Final match-ups set at US Youth Soccer Region I Championships

Barboursville, W.Va. (Via US Youth Soccer) – Final matchups have been set as teams battled in rainy semifinal games today at the 2016 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships at turf fields around Barboursville, W.Va.

Five 2015 champions have advanced to defend their title, while two others were knocked out in today’s semifinals.

Girls 
U-14G HBC Impact 00 (NY-E)* 3-0 CFC North Wolves (CT)
U-16G Beadling Bombers (PA-W) 0-2 FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E)*
U-17G Beachside SC (CT) 0-2 Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W)*

Boys
U-14B Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD)* 2-1 Rochester Futbol Club (NY-W
U-15B McLean 00 Green (VA)* 0-1 (PKs) LMSC Sabertooth Rats (PA-E)
U-16B Fewster FC (MD) (CT)* 3-1 Baltimore Celtic SC Christos (MD)
U-18B Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E) 1-0 Baltimore Celtic 97/98 (MD)*
*2015 Regional Champion

2016 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships Finals Preview

Under-12 Boys 8v8: Bethesda SC Blue 03 (MD) vs. LMVSC Patriots Red (VA)

The Under-12 8v8 Boys final features two teams that don’t give up a lot of goals. Bethesda SC Blue 03 (MD) and LMVSC Patriots Red (VA) only allowed a combined four goals against the entire tournament. Bethesda scored 21 goals in group play and will be looking to keep the fireworks going. With both teams perfect so far at 5-0, only one team will leave Region I Championships undefeated and as the Regional Champion.

Under-12 Boys: Cedar Stars Academy (NJ) vs. South Central Premier 03/04 (CT)
The Under-12 Boys matchup features a rematch of Day 2 of preliminary play where Cedar Stars Academy (NJ) defeated South Central Premier 03/04 (CT) 6-0. Both teams scored five goals in their semifinal matches and will look to keep the scoring rolling as they move into the final game. Cedar Stars allowed its first goal in the semifinals but will look to repeat the success they had against the Connecticut side during group play.

Under-13 Boys: SDA (NY-W) vs. Empire United Soccer Academy – Rochester (NY-W)
The Under-13 Boys final will be a clash between two New York – West teams. SDA is representing the Region I Champion league while Empire United is the State Champion. Empire United advanced to semifinals via head-to-head tiebreaker with PDA Drogba (NJ) while SDA swept its group with three straight wins. Regardless of the outcome, a team from New-York West will be participating in the US Youth Soccer National Championships in their first year of eligibility.

Under-14 Boys: Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD) vs. FCV Ashburn Elite 01 (VA)
Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD) let in two goals its first game, but hasn’t been scored on since, going undefeated through four games. FCV Ashburn Elite 01 (VA) will look to spoil Baltimore’s streak and win the title in its first trip to Regionals. Regardless of the result, FCV Ashburn will advance to Nationals with Baltimore Darby already qualifying via the US Youth Soccer National League.

Under-15 Boys: HMMS Eagle FC 00 Titans (PA-E) vs. LMSC Sabertooth Rats (PA-E)
HMMS Eagle FC 00 Titans (PA-E) and LMSC Sabertooth Rats (PA-E) will meet in a clash of Eastern Pennsylvania teams Tuesday in the Under-15 Boys final. Both sides scored 13 goals in group play and allowed only three total goals combined. LMSC will lean on Philip Burckhardt, who is tied for the leading scorer in the age group with six goals, to help lead them to victory.

Under-16 Boys: Loudoun Red (VA) vs. Fewster FC (MD)
After not playing in Regionals last year, Loudoun Red (VA) has made the most of its trip by advancing to the finals where they will meet last year’s Champions Fewster FC (MD). Loudoun advanced to semifinals from Group A via a goal differential tiebreaker with three teams. Fewster now has nine straight wins in West Virginia since 2015 and will be looking to repeat as champions and defend their title and return to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

Under-17 Boys: Loudoun 98 Red (VA) vs. Pipeline Black (MD)
Both Under-17 Boys teams are coming into the finals with perfect records. With 23 goals and only three goals allowed against combined in group play, you can expect a great matchup in the final. Loudoun 98 Red (VA) needed kicks from the mark after a great back and forth game with Match Fit Academy (NJ). Pipeline will be a tough game for the Virginia team as the Maryland side defeated last year’s champion Penn Fusion 98 (PA-E) 2-0 in group play

Under-18 Boys: Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E) vs. Dix Hills Elite (NY-E)
Dix Hills Elite (NY-E) fell just short of semifinals last year but made the best of its chance today with a 1-0 win over Ironbound Premier Strikers (NJ). Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E) made it to the finals last year and lost 1-0 and will look to overcome the hurdle this year and claim the Region I title. No matter the result, both teams will be advancing to National Championships as Lehigh Valley has already qualified via National League.

