US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships – Day 2 Recap
Preliminary Games, Day 2 of 3
Schedule, Standings and Scores
Eastern Regional Championships Website | Day 2 Photos
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WEST VIRGINIA (June 29, 2019) — More than 260 teams, including eight defending Regional Champions and two defending National Champions, continued play at the 2019 US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships on Saturday in West Virginia.
The seven-day event, which takes place June 28-July 4, features 12U through 19U Boys and Girls teams at the Shawnee Sports Complex and Barboursville Soccer Complex.
Preliminary games will continue through Sunday, June 30, while knockout rounds will take place July 1-4 at Shawnee Sports Complex.
West Virginia Youth Soccer Association is hosting the event alongside 14 other East Region State Associations including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Eastern New York, New York West, Eastern Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania West, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.
CT Rush Elite (CT) moved to 2-0-0 in group play and one step closer to earning a spot in the semifinals as they look to prove that they are the best team in the 15U Boys division.
“[The Eastern Regional Championships] are a great experience. This is our third time coming here and we love it,” said CT Rush head coach Renato Topalli. “The competition is great, and it is a well-run tournament. When we come here, we want to prove we are the best. We want to compete against the best.”
A bicycle kick from Lucas Vest helped push CT Rush Elite (CT) to its second victory of the tournament in what was a moment he won’t forget.
“It was crazy,” said Vest. “We needed to pick up the game and the bicycle kick brought up the energy of the team. Everyone started picking up the pace and we started to control the game after that.”
A few notes from Saturday’s games:
12U Girls
SAC Premier Blue (MD) shutout Far Post SC 2007 Premier (VT), 3-0, to earn a critical win heading into the final day of preliminary games tomorrow. After the two teams went scoreless through much of the first half, Tiffany Blakey put SAC on the board with a minute to go in the first half of action. Following a 1-0 halftime lead, Blakey netted her second goal of the day, and 12U Girls leading third of the tournament, just seven minutes later to give SAC an insurance goal. Sadie Smith found the back of the net in the 57th minute for the third goal of the game for SAC. The win earns SAC three points and puts them in first place going into the final game of group play.
13U Boys
From the first whistle, 2006 Pipeline SC Pre-Academy (MD) controlled the game on its way to a, 4-0, shutout against Beadling 2006 South Red (PA-W). Pipeline pressed on the Beadling defense early on and never looked back after earning an early corner that led to a header wide of the net as the game remained scoreless. A breakaway in just the 14th minute from Pipeline put pressure on Beadling goalkeeper Zachary Barzd who made the stop to keep the teams at 0-0. Beadling followed with a shot of its own but the save was made by Pipeline keeper Tyler Mezzadra. After a scoreless first half, Pipeline’s Cameron Tolson struck twice with goals in the 45th and 47th minutes as Pipeline jumped out to a two-goal lead. A minute later, the lead was extended to three by Daniel Klink. Colin Kelly netted the final goal of the day with two minutes left in the game to give Pipeline a 2-0-0 record in group play.
14U Girls
FC Alliance 2005 (WV) and PSC Coppa Rage (PA-E) each earned a crucial point heading into day three of action tomorrow after ending in a, nil-nil, draw today. Scoring chances were scarce as neither team gained control of the match. An early shot from PSC was blocked by a defender as the game remained tied at zero. In the middle of the first half, FC Alliance was able to fire a shot on goal that was saved by PSC goalkeeper Kayla Kulp. The game remained scoreless when FC Alliance keeper Madysen Schellermade a diving save on a PSC penalty kick, sending the game to halftime knotted at zero. The teams each stayed off the scoreboard early in the second half as both sides had good chances saved. A final push by PSC with five minutes left was held off by FC Alliance as the game ended in a scoreless draw.
15U Boys
CT Rush Elite (CT) pulled out a narrow, 2-1, win over PDA Shore Thiago (NJ) in a physical day two match. CT Rush controlled the pace of play early, striking two shots in the first five minutes of action but PDA goalkeeper Landon Beirne made two saves to keep the game knotted at zero. PDA had a chance to take the early lead in the first 10 minutes of action, but its shot sailed high and the teams remained scoreless. A corner kick in the 17th minute led to a Lucas Vest bicycle kick goal and CT Rush took a, 1-0, lead. PDA found chances late in the first half but it missed a shot wide and high, and went into halftime down one. Just a minute into the second half, a pass from Jared Brown led to the equalizing goal for PDA off the foot of Preston Kyriakoulis. Shortly after, PDA earned a free kick but it missed wide of the net, keeping the game tied at one a side. In the 53rd minute, Patrick Osiecki converted a penalty kick putting the Connecticut side back in front. CT Rush had chances to extend its lead minutes later but back-to-back shots hit off the crossbar. PDA kept on the attack as they fired two late shots that missed high and CT Rush held on to win an important three points with the victory.
16U Girls
Delaware FC (DE) earned a crucial, 2-0, shutout win against MSC Fury (NY-E) to earn three points on day two. It was a back and forth affair early between the two teams, but Delaware struck first off a corner kick from Gabrielle Marte-Morrison that found the back post in the 15th minute. A shot three minutes later from Delaware was saved by MSC goalkeeper Caroline Brucato to keep the deficit at one. The lead was extended to two goals in the 27th minute when Elizabeth Malek found an open Erin Ranegan who fired a shot at the goal from just outside the box to the far side upper 90. MSC challenged late in the first half but was unable to capitalize as the game went to halftime with Delaware up, 2-0. Sydney Iredell kept MSC off the scoreboard with a save in the 72nd minute and Delaware held on for its first victory of the tournament.
17U Boys
A low scoring match between Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 02 Black (PA-E) and Beadling 2002 South Red (PA-W) ended in favor of Philadelphia, 1-0. The win puts Philadelphia in a position to make the semifinals with the victory. The teams had a tough time scoring, until the 83rd minute when the tie was broken by Philadelphia’s Joshua Jones as he scored what would be the game winning goal. Philadelphia was able to hold on as they moved to 2-0-0 and sit atop Group C.
18U Girls
1776 United FC 01 Xtreme (PA-E) posted a, 6-0, shutout over Burke Athletic Club Blitz (VA) to remain undefeated in group play with a record of 2-0-0. Five different players scored with four of the goals coming in the first half. Caitlin Donovan began the scoring spree in the 11th minute and followed that up with her second of the day just six minutes later as 1776 United took a two-goal lead. Gabriella Curry added one in the 36th minute, while Cynthia Sheehy netted one with a minute to go in the first half. 1776 United cooled off in the second half, but Raina Kuzemkafound the back of the net in the 84th minute to put 1776 United up five goals. Four minutes later, Alivia Hamilton shot one past the goalkeeper as 1776 United cruised to a shutout win and a first place finish in Group C and puts them in a great position to advance to the semifinals.
19U Boys
McLean Hotspur (VA) sits in first place in Group A with a record of 2-0-0 after topping LMSC Rats (PA-E), 3-1. Maverick McGann wasted little time by scoring a goal just a minute into play as McLean took the quick lead. The lead did not last long as Sean Touey scored the equalizer for LMSC in the 22nd minute. The game remained knotted at one a piece for much of the second half, but the tie was eventually broken by Kristofer Schulte in the 83rd minute with the game winning goal and his 19U Boys leading fourth goal of the tournament.
Regional winners of the 13U through 19U age groups earn a berth to the 2019 US Youth Soccer National Championships, which will be played July 22-28 at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the 13U through 19U Boys and Girls age groups, as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the 14U through 19U Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 104 teams.
