Eastern Pa. shines as US Youth Soccer crowns Region I champions
US Youth Soccer has crowned the 14 champions of the 2013 US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships presented by National Guard, via their success in the state and regional championships of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.
The field of 88 teams to advance to the National Championships is now complete. For a full list of qualifiers, click here.
Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups now advance to the third and final stage of the quest for the National Championship. These Region I Champions will join the 32 National League qualifying teams and the champions from Region II (Midwest), Region III (South), and Region IV (West) tournaments for the National Championships in Overland Park, Kan., July 23-28.
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association was the most represented US Youth Soccer State Association with five championship teams advancing to Overland Park. Representing teams from New Jersey and Connecticut took home two titles, and Eastern New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York West, and Pennsylvania West will each send one team.
2013 US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Champions:
| Girls | |||
| Under-13 Girls | NEFC Classics Elite | MA | Holliston |
| Under-14 Girls | YMS Xplosion 98 | E-PA | Yardley |
| Under-15 Girls | Empire Rev Syr Blue 97/98 | NY-W | Syracuse |
| Under-16 Girls | Toms Rivers United 96/97 | NJ | Toms River |
| Under-17 Girls | Beadling SC Thunder | PA-W | Pittsburgh |
| Under-18 Girls | Connecticut FC | CT | Hamden |
| Under-19 Girls | FC Pennsylvania Strikers | E-PA | St. Davids |
| Boys | |||
| Under-13 Boys | FSA FC Navy | CT | Farmington |
| Under-14 Boys | Penn Fusion SA 98 | E-PA | Westtown |
| Under-15 Boys | Lehigh Valley United | E-PA | Whitehall |
| Under-16 Boys | Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal | E-NY | Smithtown |
| Under-17 Boys | OBGC Rangers* | MD | Olney |
| Under-18 Boys | PDA Harkes | NJ | Somerset |
| Under-19 Boys | Lehigh Valley United 93 | E-PA | Whitehall |
* Under-17 Boys: PDA McGeough (NJ) to represent Region I, OBGC Rangers (MD) to represent National League
The National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions, US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, for boys and girls teams in multiple age groups as teams earn their way from the top teams in their state to the regional championship tournaments. US Youth Soccer State Champions, US Youth Soccer Regional League Champions and selected wildcard teams are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships.
The champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups from each regional event will converge in the finals in Overland Park, Kan.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 88 teams.
