National Cup XIV Finals tickets punched as Regionals continue

West Regional (Girls): Schedule/results | Photos of champions 
Northwest Regional: Schedule/results | Photos of champions 
Southeast Regional: Schedule/results | Photos of champions

(Via US Club Soccer) – Forty-eight teams clinched National Cup XIV Regional championships during the past three events, and 35 of those teams have moved closer to their ultimate goals of winning national titles. The West (Girls), Southeast and Northwest Regionals were held in a span of five days.

The National Cup XIV, US Club Soccer’s cup-based national championship series, continues with two more Regional events – Midwest (June 26-29) and Mid-Atlantic (June 29-July 2) – before ultimately culminating with the National Cup XIV Finals, July 17-20, at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., where national championships will be awarded.

The National Cup XIV West Regional (Boys), June 13-16, was the first event of the series, as California-based teams reigned supreme. Regionals are open to member teams in the U-11 through U-18/19 boys and girls age groups, and the Finals field is narrowed to U-13 through U-17 boys and girls teams.

West Regional (Girls)
The West Regional (Girls) was hosted in Davis, Calif., June 20-23, among three facilities: Davis Legacy Soccer Complex, Granite Regional Park and Nugget Fields. Ninety-one teams representing California, Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon made up the tournament field.

PSV Union FC powered its way through to the finals, before edging the CenCal Cosmos 2-1 in the finals. “At the end of each spring club season, and prior to our summer events, we want a quality event that offers high-level competition, a less strenuous schedule spread out over several days and excellent grass fields,” Gary Ireland, PSV Union FC Technical Director, said.

In the U-16 Super Group, FC Elk Grove ’98 Platinum defeated Central California Soccer Alliance ’98 Black, 3-2, in a thrilling match. Three days earlier, both those teams battled in the tournament opener, but it was Central California Soccer Alliance that came out on top. FC Elk Grove then went on to win three games, including a 6-5 semifinal match, before the final.

Southeast Regional
A total of 104 teams competed during the National Cup XIV Southeast Regional, June 20-23, at Bryan Park Soccer Complex, which was also the site of last year’s National Cup XIII Finals. Seven different states were represented on the winners’ podium.

The Riverhounds Development Academy claimed three championships in the older girls divisions, while GPS Carolina Elite Charlotte and Maryland United FC won two brackets apiece.

“We really enjoy bringing our Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy girls teams to Greensboro each year,” Scott Gibson, Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy Director, said. “The facilities are exceptional, staff are extremely helpful and professional and the competition is a high level. We are delighted to have our U-15, U-16 and U-17 teams win their brackets and advance to the National Cup XIV Finals. This Regional event will be on our schedule for years to come.s”

Having won the U-15 Boys Super Group, Pachuca FC USA ’99 heads to the National Cup Finals again, as the squad was eliminated in the group stage of the National Cup XIII Finals.

Northwest Regional
Ninety teams converged on the T-CSYA Soccer Complex for the National Cup XIV Northwest Regional, June 21-24, in Tri-Cities, Wash., representing the first time a National Cup Regional was hosted at the site.

The host state accounted for 15 of 18 total championships, led by Three Rivers SC, which claimed four divisions. The only other clubs to have more than one team win a bracket were Academy of Soccer Excellence, Washington East and Wenatchee Fire FC, as each had a pair of winning teams.

Central Washington Soccer Academy’s U-14 team played up an age group into a combined U-15 division and came away with the Premier Group title. Afterward, Bobby McAllister, the U-14 Navy head coach of CWSA, called the Northwest Regional “the most enjoyable tournament our team has ever attended.” He added: “We are off to the National Cup XIV Finals for this time with this group… we look forward to attending next year with even more teams.”

The following teams are champions of their respective age groups in the Northwest Regional: