US Youth Soccer awards boys champions at 2023 Elite 64 National Finals

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A thrilling week of action at US Youth Soccer’s 2023 Elite 64 National Finals saw six boys teams claim team championships, while Sparta United secured the overall Elite 64 boys club championship as the top-performing club across the regular season and Elite 64 National Finals. (Photo Galleries)

Elite 64 is the top club-based platform in the USYS National League. All games at the Elite 64 National Finals took place at the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, Calif., where teams in the 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U and 19U age groups took part in knockout-style play to determine the team champions.

2022-23 Elite 64 Team Champions | Boys
13U: Arsenal Colorado Elite 64 10B
14U: Los Angeles SC Elite 64 09B
15U: Toca FC Elite 64 08B
16U: Cincinnati United Elite 64 07B
17U: Sparta United Elite 64 06B
19U: IMG Academy Elite 64 04/05B

“It’s not easy to advance through multiple knockout rounds against some of the strongest opposition in the country, which makes the accomplishments of these teams so special,” said Simon Collins, USYS National League Commissioner. “It’s an incredibly exciting and rewarding feeling to win a team title, and we hope the memory of this experience is one that will continue to link these players together with their teammates as they continue in their soccer journeys.”

(VIEW: Schedule & Results)

Sparta United began its run to the Elite 64 Boys Club Championship with a strong regular season in which its teams finished either first or second in every age group within the Elite 64 Desert. At the Elite 64 National Finals, Sparta United’s performance was highlighted by its team championship in the 17U age group, as well as a semifinal run by its 14U side.

2022-23 Elite 64 Club Champion Race | Boys
1. Sparta United
2. Cincinnati United
t-3. United Futbol Academy
t-3. Laguna United FC

“On behalf of the USYS National League, I want to congratulate Sparta United on earning the Elite 64 Boys Club Championship for the 2022-23 season,” Collins said. “The players performed extremely well and consistently across all age groups to earn this title. But we also want to recognize everyone at the club — from coaches to parents to administrators — who helped put the players in position to succeed throughout the year.”

LOOK BACK AT THE PATH TO THE ELITE 64 BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS…

13U: Arsenal Colorado Elite 64 10

Arsenal Colorado’s run to the title began with a complete team effort in a 5-1 win against El Paso Locomotive Academy to open the week in Oceanside. The Colorado side followed that with a clean sheet victory against Valor Soccer that advanced Arsenal into the semifinals, where it met Strikers FC North. A quick start helped Arsenal Colorado secure a 3-1 win over Strikers to advance to the championship game.

In the final against Oregon Premier FC, Arsenal struck early to take a 6th-minute lead when Ethan Zielke curled in a perfectly struck shot from 25 yards. The Colorado side came close to doubling its advantage a couple times in the first half, but Oregon did well to stay within a goal. Gideon Tullius finally managed to give Arsenal some breathing room with a second-half strike to cap the 2-0 victory that gave Arsenal Colorado the 13U title.

14U: Los Angeles SC Elite 64 09

All-around team performances defined a stout defensive effort that carried LASC to the 14U title, as it did not concede a single goal in Oceanside. A 3-0 win against Cincinnati United kickstarted LASC’s journey, and it followed that with a 4-0 quarterfinal victory against Cedar Stars Academy North. Utah Soccer Alliance provided a tough test in the semifinals, but LASC scored twice to earn a 2-0 win and book its spot in the final.

LASC’s attack was the story early in the championship game, as the California side jumped ahead of El Paso Locomotive Academy in the early minutes. LASC took a 1-0 lead in just the first minute on a shot slotted inside the left post. Just moments later, a lofted shot beat the keeper and dipped under the bar to give LASC an early 2-0 advantage. As it did the entire event, LASC’s defense and keeper Jose Barajas made sure the lead was safe, as they clinched their fourth clean sheet and the Elite 64 title.

15U: Toca FC Elite 64 08

The defending USYS National Champions added an Elite 64 national title to their resume, as Toca FC claimed the 15U title. Toca followed a dominant opening win against LASC with a 3-1 victory against Sparta United in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Toca’s fluid attack created numerous scoring opportunities, as it ran away with a 6-1 win against Cedar Stars Academy North.

Toca’s goal-scoring prowess carried over into the championship game against familiar foe Galaxy SC. Behind goals from Patrick Sandefur, Emanuel Hernandez, David Sorkin and Cameron Filmore, Toca FC capped its impressive week in Oceanside with a 4-0 victory to win the 15U Elite 64 title.

16U: Cincinnati United Elite 64 07B

A 3-1 win against Real Colorado in the Round of 16 kickstarted the week for Cincinnati United’s 16U side, and the team followed that with another 3-1 victory against Sparta United in the quarterfinals. Cincinnati faced a challenge from Toca FC in the quarterfinals, but it managed to earn a 2-1 win to advance to the championship game.

In the final, Cincinnati fell behind in the 3rd minute when Michigan Jaguars’ Will Lanham found the back of the net. However, Ralph Scheer recorded a quick brace with goals in consecutive minutes just after the half-hour mark to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead. Ryan Boyd added an insurance goal in the 52nd minute that proved to be vital, as Hadi Saad pulled a goal back for the Jaguars in the 73rd minute. Cincinnati held strong for the final 10 minutes to secure the 3-2 win and claim the 16U title.

17U: Sparta United Sparta Elite 64 06

Strong defensive efforts helped Sparta United begin its National Finals run with consecutive clean sheets, as it earned 2-0 and 1-0 victories against AYSO United and Strikers FC North, respectively. Its semifinal against Cedar Stars Academy North provided one of the best spectacles of the event, as several dramatic late goals led to a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation and a penalty kick shootout. Sparta won the shootout, 5-4, to advance to the final.

Sparta faced another tough test against Laguna United FC in the final, and Laguna took a 13th-minute lead on a Joseph Lee goal. However, Sparta responded immediately when Andrew Guizar equalized just moments later. The Utah side took a 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute behind a Justin Roberts tally, and Patrick Stevenson capped a 3-1 victory with 68th-minute strike — helping Sparta to the 17U title.

19U: IMG Academy Elite 64 04/05

IMG Academy started its week with a pair of dominant performances with shoutout victories against Legends FC and Colorado Rapids Youth SC. It continued its strong performances with a 5-1 victory against Strikers FC North in the semifinals to secure its place in the championship game against PDA.

PDA struck first in the final, with an own goal off a free kick in the 25th minute that gave the New Jersey side the 1-0 lead. Jordin Wilson provided a quick response for IMG when he directed a low cross into the back of the net to tie the game. Wilson netted his second goal in the 69th minute to put IMG in front, and Axel Dickson extended the lead to 3-1 with an 87th-minute tally. Matthew Connelly pulled PDA within one with a stoppage-time goal, but IMG repelled a couple final challenges to secure the 3-2 win and the 19U title.