National Cup XV continues with Southeast, West, Northwest Regionals

Southeast: Results | Photos of champions
West (Girls): Results | Photos of champions
Northwest: Results | Photos of champions

(Via US Club Soccer) – Three of six National Cup XV Regionals were held June 18-21: Southeast, West (Girls) and Northwest. The National Cup XV, the 15th edition of US Club Soccer’s cup-based national championship series, includes two more Regionals (Midwest and Mid-Atlantic) before concluding with the National Cup XV Finals, July 22-25 in Aurora, Colo.

Southeast Regional

Sixteen teams won Regional championships at Bryan Park Soccer Complex, which previously hosted the National Cup XIII Finals.

Riverhounds Development Academy (Pa.) was the big winner, as it claimed three girls age groups (U-14, U-15 and U-16).  Global Premier Soccer had four affiliated teams take home championships: U-11 boys, U-12 boys Super Group and Premier Group and U-13 girls Super Group.

“The Pittsburgh Riverhounds were extremely pleased to send seven academy teams to the Southeast Regional,” Jason Kutney, Pittsburgh Riverhounds Sporting Director, said. “The facilities and administrative support continue to be first class, and the level of competition continues to be enhanced, year to year. As a club that fully supports US Club Soccer, we look forward to participating in the National Cup series for years to come.”

U-13 through U-17 winners have now qualified to next month’s National Cup XV Finals.

West Regional (Girls)

There were 105, and then there were 14.

Like its male counterpart a week earlier, the West Regional (Girls) eclipsed triple digits in total team participation. And at the end of the fourth day of competition, 14 teams remained with trophies in tow.

Games were hosted at Davis Legacy Soccer Complex and Granite Regional Park. Davis Legacy SC performed well on its familiar fields, as it won three age groups (1998 Super Group, 1998 Premier Group and 2001 Super Group). California Magic, which had won the 1999 Boys Premier Group last week, returned to the winners stage at the girls Regional after clinching both the 1999 Super Group and 2001 Premier Group.

No other club won more than one bracket, although the deciding game of the 2004 Premier Group was between San Juan SC’s (Calif.) ’05 EGSL team and ’04 Spirits Blue team, in which the older squad won, 1-0. “The San Juan Soccer Club experienced a very enjoyable tournament all around. The players and parents loved the professional environment and attention to detail of the entire set-up, trainers, referees and recovery essentials provided by Gatorade,” Zeca Neto, San Juan SC Girls Director, said. “The variety of teams was a nice change and provided an excellent level of competition for our club. We will definitely be back next year.”

Marin FC ’02 Blue – the winners of the 2002 Super Group – won all four of its games by 1-0 margins.

Northwest Regional

A total of 85 teams representing Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon and Utah competed at 60 Acres Soccer Complex in Redmond, Wash.

Crossfire Premier (Wash.) won four age groups: ’05 boys, ’05 girls and ’04 girls and ’00 boys. Academy of Soccer Excellence grabbed grabbed two age groups: ’01 girls and ’99 girls.

After tying its first game, OPS Fire ’02 (Wash.) reeled off three consecutive wins, including a 2-1 decision over Washington East SC (Wash.) in the title match of the 2002 boys age group. Afterwards, OPS Fire coach Cristian Barboza praised the tournament, calling it “highly competitive.”

Central Washington SA was denied a second Regional championship – in addition to the 1999 boys title – with a hard-fought 2-1 defeat to Crossfire Premier ’00 Lawrence in the 2000 boys bracket.

The 1998 girls age group – claimed by Crossfire United/Tualatin Hills United SC (Ore.) – featured six games that were decided by a total of five goals. Only one game was decided by more than one goal.

The remaining National Cup XV Regional schedule is: