2015 Jefferson Cup Preview: U-17 Boys Championship Division
With the 2015 Jefferson Cup quickly approaching, SoccerWire.com has started an article series previewing the top divisions for the showcase age groups. See below for a look at the U-17 Boys Championship Division.
2015 Jefferson Cup Top Divisions: Girls | Boys
*Note: Jefferson Cup teams, please send us college commitments and Players to Watch by adding a SocceWire.com Player Profile. Click on the team names or logos below to view the Report-a-Score.com team page.
2015 Jefferson Cup Championship Division Previews
Girls: U-18 | U-17 | U-16
Boys: U-18 | U-16 | U-15
Jacksonville FC 97/98 Elite
Coach: Joey Barrett
JFC Elite finished first in the highly competitive Florida NPL in 2014 and won the Disney Showcase Qualifier, earning a trip back to Orlando in December. The 2014 Florida Cup finalists would go on to reach the semifinals of the Disney Showcase. Two of JFC’s top players include: forward Christopher Degance (2016), winger Nikita Kostrubsky (2016)
FSA FC Elite 97
Coach: Steve Stokoe
The 2014 EDP Spring League 1st Division North champions also reached the Connecticut State Cup final in 2014. Two of FSA FC Elite 97’s top players include forward Robert Place (College of the Holy Cross commit) and center defender Riley Strassner (2016).
Marin FC 98 Blue
Coach: Hemmet El Ouassaidi
Marin FC has established itself as a regular contender in the highly-competitive NorCal NPL, finishing first in the 2013-2014 Spring League and sixth in the Winter League. They also won the NorCal State Cup Knockout Phase in the U-16 Premier Cup in 2014.
Arlington SA Impact Red
Coach: Amos Magee
The US Youth Soccer National League Blue Division leaders are no strangers to top competition, regularly facing off with some of the nation’s top teams in the soccer hotbed of Northern Virginia. Joseph Faddoul and Taofik Lucas-Walker lead the team with three goals each in National League play this season. Arlington won the Bethesda Boys Showcase and finished second in the Region I Premier League in 2014.
Continental FC Premier
Coach: Joseph Levan
CFC finished first in the Region I Premier League in 2014 and reached the semifinals of the Players Showcase in Rhode Island. Michael Narzikul and Jake Shefsky have each found the net in US Youth Soccer National League play this season.
Carolina Elite SA 97 Premier
Coach: Nick Finotti
The South Carolina State Cup champions also finished first in the South Carolina State Challenge League in 2014 and reached the semifinals of the Jefferson Cup U-16 Championship Division. Defender Jacob Arnold (2016), Jose Antonio Cerra (2015), forward/midfielder Ryan Standridge (2016), goalkeeper Cortland Young (2016) and center midfielder Nima Ghorbani (2016) are among the team’s top players.
Dix Hills Elite
Coach: Phil Murray
US Youth Soccer National Championships semifinalist Dix Hills Elite has finished at or near the top of virtually every high level event they have entered in the past year. They won their division in the 2014 Annandale Premier Cup and reached the final of the New York East State Cup, while also finished first in the Region I Premier League and fourth in the EDP Spring League 1st Division North. James Contino and Christopher McAuliff have each netted two goals in National League play this season.
Virginia Legacy SC Elite
Coach: Bobby O’Brien
Representing the Club Champions League, Virginia Legacy is coming off a Virginia State Cup title, an IMG Cup title and an Elite Division championship in the 2014 Jefferson Cup. Playmaking midfielder Juan Garcia and goalkeeper Jay Fox are among the team’s array of top players.
Lower Merion SC Magic
Coach: Thomas Carlin
Lower Merion captured the coveted Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup title in 2014, beating out the nationally-renowned South Central PA Lions in the final. Magic reached the Disney Showcase semifinals back in December and finished first in the Region I Colonial League in 2014.
Sporting Blue Valley 97-98
Coach: Angelo Catenacci
Along with winning the Kansas State Cup title in 2014, Sporting BV captured the U-17 Gold Division championship at the renowned San Diego Surf Cup. They reached the final in one of the top divisions of the Disney Showcase back in December, earning impressive wins over Beach FC Black (CA-S) and Cincinnati United Premier “CUP” Gold. Center midfielder Will Laufer (2016) and forward Cole McLagan (2016) are among the team’s top players.
Charlotte United FC 97 Gold
Coach: Michael Magno
The North Carolina State Cup champions were runners-up in the 2014 Jefferson Cup Championship Division, where they earned quality wins over Real Colorado National and Carolina Elite SA 97 Premier. Charlotte also reached the quarterfinals of the Region III Southern Championships in June.
Empire Revolution SA Buffalo Blue 97/98
Coach: John Lawrence
Reigning New York West State Cup champion Empire Revolution is coming off a Bethesda Thanksgiving Tournament title, a first place finish in the New York Thruway League and will defend their Jefferson Cup Championship Division title in March. Empire Revolution earned a sixth place finish in the 2014 Region I Premier League as well.
