Jefferson Cup 2024 Championship Division Preview: U15 Boys

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SoccerWire continues its annual article series previewing the Jefferson Cup’s Championship Divisions. In this edition, we take a look ahead at the U15 Boys age group.

This year’s Championship Division features eight of the top teams in the country in a two-bracket format. The top two sides in each bracket will compete in the Finals on Sunday, March 24.

Bracket A

AS Laval (CAN): Joining this year’s tournament from Quebec, AS Laval are one of the top youth club teams from Canada. In the Premiere Ligue de Soccer De Juvenil De Quebec, the top level of youth soccer in Quebec, Laval are currently in second place sporting a 11-4-4 record on 37 points.

Richmond United ECNL 09 (VA): Started 2024 on a high note, defeating NCFC Youth (2-1) and pulling out a hard-earned draw against a tough Wilmington Hammerheads team (2-2). The highly -balanced team is led by a trio of USYNT ID Camp Invitees Goalkeeper Aiden Wintsch, midfielder Kaden Tabib, and midfielder/defender Kaiden Wasiak.

Sporting PA 09 (PA): Born out of a partnership between three mainstay in Pennsylvania Soccer in FC Europa, Lower Merion SC, and Radnor SC, Sporting have had a strong start in their first year. At the recent US Youth Soccer National League Playoffs, they went undefeated in the Group Stage defeating both Owensboro United and Pateadores SC by 3-1 scorelines before drawing Galaxy SC 1-1.

STA ECNL 09 (NJ): After winning the US Club Soccer National Cup last season, STA’s ECNL team are setting their sights on more silverware this season. Although they have played just one game in ECNL league play so far, they are coming off of a strong Bethesda Premier Cup in which they won the top flight.

Bracket B

Beach FC ECNL 09 (VA): Finished the fall ECNL season on a tear, winning seven of their final ten matches (7-1-2, 23 points) to move into third place in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. During that span, they outscored their opponents 26-9. In Showcase play, they are coming off of a strong showing at the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series where they went undefeated in the Elite White Division, scoring 13 goals.

Club Ohio 09 National (OH): The defending US Youth Soccer National Champions, Club Ohio are a strong defensive team that earned three shutouts in the playoffs en route to winning top honors. In the Elite 64 playoffs in Florida, they won all four of their matches while not conceding a single goal.

Match Fit Academy ECNL 09 (NJ): Coming off of their strong performance at the FC DELCO Showcase where they finished atop the Showcase Black Division Bracket B, Match Fit will look to use their time down in Richmond to help prepare for ECNL Northeast Conference play. Last season, their stout defense helped lead the team into an ECNL National Playoff appearance. The defense allowed just three goals at the FC DELCO Showcase.

SUSA FC ECNL 09 (NY): In their lone ECNL North Atlantic Conference game this season, SUSA showed why they are one of the top teams in their Conference, downing East Meadow SC 4-0. Their strength lies in the midfield with recent USYNT ID Center invitee Jaxson Weber pulling the strings in possession.