 Girls: McLean 96 Green (VA) 0-1 So Cal Blues Dodge (CA-S)
McLean 96 Green (VA) and So Cal Blues Dodge (CA-S) fought to a 1-0 match in So Cal Blues’ favor. Both teams had their fair share of chances at goal in the first half. In the second half, So Cal Blues kept the ball more in their offensive end. They had a few close opportunities especially when Erika Okuma ran onto a pass for a one-on-one battle with McLean’s goalkeeper. Okuma got there first, sliding for the ball, but the shot went just wide of the left goal post. After constant offensive pressure, So Cal Blues’ Anika Rodriguez scored a late goal in the 86th minute for the win.
U13 Boys: Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W) 0-3 Strikers FC Chingirian (CA-S)
In both teams’ first trip to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, Strikers FC Chingirian (CA-S) defeated Syracuse Development Academy 3-0 on the opening day of play. Strikers’ Evan Antonius scored the lone goal of the first half in the 15th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead. Connor Walcott added to his team’s lead in the 45th minute and Paul Son added the final goal to give Strikes the 3-0 win. Strikers will face Michigan Wolves 03 (MI) tomorrow who lost 2-4 to 02 CASL Academy Juniors (NC) in the other U13 game today.
U14 Boys: SLA Nomads (CA-S) 0-1 West Pines United Carrillo (FL)
In a close game between newcomers to the National Championships, only one goal separated the teams after the final whistle. After a scoreless first half, Darin Henry scored the lone goal for West Pines United Carrillo (FL) in the 55th minute to give his team the win and an important three points early in the week.
U15 Boys: McLean Green (VA) 2-0 SC Sporting 00 Green (CA-N)
National League Blue Runner-Up McLean 00 Green (VA) defeated Region IV Champion SC Sporting 00 Green (CA-N) 2-0 to earn three points on day one. McLean jumped on the scoreboard early in the first half when Daniel Diaz-Bonilla found the back of the net. Jett Bisset added to McLean’s lead in the 34th minute and the Virginia side would hold for a 2-0 victory. With the win, McLean has tied its point total from last year’s National Championships where they went 1-1-1.
U16 Boys: United FA Premier (GA) 3-0 Strikers FC North (CA-S)
U16 Boys Strikers FC North (CA-S) couldn’t recover from an early conceded goal in the 9th minute and eventually fell to United FA Premier (GA) 3-0. Dalton Seckinger scored a brace for United GA starting with his goal in the 9th minute. Seckinger scored again in the 24th and teammate Carlos Reyes (Best XI recipient in 2013 and 2014) scored the game’s final goal in the 55th minute. With the win, United FA starts off on the right foot on its path to return to the finals, where it was crowned U14 Boys National Champions in 2014.
U17 Boys: Solar Chelsea 99 Red (TX-N) 2-1 Pipeline Black (MD)
Solar Chelsea Red 99 (TX-N) defeated Pipeline Black (MD) 2-1 on the first day of play in U17 Boys play. Playing in their home state, Solar’s Carlos Flores scored a brace in a three goal flurry by both teams in an eight minute span during the second half. Flores scored in the 59th minute to give Solar the lead, and then against four minutes later to increase the lead to 2-0. Pipeline’s Benjamin Alexander grabbed one back for Pipeline just four minutes later, but the Maryland side couldn’t score an equalizer and Solar finished with the 2-1 victory.
U18 Boys: Arlington Impact Red (VA) 0-0 Dix Hills Elite (NY-E)
In a battle of teams that participated in National League, Arlington Impact Red (VA) and Dix Hills Elite (NY-E) competed to a 0-0 draw. In their National League match up, Arlington earned a 2-1 win but both teams were held scoreless in the day one game here at National Championships. Arlington faces Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S) tomorrow who won 4-0 today over South San Jose PAC Indios (CA-N)
U19 Boys: Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E) 1-2 FC Golden State (CA-S)
In a game of former US Youth Soccer National Champions, FC Golden State (CA-S), 2015 National Champions, defeated Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E), 2013 National Champions, 2-1. Golden State got off to a strong start with Maicon Abreu, and Gabriel Costa scoring in the 10th and 14th minutes. Nkosi Burgess pulled one back in the 87th minute but the Eastern New York side couldn’t equalize despite a number of close chances at the end.
For complete statistics, including goal scorers, please visit the schedule, standings and scores website.
Each year brings about new challenges and highlights the motivation and commitment of these youth as they continue pursuing their dreams of being one of the best youth soccer teams in the United States. The National Championships are the final step of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and are open to any US Youth Soccer member. The U.S. Soccer Federation initiated the open youth championships with the James P. McGuire Cup (U19 Boys), the oldest trophy in youth sport in 1935. Since its creation in 1974, US Youth Soccer has added 13 divisions to the National Championship tournament, with the U13 Boys and Girls divisions added in 2013 to reach the current format.
Annually, the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation’s top collegiate and professional coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.
Live broadcasts of more than 80 games, daily highlight videos, photos, reports and complete results from the tournament are available here.
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Source/Photo Credit: US Youth Soccer
