Champions crowned at 2018 US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup

Schedules, Scores and Standings | Photo Album
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WEST CHESTER, Ohio (Via US Youth Soccer) – The 2018 US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup came to a finish on Monday in West Chester, Ohio. The five-day event, which kicked off June 14, crowned 10 champions who also secured berths in the 2018 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup, which will be played from July 11-15 at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Ind.

Illinois led the way with seven champions. They are followed by Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas each with two champions and South Dakota with one champion.

The event featured more than 140 US Youth Soccer boys and girls teams competing for a regional title and a chance to advance to the 2018 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup, July 11-15 in Westfield, Ind.

Winning the age division means not only being crowned regional champions, but the teams have also earned a berth in the National Presidents Cup. For the 14U Boys Shadow Premier they are one of those 12 teams moving on to represent their region.

“It’s been a very wonderful week to get the chance to achieve a goal that we set after state,” head coach Eno Obot said. I know it is going to be very exciting for our town going home with the trophy and having gotten the chance to represent the state of Illinois in regionals and now doing the same thing at nationals.”

Ohio South Youth Soccer Association hosted the event, and 13 other State Associations represented include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio North, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup offers teams the challenge of experiencing different types of play by competing from state to regional to national levels. The Presidents Cup provides teams with a progressive, competitive experience that highlights competition, camaraderie and community.

Championship Round Recaps:

13U Boys
The 13U Boys crown went to Sporting Wichita (KS) against Cincinnati United North 05 Elite I (OH-S). The game was a back and forth battle throughout the first half with neither team finding the back of the net. At halftime the score was tied at zero. Jorge Franco netted the first goal just five minutes into the second half to give Sporting Wichita the lead. In the 57^thminute, Sporting Wichita’s Israel Pena scored to give them a 2-0 lead. With just 10 minutes left in the game Sporting Wichita scored when Vitor Geromel netted one passed the goalie. Sporting Wichita held on to win 3-0.

13U Girls
DASC 2005 (SD) claimed the 13U Girls final after winning 4-2 against Columbus United 05 A (OH-S). The scoring began just midway through the first half when Elsie Odney scored the first goal of the game in the 18^thminute and her second goal of the game just five minutes later to give DASC the 2-0 lead. Seven minutes after Odney gave DASC the 2-0 lead, Hailee Christensen extended the lead to three. Ava Otey reduced the lead to two just before halftime with a goal in the 35th minute. DASC took a 2-1 lead into halftime. Early in the second half, Abaigeal Bell scored her first goal of the game to bring Columbus within one. DASC came back to extend the lead to two in the 48th minute after Christensen scored her second goal of the game. Columbus kept the fight going until the final whistle but DASC held on to preserve the win.

14U Boys
Shadow Premier FC (IL) began its final match against CUSA Crew SC NPL slowly. CUSA put the early pressure on Shadow with multiple chances to score but Shadow held strong defensively to keep the game knotted at zero. The teams went to halftime all tied at zero a piece. Coming out the half, Shadow brought more energy and fought hard. Finally, in the 73rd minute of a scoreless game, Isaac Reveles scored to give Shadow the lead. They held on to the slim lead to earn the win for the 14U Boys group.

14U Girls
Iowa Rush (IA) took the 14U Girls final against CCK FC (MO). Iowa took the lead late in the first half in the 28th minute off a goal from Kennedy Macke. They took the 1-0 lead into halftime. Just eight minutes into the second half, Cadence Compton increased Iowa’s lead to two. In the 57th minute, Makenna West scored to give Iowa a 3-0 lead. Just five minutes later, Marin Pettigrew netted a goal to give Iowa the 4-0 lead and secure the win.

15U Boys
03 Sporting Wichita Elite (KS) took home the 15U Boys final with a win against Columbus United SC (OH-S). Sporting Wichita came out strong but both teams were held scoreless until late in the first half, when Faisal Arshad found the back of the net in the 37th minute to give Sporting Wichita the 1-0 lead heading into halftime. Just five minutes in to the second half, Muntader Almaliky scored to increase the lead for Sporting Wichita. Abdullah Ahmed increased the lead to three just eight minutes after Almaliky. Sporting Wichita went on to win 3-0.

15U Girls
The 15U Girls final match between MN Thunder Academy 03 Hartwell (MN) and IP Aces Blue (IL) started quick off the whistle. Just four minutes in to the game, Avery Larson put a shot on goal that found the back of the net to give IP the early 1-0 lead. IP kept the pressure on in the first half but went to halftime up by one. MN Thunder kept fighting in the second half yet were unable to find the back of the net. IP was able to hold MN Thunder scoreless and win the final 1-0.

16U Boys
FC United 2002 Select Black (IL) squared off against St. Louis Gallagher White (MO) in the 16U Boys final. The early portion of the game saw back and forth play. In the 28th minute, Alex White was able to take advantage of a chance and give FC United the 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Luis Garduno netted a goal to give FC United an early 2-0 lead that they took to halftime. St. Louis made a push in the second half but FC United defended the lead to hold on for the win.

16U Girls
Indy Premier (IN) pulled out a close win against Maplebrook (MN) in the 16U Girls final. Indy controlled the early part of the game, but Maplebrook kept fighting to keep it close. Neither team was able to score in the first half, leaving the game tied at zero. Early in the second half, Indy was able to take advantage of a scoring chance and net the first goal of the game. Megan Mills gave Indy the lead in the 63rd minute as she scored her sixth goal of the game. Maplebrook was unable to mount a comeback and Indy won the final 1-0.

17U Boys
In the 17U Boys group, the final match between Chicago Rush 2001 Select (IL) and Millennium Soccer Academy 01 Black (IN) came down to the final 10 minutes of play. The game went back and forth early with each team battling hard yet neither team could take advantage of its opportunities. At halftime, the score was knotted at zero. In the second half, it was more back and forth play. In the 81^stminute Brandon Palid found the back of the net for the first goal of the game and his fourth of the tournament to give Chicago the late lead. Chicago held on to the slim lead to win the 17U Boys final.

18U Boys
The 18U Boys champion went to Iowa Rush (IA) after the final match against Lou FUSZ SC-Cawsey 00 White (MO). Iowa came out early and controlled the beginning of the game, getting scoring chances throughout the early going. In the early minutes of the first half, Iowa earned back-to-back corner kicks leading to shots on goal but could not capitalize. The game went scoreless into the half. Riley Wood scored the first goal of the match in the 55th minute to give Iowa the 1-0 lead. Just five minutes later, Kolby Raineri scored to increase the lead to two. Raineri headed in his second goal of the game in the 63rd minute to give Iowa the 3-0 lead. Iowa held on to the lead en route to the win.