Under-19 Boys: Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E) (VA) vs Baltimore Celtic 96/97 (MD)
Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E) advanced to the semifinals after going undefeated through Group C while Baltimore Celtic 96/97 (MD) advanced to the semifinals via the wildcard slot. Smithtown, through four games, has only allowed one goal and will look to shut down a Baltimore Celtic team that is averaging over 2 goals per game. Smithtown defeated Baltimore in Under-18 group play in last year’s Region I Championship and will look to repeat the result.

Under-12 Girls 8v8: Allegheny Force FC (PA-W) vs BRYC Elite (VA)
Allegheny Force FC (PA-W) defeated wildcard Greater Binghamton United FC 03 Select (NY-W) 5-1 to advance to Tuesday’s final where they’ll face BRYC Elite (VA). BRYC defeated NJ Crush Fire (NJ) in kicks from the mark to make their way to the final.

Under-12 Girls: SDFC Galaxy Yellow (NJ) vs Smithtown Panthers (NY-E)
SDFC Galaxy Yellow (NJ) went perfect through group play and didn’t allow a goal in the process. They defeated Smithtown Panthers (NY-E) 1-0 in group play and will be looking to replicate that result in the final. The only goal that Smithtown allowed in group play was to SDFC. After netting five goals in their semifinal match, Smithtown will look to keep the ball rolling and try to turn around their previous result with SDFC. It should be an exciting match with one team leaving as the Under-12 Girls Region I Champions.

Under-13 Girls: NJ Rush 02 Blue (NJ) vs North United Rush (PA-W)
North United Rush (PA-W) has scored 17 goals through four games and will look to continue the scoring when it faces NJ Rush 02 Blue (NJ). Like its competition, NJ Rush 02 Blue (NJ) also went undefeated through group play, and scored a big 6-0 win in its semifinal game. Both teams will be hoping for a shot at Nationals in their first year of eligibility for Nationals.

Under-14 Girls: BRYC 01 Elite (VA) vs South Shore Select Elite (MA)
The Under-14 Girls final will have a BRYC 01 Elite (VA) team that will be looking to hand South Shore Select Elite (MA) its first loss of the tournament. On the flip side, South Shore will look to continue its hot-streak. The Massachusetts side stampeded through group play scoring 30 goals and allowing none. It took kicks from the mark to separate them from Empire United (NY-W) in the semifinals.

Under-15 Girls: Princeton SA IGFA 00/01 (NJ) vs HBC Impact 00 (NY-E)
Through five games, Princeton SA IGFA 00/01 (NJ) has scored 20 goals ­­­and allowed just one goal. Their opponent, HBC Impact 00 (NY-E), also went undefeated and shut out its semifinal opponent, CFC North Wolves (CT), 3-0 to move to the final. HBC Impact will be playing to defend their 2015 Region I Championships title.

Under-16 Girls: Syracuse Development Academy 99/00 (NY-W) vs. FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E)
FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E) will be defending their 2015 US Youth Soccer Region I title against Syracuse Development Academy 99/00 (NY-W) in Tuesday’s final. SDA got knocked out in the semifinals last year and will be looking to make the most of its first title game appearance. Penn Strikers, will be playing in its third straight final game, and looking for a second consecutive title after falling just short in 2014.

Under-17 Girls: FC Copa Celeste (NJ) vs Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W) 
The Under-17 Girls final will be the testing ground to see if Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W) can defend their 2015 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships title. Last year, Beadling won the final 1-0 and will be looking to replicate that success. FC Copa Celeste, defeated three-time National Finalist, YMS Xplosion (PA-E) in its semifinal and will be hoping to turn that success into a trip to the National Championships.

Under-18 Girls: Beadling SC Wolfpack (PA-W) vs Syracuse Development Academy 97/98 (NY-W)

Beadling SC Wolfpack (PA-W) is back into a final after last winning a regional title in 2014. After sweeping their group, Beadling will look to stay undefeated and return to Nationals. Syracuse Development Academy 97/98 (NY-W) lost in last year’s final 2-3 and will be hoping to turn around that fortune. SDA has an uphill battle as it will have to move their group play loss to Beadling into the rearview and focus on the goal of becoming Regional Champions and advancing to Nationals.

Under-19 Girls: McLean 96 Green (VA) vs Vincent United Pride (PA-E)
In a rematch of group play, McLean 96 Green (VA) will hope to repeat it’s 8-2 victory over Vincent United Pride (PA-E). Vincent United defeated Far Post Premier (VT) in the last day of group play 3-1 to seal its place in the final. With a win Far Post would have advanced to the final but, the Pennsylvania side got the job done and will look to rebound from the day one game against McLean.

Here is a list of the finals schedule by field and times: