Bethesda Lions, OBGC Rangers win Region 1 Premier League titles

By Jimmy LaRoue

The Under-14 Bethesda Lions captured the Region I Premier League championship Sunday, defeating Beachside SC of Connecticut 2-1 in the final.

Bethesda dominated the Premier League’s South Division, finishing with a 6-0-1 mark during the regular season and outscoring its opponents 27-3. In the semifinals, Bethesda took down FSA FC Boys U14 Navy of Connecticut 2-1 before its championship win over the North Division leaders.

Bethesda joins the U-14 Girls side Herndon Freedom as Premier League champions.

Next up for Bethesda is the Maryland State Cup finals, where it faces Maryland Rush 97B Nike.

Dallas Cup champions OBGC Rangers U-16 Boys took the Region I Premier League championship over Lehigh Valley United 95 of Pennsylvania in penalties.

After the two teams played to a 3-3 tie through regulation and overtime, the Olney side outpointed LVU 3-0 in penalty kicks. Bethesda SC Revolution fell in the consolation game, 1-0 to Beachside SC.

Rangers went through the regular season without a loss, at 6-0-1, and scored 21 goals and gave up none. Like the Bethesda Lions, Rangers will have little time to rest, as it faces Bethesda Revolution in the Maryland State Cup finals this Sunday.

In U-17 Boys play, AC Bethesda finished second in the South Division of the Region I Premier League at 5-1-1, but fell in the semifinals 3-0 to Manhattan Ajax, and then lost in the consolation match in penalties to PDA Harkes of New Jersey.

SAC United Premier won in the consolation match of the U-18 Region I Premier League championships, defeating Black Watch Midlothians 6-2 after going 5-1-1 in the regular season.

PWSI Courage 96 Red fell in the U-15 Girls championship game to Match Fit Chelsea Colchesters of New Jersey 3-1, while PSC Baltimore beat Oakwood Black III of Connecticut 2-1 in the consolation game. Both PWSI Courage 96 Red and PSC Baltimore went 5-0-2 in the regular season.

BRYC 95 Elite and PWSI Courage 95 Gold took the top two spots in the U-16 Girls South Division, going 5-1-1 and 4-0-3, respectively, with BRYC taking the championship over PDA Ginga 2-1, and PWSI Courage taking the consolation game, 2-1 over Alleycat Lynx of New York.

In U-17 Girls, VSA Heat Blue finished atop the South Division at 5-0-2 and won its semifinal match before falling to SDFC 09 Lynx of New Jersey 2-1.