Champions crowned at 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer national championships
Two teams each from Virginia and Florida won titles at the 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer national championships this weekend at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C., where the country’s the top teams in the Under-16 through Under-18 boys and Under-16 through Under-19 girls age groups met to conclude the final stage of the 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer national championship series. After this week’s three days of preliminary play, the top two teams played today for their respective national title.
Last night, the Under-14 through Under-15 Boys and Girls national championships were played in addition to the 77th annual James P. McGuire Cup televised nationally on FOX Soccer. The complete recap of Saturday’s games is available here.
Under-16 Boys: Michigan Jaguars 96 Green (MI)
Under-16 Girls: BRYC 95 Elite (VA)
Under-17 Boys: Galaxy 94/95 Blue (IL)
Under-17 Girls: VSA Heat Blue (VA)
Under-18 Boys: Florida Rush Nike (FL)
Under-18 Girls: FC Penn Strikers (E-PA)
Under-19 Girls: CCSC SOL (FL)
Under-16 Girls
BRYC 95 Elite (VA) claimed the Under-16 Girls National Championship 1-0 over MVLA Lightning (CA-N), becoming the first team to score on the Californians this week and upending MVLA’s hopes to regain the championship they won in 2010. Adrienne Maday scored the game winning goal in the 71st minute, joining teammate Kahla Seymour in a five-way tie for the scoring lead. BRYC came full circle this season, capturing state, regional and national titles after a last place finish in the National League.
Under-17 Girls
VSA Heat Blue (VA) put on a dominating performance in the Under-17 Girls championship game, defeating Legends FC 94 (CA-S), 6-0. The two National League foes battled to a 0-0 draw during league play, with Legends claiming the league title in the end. But VSA could do no wrong today as they took a 3-0 lead within the first 11 minutes and never looked back. After a Legends own goal in the 5th minute, Ashley Herndon (James Madison) struck in the 9th and 11th minutes to move her total to four on the week and take top scoring honors. Daniela Neves (West Virginia) added a fourth in the 33rd and Vanessa Kovar (South Carolina) and Lindsay Egbers (Richmond) tallied two minutes apart in the second half to complete the scoring for VSA.
Under-18 Girls
FC Pennsylvania Strikers (E-PA) completed a trophy sweep this season, claiming titles in state cup, Region I Premier League, Region I Championships, National League and now the National Championships after they broke open a tight game versus Brentwood SC 94 Premier (TN) to win 6-0. Daija Griffin (South Carolina) led FC Penn with a brace to become the leading scorer in the division with four goals on the week with strikes in the 17th and 80th. Cheyenne Spade (North Carolina State) opened the scoring in the 9th minute and completed her double in the 77th, while Gina DiTaranto (Delaware) and Stevi Parker (South Carolina) added second half goals.
Under-19 Girls
CCSC Sol (FL) took home the Under-19 Girls championship after a 2-1 shootout victory over Scorpions Elite (MA). Regulation ended 0-0 but overtime saw plenty of drama as Theresa Diederich (Alabama) converted a penalty kick in the 18th minute of extra time for Sol, only to have Scorpions equalize four minutes later from Jessica Clinton (Georgetown). The game was decided in a penalty shootout where Sol prevailed 6-5. Sol keeper Kylie Wilson (West Florida) saved Scorpions’ second penalty attempt and Rachel Buffalo (Mercer) scored on the 7th attempt before Scorpions last shooter struck the post to deliver Sol the title.
Under-16 Boys
Michigan Jaguars claimed the U-16 Boys Larry Harmon Cup with a 2-0 victory over CESA 95 Premier (SC) Sunday. The Jaguars had their sights set on this title game since they fell 3-1 to Chicago Fire Jrs (IL) in the 2011 final. Much like the 2011 game, the Jaguars got on the board early, as Nathan McLean pounced on a knock down off his team’s long throw in the box to notch a 1-0 lead. Late in the game, CESA looked to equalize with numerous threatening opportunities and earning free kicks in the attacking third. However, CESA was unable to capitalize in front of a large South Carolina crowd and Jaguars’ Jason Carmack slotted home a goal off a counter attack in the 79th minute to secure the win and the championship. The Jaguars won every single game in their run to the regional and national championship.
Under-17 Boys
In a battle between two Illinois rivals and National League competitors, Galaxy 94/94 Blue (IL) beat Raiders FC Premier (IL) 4-1 to raise the Don Greer Cup. Patrick Flynn recorded a first half brace to give Galaxy a 2-0 lead at half. Raiders FC pulled one back thanks to Joel Leon in the 62nd minute and continued to press for an equalizer. With numbers committed forward, Raiders was left exposed at the back and Galaxy added late goals by Byron Perez and Madisen Gonzalez to secure the win.
Under-18 Boys
In 2011, Florida Rush Nike (FL) felt like they were casual observers in their first trip to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. This year, they claimed the U-18 Boys national title, defeating defending champs Grand Rapids Crew Jrs (MI) in the final, 2-1. Grand Rapids’ quest to repeat looked on track in the 12th minute as Charles Constantino (Butler) collected a driven cross and buried his shot far post. That lead held until the 78th minute as Jeremy Tilley ran onto a ball over the top and slotted his effort past the oncoming Grand Rapids keeper Chase Rau (Wisconsin) for the equalizer. For the second year in a row, Grand Rapids conceded a late equalizer to force overtime in the title game. But the repeat was not meant to be, as Jean Rivaroli (North Florida) converted a penalty kick just six minutes into the first overtime period to give Florida Rush the national championship.
