Championship Division standings take shape at Jeff Cup Boys Showcase

Division standings began to solidify on Saturday at the Jefferson Cup Boys Showcase Weekend. See below for a look at how the Championship Divisions unfolded.

U-16

Penn Fusion ECNL 2002 (Rhodes) find themselves at the top of the table (2-0-0, 18 points) after their 3-2 win over the Concorde Fire ECNL U16 (1-1-0, 11 points) on Saturday. Hot on their heels is OCYS 2002B ECNL (0-2-0, 2 points) who put four past Princeton SA Premier Elite (0-2-0, 1 point)  in their 4-0 win. The two sides are the highest scoring sides in the U-16 Championship Division having scored eight and six goals respectively through two matches. The two sides will meet on Sunday at 8am at West Creek Field #6.

Both sides will also have to keep an eye on GPS MA Elite Red 02 Boys (2-0-0, 17 points) who are also undefeated through two matches after their 2-0 win over Levittown Gunners (0-2-0, 2 points). After a tough 3-2 win over NCFC 02 Elite (0-2-0, 1 point) on Friday, credit to GPS’ defense for helping their side earn their first shutout of the tournament.

RESULTS
Penn Fusion ECNL 2002 (Rhodes) 3- Concorde Fire ECNL U16 2
GPS MA Elite Red 02 Boys 1-Levittown Gunners 2002 0
OCYS 2002B ECNL 4 -Princeton SA Premier Elite 02 Orange 0
Delaware Rush 02 Boys 2-NCFC 02 Elite 1

U-17

NCFC 01 Elite (1-0-1, 13 points) kept their Championship hopes alive pulling off a 1-1 draw with Penn Fusion SA ECNL 2001 (Rhodes) (0-0-2, 9 points). Penn took the lead early when midfielder Michael Hewes hammered a shot from just beyond the eighteen yard box in the eleventh minute. His shot went go past NCFC goalkeeper Jaime Boegel, and towards the far right post. But just before halftime, NCFC matched Penn with an impressive goal of their own, when forward Emmanual Petrov‘s high curling shot hit off of the far post and go into the back of the net. In the second half Boegel and PFA goalkeeper William Boyes took center stage with both goalkeepers making several key stops to preserve their side’s point in the draw.

SCUOLA Calcio Inter USA 2001 Academy (2-0-0, 19 points) are at the top of the table after their 3-2 win over Manhattan SC Emelec (0-2-0, 3 points). While the scoreline indicates a bit of a goalfest the first half was a tight defensive battle with both sides playing very conservatively. In the second half though their respective attacks came alive, with Inter matching every goal by Emelec with one of their own. Inter’s six goals is the second behind only Richard Strikers 01 Elite (17) for most goals in the U-17 Championship.

Speaking of the Strikers (1-0-1, 15 points) they were also part of a high-scoring match at West Creek Park on Saturday afternoon, earning a late 2-2 draw with Concorde Fire ECNL U17 (0-0-2, 9 points). Concorde leaped out to an early lead thanks to a goal from midfielder Jose Perez-Lopez in the 11th minute. The Concorde defense was tested in the first half but credit to goalkeeper Matthew Shaw, whose calming presence kept the Fire defense organized. In the second half though the Strikers attack came alive with Luke Lowry hitting the back of the net in the 55th minute. The Fire took the lead again minutes later thanks to a goal from Donovan Sewell. But Richmond equalized again thanks to a goal from midfielder Austin King late in the second half.

RESULTS
STA-MUSC 2001B NPL 3-Vaughan Azzurri 2
Strikers FC Southbay Black 2001 0 -Delaware FC 01 Boys 0
Manhattan SC Emelec 2- SCUOLA Calcio Inter USA 2001 Academy 3
Penn Fusion SA ECNL 2001 (Rhodes) 1-NCFC 01 Elite 1
GPS MA Elite Red 01 Boys 1-SJEB Rush 01B Academy 0
Richmond Strikers 01 Elite 2-Concorde Fire ECNL U17 2

U-18

The Delaware Rush 00 Boys (1-0-1, 13 points) earned their first victory in the U-18 Championship with a decisive 2-0 victory over Marin FC B00 Blue (0-2-0, 0 points). Jack Leonard set the tone for the Delaware attack notching his side’s first goal early in the first half. Ingram Dillingham added an insurance goal in the 67th minute, a low effort just beyond the reach of Marin goalkeeper Erik Portillo. While Marin did press in the second half Rush goalkeeper Emmett McCloskey held them at bay and earned his first clean sheet of the tournament.

With their win Delaware moved into third place just four points behind first-place NCFC 00 Elite (2-0-0, 17 points). NCFC maintained their perfect record on Saturday after defeating GPS NH 2000 NPL (0-1-1, 5 points). NCFC and Delaware will play one another on Sunday at 11:20 a.m. at West Creek Field #5.

In other action in the U-18 Championship Spirit United B2000 Elite (2-0-0, 17 points) maintained their own perfect record, and a chance at top spot, with their 2-0 win over STA MUSC 2000B NPL (1-1-0, 8 points). The Spirit defense continued to confound their opponents pulling off their second consecutive shutout. They are the only side in the U-18 Championship to not concede a goal during match-play. They will play GPS MA Elite Red 00 Boys at 9:40 a.m. on Sunday at West Creek #08. While they are tied with NCFC on points, they are behind 4-3 in goals scored.

RESULTS
Spirit United B2000 Elite 2-STA MUSC 2000B NPL 0
GPS NH 2000 NPL 1-NCFC 00 Elite 3
GPS MA Elite Red 00 Boys 3-Virginia Rush 00B 0
Marin FC B00 Blue 0-Delaware Rush 00 Boys 2

U-19

FC Florida Preparatory Academy 1999 (1-0-1, 14 points) on Saturday afternoon that the old adage is true: that it is not how you start a match but rather how you finish it. Despite going down two goals early they buckled and fought for a tough 3-2 win over FC Richmond Magic 99 (0-2-0, 0 points). Richmond took a 2-0 lead into halftime, but Florida came storming back with three unanswered goals from Alex Turner, Castin Schimiliguen, and Valentin Sabella.

Florida’s Sunday opponent, South Carolina United FC 99 Boys Elite (2-0-0, 16 points), held on to second place in the U-19 Championship with a 2-1 win over OGBC Roadrunners Blue 99 (0-1-1, 6 points). They earned their first victory on Friday, a 1-0 result over Richmond. Florida and South Carolina will play at 8 a.m. at West Creek Field #4.

Meanwhile West Florida Flames 99B Elite Brandon (2-0-0, 8 points) held on to their top spot in the U-19 Championship with a 3-1 win over New York Surf Golden Touch B99 Academy (1-1-0, 9 points). They continued their prolific scoring stretch, becoming the only side in the U-19 Championship to score more than three goals in both of their matches. They can wrap things up with a win on Sunday (8 a.m., West Creek Field #6) against the Concorde Fire ECNL U-19 (1-1-0, 10 points). The Fire kept their own title ambitions alive after earning a 4-0 win over Pachuca FC USA ’99 (0-2-0, 2 points).

RESULTS
West Florida Flames 99B Elite Brandon 3-New York Surf Golden Touch B99 Academy 1
Concorde Fire ECNL U19 4 -Pachuca FC USA ’99 0
South Carolina United FC 99 Boys Elite 2-OGBC Roadrunners Blue 99 1
FC Florida Preparatory Academy 1999 3-FC Richmond Magic 99 2