Jefferson Cup 2019 Championship Division Preview: U-18 Girls
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With the 2019 Jefferson Cup upon us, SoccerWire.com continues its article series previewing the top divisions for the showcase age groups. In this edition, we take a look at the teams competing in the U-18 Girls Championship Division.
1776 United FC Xtreme (PA)
Coach: Sam Griggs
Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup champion 1776 United FC Xtreme had a strong showing at the 2018 Jefferson Cup, earning a top-four finish in a challenging 12-team U-17 Championship Division. 1776 United went on to win the US Youth Soccer state title, and finished as semifinalists in the Region I Championships. In league play, they placed 2nd in the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional League last spring. Xtreme recently captured a division title at the Penn Fusion Girls Winter Showcase in February 2019.
BC United SA 01 Premier (NY)
Coach: Jackie Firenze
Reigning US Youth Soccer Region I and Western New York York State Cup champion BC United SA 01 Premier is well established as one of the top-ranked teams in the nation. BC United’s state and regional title last season were preceded by 1st place finishes in both the US Youth Soccer National League and the Eastern Regional League. One of the only competitions which BC United didn’t win in 2018 was the Jeff Cup, but their continued success since then has been more than enough to land them in the top bracket once again.
Brentwood SC NPL Blaze (NY)
Coach: Chris Roche
Another top side from the Empire State, Brentwood SC NPL Blaze is coming off a championship run in the Eastern New York State Cup last spring. The team spent the fall 2018 season competing in some of the top showcase events on the East Coast, including the Bethesda Premier Cup and National Elite Women’s Soccer Showcase (NEWSS). Most recently, Brentwood won their bracket at the Massapequa Winter College Showcase, sweeping their three opponents and not allowing a single goal.
Charlotte SA 01 Elite North (NC)
Coach: Matthew Denton
North Carolina side Charlotte SA 01 Elite North ran away with the top spot in the table while competing in the US Youth Soccer National League Piedmont Conference this fall, winning all nine of their games. They outscored opponents by a margin of 34-12 along the way. Over the summer, the team finished as semifinalists in the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships. Charlotte will be back at Regionals in 2019, after capturing the North Carolina State Cup title in October.
Cleveland FC 01 – National League (OH)
Coach: Benard Dargle
One of several US Youth Soccer National League representatives in the Jeff Cup’s top 2001 Girls bracket, Cleveland FC 01 is back in the Jeff Cup for the first time since 2017. Cleveland placed 3rd in the Midwest Regional League last spring, and posted an unbeaten 2-0-1 record in their bracket at the Crossroads of America College Showcase in Indiana. They advanced all the way to the finals of the US Youth Soccer Ohio North State Cup in June 2018.
Coral Gables Storm Black (FL)
Coach: Giovanni Delarosa
Representing the Sunshine State, Coral Gables Storm Black heads to the Jeff Cup aiming to continue an impressive run of top finishes at prestigious showcase tournaments. The Florida State Cup finalists are coming off 1st place finishes at the West Pines Kickoff Classic, Disney Qualifiers and the Brevard Hurricane Classic. Most recently, they placed 2nd in their division at the Disney Soccer Showcase. In league play, they finished 2nd last spring in the Florida State Premier League.
FC Frederick 01 (MD)
Coach: Bo Eskay
Following an unbeaten three-game run in the U-17 Elite Division of the 2018 Jeff Cup, FC Frederick 01 makes the leap to the Championship Division for 2019. FC Frederick advanced all the way to the 2018 Maryland State Cup finals, finishing 2nd overall in the event last spring. They also placed 2nd in the Club Champions League (CCL) during the 2017-2018 season, 3rd in the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional League and finished in the top half of the table in the National League.
Premier SC Navy (Strikers) (MD)
Coach: Val Teixeira
The 2017-2018 season culminated with Premier SC Navy finishing as semifinalists at both the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships and the National Championships. They also captured the Maryland State Cup title, and finished as US Youth Soccer National League division champions. Premier SC went undefeated in National League play, posting a 6-0-1 record while outscoring opponents 21-7. In the spring of 2018, the team also earned a 2nd place finish in the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional League.
SJEB Rush 00/01 Academy (NJ)
Coach: Don D’ambra
EDP side SJEB Rush 00/01 Academy is the reigning US Youth Soccer New Jersey State Cup champion, as well as the reigning New Jersey Presidents Cup champ. They finished the 2018 spring season with a division championship run in the EDP Cup Spring Showcase last June. In league play, SJEB Rush placed 2nd in the EDP Spring League, posting a 7-1-0 record while outscoring opponents 20-5.
South Shore Select 01 AP (MA)
Coach: Driton Mustafoski
New England powerhouse South Shore Select 01 AP holds the distinction of reigning national champion, after winning it all at the US Club Soccer NPL Finals over the summer in Westfield, Indiana. The team also finished 2nd in the US Club Soccer National Cup the following week. South Shore cleaned up in regional competition as well in 2018, capturing the US Club Soccer Massachusetts State Cup title, and winning the New England Premiership league championship with a perfect 6-0-0 record. They have won showcase tournament divisions at the GPS Thanksgiving Showcase and Last Vegas Players Showcase over the past year.
Space Coast United 01 (FL)
Coach: Michael Lord
Brevard Youth Soccer League (BYSL) champion Space Coast United 01 is one of the top 2001 age group teams across the highly competitive state of Florida. Along with their BYSL success, Space Coast is a force in the Florida NPL, placing 2nd in a tough 12-team table during the current season. The team went 8-1-1 in Florida NPL competition, racking up 26 goals and only conceding 4 goals all season long, which was the best defensive performance in the 00/01 Girls age group.
Watchung Hills NJ Elite (NJ)
Coach: Jordi Meijer
Coming off a national championship run over the summer in the US Club Soccer National Cup, Watchung Hills NJ Elite joins the Jeff Cup’s top bracket in 2019. The team had a strong showing at the 2018 Jeff Cup in the U-17 Superior Black Division, and has only racked up more accolades since then. Watchung Hills won the 2018 US Club Soccer Mid-Atlantic Regional title, placed 2nd in the New Jersey Cup and captured the top division championship at the EDP Easter Showcase. Last spring, they went undefeated (7-0-1) in the EDP League with the most goals scored (45) and the fewest goals allowed (4).