2012 National Champions Crowned Saturday
Under-14 Boys | Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S)
Under-14 Girls | MSC Coyotes Green (MD)
Under-15 Boys | Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S)
Under-15 Girls | Legends FC (CA-S)
Under-19 Boys | Crew Juniors (OH-S)
On Saturday, in the U-14 Boys final, defensive stops repeatedly shut down offensive attacks between Sunrise Elite 97/98 (FL) and Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S). The 70 minutes of regulation play ended with neither team breaking through for a goal and the title game headed into extra time. Strong defensive play and goalkeeping thwarted all scoring efforts and the champion was decided by spot kicks. Going into the shootout, Santa Barbara switched keepers and Eric Contreras came up with two saves for his team. All four Santa Barbara shooters stepped up and buried their shots to claim the William J. Goaziou Cup for the Cal South side.
For the second time in two years, Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S) are national champions, notching a 1-0 victory over Challenger Crew Jrs (OH-N). For the second time in two years, Fullerton secured the title without conceding a single goal. Fullerton’s goal came when George Castro received the ball with his back to goal in the 16th minute, spun his defender and beat he keeper far post. Castro netted a tournament-leading four goals this week. Saturday’s game was a much closer contest than the game between these two sides on the first day of play, which Fullerton won 4-0. Challenger teammates Julian Castro and Nick Costa received the Golden Ball and Golden Glove, respectively.
Under the lights, the nationally televised U-19 Boys James P. McGuire Cup final between Crew Jrs (OH-S) and GSA Phoenix Red (GA) provided class and drama for the more than 2,300 spectators in the stadium and FOX Soccer viewers around the country. GSA took the lead in the 36th minute off the boot of Hugh Pringle (Syracuse) who buried home a loose ball in the box off a set piece to give Georgia a 1-0 lead at intermission. As rain poured down at the beginning of the second half, Crew Jrs poured on the pressure—dictating the run of play and creating dangerous chances. Crew Jrs equalized in the 55th minute, as Jordan Tyler (Penn State) checked to the ball, spun his defender to create space near the top of the 18 and unleashed a low, driven shot. Just 10 minutes later, GSA failed the effectively clear the ball out of their defensive third and William Trapp (Akron) laced a stunning half-volley into the side netting for the game winner.
The U-14 Girls Elmer Ehlers Cup belongs to MSC Coyotes Green (MD) who beat TNFC 98 Azzurri (TN) 2-0 to claim the trophy. The scoreline was a reversal of the 2-0 defeat TNFC dealt MSC on the second day of play. Elizabeth Coletti started the scoring in just the 4th minute for MSC. That goal was the first TNFC had conceded all week. Kristen Bissell added an insurance goal for MSC in the 57th minute and the team kept a clean sheet en route to the victory.
Legends FC (CA-S) earned a 1-0 victory over fellow National League champ Kings Soccer Academy (OH-S) to win the U-15 Girls national championship. Legends’ Ashlee Smith sent a lofted ball into the box that found the head of Peyton Perea. Her effort was deflected, but it bounced back to Perea who knocked it home for the game and national championship winner. The win marks the first national title for Legends FC, who sent four teams to Rock Hill. The club will play for its second title Sunday in the U-17 final.
National Championship Finals Results – Sunday, July 29 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships
Girls Under-16
MVLA Lighting CA-S 0, BRYC 95 Elite (VA) 1
BRYC: Adrienne Maday (71:00)
Girls Under-17
Legends FC 94 CA-S 0, VSA Heat Blue VA 6
VSA: Ashley Herndon (9:00) (11:00), Daniela Neves (33:00), Vanessa Kovar (57:00), Lindsay Egbers (59:00)
Girls Under-18
Brentwood 94 Premier TN 0, FC Penn Strikers PA-E 6
Penn: Cheyenne Spade (9:00) (77:00), Daija Griffin (17:00) (80:00), Gina DiTaranto (63:00), Stevi Parker (65:00)
Girls Under-19
CCSC SOL FL 2, Scorpions Elite MA 1 (7-6 PK)
SOL: Theresa Diederich (108:00)
Scorpions: Jessica Clinton (112:00)
Boys Under-16
CESA 95 Premier SC 0, Michigan Jaguars 96 Green MI 2
Michigan: Nathan McLean (8:00), Jason Carmack (39:00)
Boys Under-17
Galaxy 94/95 Blue IL 4, Raiders FC Premier IL 1
Galaxy: Patrick Flynn (27:00), Patrick Flynn (34:00), Byron Perez (88:00), Madisen Gonzalez (91:00)
Raiders: Joel Leon (62:00)
Boys Under-18
Grand Rapids Crew Jrs MI 1, Florida Rush Nike FL 2
Crew: Chase Rau (12:00)
Rush: Jeremy Tilley (78:00), Jean Rivaroli (96:00)
Championship Finals Results – Saturday, July 28 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships
Girls Under-14
MSC Coyotes Green MD 2, TNFC 98 Azzurri TN 0
MSC: Elizabeth Coletti (4:00), Kristen Bissell (57:00)
Girls Under-15
Legends FC CA-S 1, Kings Soccer Academy OH-S 0
Legends: Peyton Perea (64:00)
Boys Under-14
Santa Barbara SC White CA-S 1, Sunrise Elite 97/98 FL 0
Boys Under-15
Challenger Crew Jrs. Black OH-N 0, Fullerton Rangers 96 White CA-S 1
Fullerton: George Castro (16:00)
Boys Under-19
Crew Juniors OH-S 2, GSA 93 Phoenix Red GA 1
Crew: Hugh Pringle (36:00)
GSA: Jordan Tyler (55:00), William Trapp (66:00)
For a complete list of 2012 Golden Ball and Glove Winners, visit http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/PastNationalChamps/adidasGoldenBootandGloveAwardWinners/.
For complete statistics, please visit http://tournaments.usyouthsoccer.org/events/2012-National-Championships/.
