Final Matches Set at US Youth Soccer Region II Championships
Championships matches are set in South Dakota as teams hope to earn a berth to the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships held next month.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the U13 through U19/20 Boys and Girls age groups, as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the U15 through U19/20 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 96 teams.
Youth Soccer News: After four days of action, the final teams are set to compete in the 2017 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D. Winners in the U13 through U19/20 Boys and Girls matches will win a Regional title and earn a berth to the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships held July 24-30 at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas.
Of the teams competing in the finals, there are six from Michigan, five from Ohio South, four from Nebraska, three each from Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois, as well as one each from Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio North and Wisconsin.
Six of the seven returning 2016 Region II champions are still in the running and will take part in the championship match once again. The list of remaining 2016 champions includes U15 Girls CUP 02 Gold (OH-S), U16 Girls Nationals Union 01 Black (MI), U17 Girls Midwest United FC 00 Royal (MI), U19/20 Girls EGA Maroon 98 (NE), U18 Boys OP Green (OH-S) and U19/20 Boys OP 97-98 Green (OH-S).
In the U13 Girls age group, CUP 04 Gold (OH-S) recorded a 2-0 overtime victory against FC Pride 04 Elite Red (IN) to advance to the championship match. Head coach Kurt Fischer describes CUP’s hard work that went into Tuesday’s semifinal.
“It’s always important to know that we can win in multiple ways,” said Fischer. “This game was more of a grind, and we were expecting it to be this way because it was the semifinal. It provides a different set of challenges, and our girls were up for it. We’re proud of them for it.”
Going into the final match, Fischer takes a step back to realize the progress that the team has made.
“It’s a very new team. They come together from very different groups,” Fischer said. “We always thought we were good, and to see the growth and development over the months, it’s been amazing. Credit to them, they’ve put the work in every step.”
