US Youth Soccer crowns 2023 Eastern Regional Champions in Northern Virginia

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Virginia – More than 250 teams competed June 23-29 at the Eastern Regional Championships in Loudoun County, Virginia. Games were played at the the Hanson Regional Park in Aldie and Bolen Memorial Park in Leesburg with a trip to the National Championships on the line.

New York East and Eastern Pennsylvania had the strongest showing of USYS’ 15 Eastern State Associations, with each having five champions crowned. Maryland (2), New Jersey (1), Virginia (1), Massachusetts (1), and New York West (1) also had winning teams.

Matthew Mannina, head coach of Stony Brook LGN – Wildlings Blue B2008 (NY-E), reflected on his team winning a second consecutive Eastern Regional Championship title.

“We have veterans on the team that were able to experience winning this last year, but we’re even more excited for the new guys that were not able to experience it but did get to partake in winning the championship this year.”

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Check out some photos of the USYS Regional Championships » https://t.co/WyoVXAPsa0 ⁠⁠ ?⁠#ROADtoFL | #FORitALL | #NCS23 | #USYS | #WeAreYouthSoccer pic.twitter.com/YYLL7LIddb

— US Youth Soccer Cups (@usyscups) June 30, 2023

Dylan Lopez and James Schneider, two standout players for Wildlings, shared what they had to do to reach these heights again this year.

“For the past week, we’ve been training under the heat, for three hours a day,” Lopez said. “Just preparing, running, sprinting, doing drills to prepare us for this week.”

Schneider cited his team’s bond as a big reason for their success.

“Our team chemistry was tight and our defense throughout the entire tournament was lock down.” Wildings only gave up one goal throughout its six-game run to the championship.

Look back at the Eastern Regional Championship Winners…

Boys

Age Group	Champions	Finalists
12U	The Football Academy NJ 2011 Boys Black (NJ)	Springfield SYC Soccer 2011 Boys (VA)
13U	Gunners Soccer Kids 2010 Blue (NY-E)	Virginia Rush 2010B (VA)
14U	Manassas Soccer Club 09 Gold (VA)	FC Europa 2009 Boys Elite (EPA)
15U	Stony Brook LGN SC – Wildlings Blue B2008 (NY-E)	Lower Merion SC FCE 2008 Thunder (EPA)
16U	Keystone FC Premier 07B (EPA)	Bethesda SC Blue 2007 (MD)
17U	Dix Hills SC EST Ultimatum B2006 (NY-E)	CT Rush Select 2006 Boys (CT)
18U	New England Surf State Navy 2005 Boys (MA)	Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Elite 64 05B (EPA)
19U	FC Somers Arsenal-P (NY-E)	South Shore Futbol Club Bulldogs United B2004 (NY-E)

*13-19U Champions will advance to the National Championships.

Girls

Age Group	Champions	Finalists
12U	Western New York Flash 11G (NY-W)	SCS United 2011 Girls Black (PA-W)
13U	Keystone FC Premier 10G (EPA)	BVB International Academy – Pittsburgh 10G Premier (PA-W)
14U	Reading Rage SC ’09 Pugh (EPA)	South Shore Futbol Club Futbol Legacy G2009 (NY-E)
15U	FC Frederick ’08 Girls (MD)	Keystone FC Premier 08G (EPA)
16U	Penn FC Youth 2007 F Black (EPA)	Seacoast United Mass South 2007 Elite Girls DPL (MA)
17U	Keystone FC Premier 06G (EPA)	Force FC G2006 NL (NY-E)
18U	Middle Country SC SBMC 05 (NY-E)	BVBIA WV 2005G (WV)
19U	Bethesda SC E 2004 (MD)	Liverpool FCIA Central MD 2004 Girls (MD)