Youth Soccer Spotlight: 2015 Finalists Look to Take the Title in 2016
San Diego’s Albion SC is well known as one of the top youth soccer clubs across the nation for its dedication to providing the highest level of player development and championship youth soccer teams. A youth soccer club that successfully combines igniting the passion for soccer with excellent training, Albion SC consistently produces elite players and fields highly successful teams. Southern California typically produces the top soccer teams in the country and is a hotbed for talent.
Led by strong leadership, San Diego’s Albion SC has a well known development program that has produced resounding success across multiple age brackets. With a deep understanding of what it takes to groom homegrown players on both the boys and girls side, Albion SC has a consistent record of developing championship teams.
Coached by Ernie Romero, San Diego’s Albion SC Girls U16 White is making back-to-back trips to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. This years Championships will be held on July 25-31 in Frisco, Texas and will host the nations most elite soccer teams in the Under 14 through Under 18 age groups. US Youth Soccer announced the qualified teams following completion of league play on March 18-20 at the Betty Wilson Soccer Complex in Las Vegas. A total of 48 teams competed in front of national team scouts and collegiate coaching staff over the 3 days to earn a top two finishers spot in each division and advance to the championships.
Albion GU16 is eager to get back to the championships following a 1-0 double overtime defeat in the 2015 semi-finals to eventual champions Legends FC. “Following that loss, standing on the field, we made the decision to do whatever it took to get back to the championships,” said Romero. “These girls are incredible athletes, matched with a desire and drive to win. I had no doubt we would be in the position we are in today.”
The girls started off the National League qualification in December with a 3-0 win against Tennessee SC 18 (TN), followed by 2-1 win over United FA 00 Premier (GA). The girls then defeated Midwest United 00 Royal (MI) 3-1, followed by a 0-0 tie against FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E) to finished the December qualifiers.
The girls came back in March with a 1-4 win over Sparta United 00 Premier (UT), 1-1 tie against CUP Gold 99/00 (OH-S) and 0-3 loss to Carlsbad Elite 99 (CA-S) earning the second finishers spot for the division, advancing them to the championships.
Midfielder Raemi DeWent placed second in U16 goals for the tournament, with a total of 5 goals.
The Albion GU18 won California Regional League and will be chasing the same entry into the National Championship through the Far West Regionals.
The girls will have to work very hard to secure a National Championship, but they are clearly up for the challenge.
