US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships – Day 3 Recap
Preliminary Games, Day 3 of 3
Scores & Standings
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BOISE, Idaho — Wednesday brought an end to exciting preliminary games at the 2019 US Youth Soccer Region Far West Regional Championships at the Simplot Sports Complex in Boise, Idaho.
The chase for the Regional and National Championships continues for the 112 teams who have qualified to move on to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Of the teams advancing to the quarterfinals, 15U Girls Santa Clara Sporting 04G Green (CA-N) is familiar with what is on the line going into the next round. The Santa Clara Sporting side earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over CDA Slammers HB Elite (CA-S) to top the pool.
Head coach John Slegg of Santa Clara Sporting 04 Green (CA-N) discussed his team’s objectives set forth this year in addition to winning it all.
“We want to finish at the top of our group,” said Slegg. “Last year we finished second which meant we went through but had a harder matchup in the quarterfinals.”
+READ: US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships – Day 2 Recap
Slegg continued by discussing his experiences at the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships.
“I’ve been coaching for 15 years so, from my experience, it’s the best tournament out there. Just the way its set up the way and the fact it draws teams from all over the [the West Region].”
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 teams.
Highlights from Wednesday:
13U Boys
RSL AZ 06 North Boys Davidovic (AZ) and 3RSC B06RCL Black (WA) tied 2-2 in a critical Group A match up to decide first place. Each squad got off to a fast start with multiple attacking opportunities. The first goal came off a long free kick from RSL’s Kaden Cox as the ball sailed over the goalkeeper’s hands. 3RSC countered in the 24th minute with a goal from Humberto Cervantes. Each teams started vying for field position in the second half and RSL regained the lead in the 40th minute with a goal from Mateo Calderon. In the 55th minute, Alexander Martinez of 3RSC salvaged a tie for his team. With the tie, both teams end with seven points and advance into the quarterfinals.
14U Boys
Rio Rapids 05 (NM) finishes second in its group with a, 4-0, win over the Timbers North FC 05 Red (ID). The Rapids took a quick lead with goals in the 1st and 3rd minute from Paul Melendres and Connor Cousins. Rio Rapids goalkeeper, Mateo Nobrega, made a big save in the 30th minute to help keep the 2-0 lead headed into halftime. The Rio Rapids continued its attack and earned a goale in the 47th minute from Melendres. Not to be outdone, Cousins added a second goal of his own to seal the win and Rio Rapid’s spot into the quarterfinals.
15U Boys
With both teams already clinching spots in the quarterfinals Three Rivers SC (WA) secured the top spot in Group B with its, 2-1, win over Milan FC Elite 04 (CA-N). Three Rivers SC put a goal on the board in the 25th minute with a goal from Moises Cossio and a strong physical battle continued for the remainder of the half. The physical play continued into the second half and Jonas Olivera-Calderon of Three Rivers SC forced the opposing goalkeeper dive across the goal to make a save to keep the score. Milan FC equalized the score after being awarded a penalty kick in the 73rd minute. Gabriel Abellana stepped up and finished the chance to make it 1-1. Three Rivers SC immediately went down the field on the ensuing kick off and regained its lead on the end of a Braeden Staniszewski goal just one minute later. Three Rivers held the lead to earn top spot in the group.
15U Girls
Santa Clara Sporting 04G Green (CA-N) secured the top of their group with a, 1-0, win over CDA Slammers HB Elite (CA-S). Kennedy Schoennauerwasted no time putting her team in the lead with a goal in the sixth minute. The teams battled until halftime with neither side able to add to the scoresheet. In the 66th minute, Santa Clara’s Logan Morris hit the ball to the left side of the goal but was batted out by the opposing goalkeeper. Slammers worked its was to a couple more opportunities before the end of the game but were unable to level the score. SC Sporting advances into Friday’s quarterfinals where they hope to avenge one-up its quarterfinal exit in last year’s tournament.
17U Girls
Having both already qualified for the quarterfinals, Pride SC Predators 02G (CO) and the CDA Slammers HB 02 Elite (CA-S) met to decide who would top 17U Girls Group B. The two sides played to a draw on Wednesday to secure the number one and number two spots, respectively. Great attacking opportunities were hard to come by in the first half with both teams entering halftime tied at 0-0. A strong offensive performance by both teams would highlight the first part of the second half. The teams made early pushes in the second half as Riley Jones of Pride SC scored the game’s first goal in the 52nd minute. Just five minutes later, Rylie Raupp-Martin would tie the game for the CDA Slammers and the game would play to a 1-1 tie clinching the top spot in the group for Pride SC.
17U Boys
La Roca Premier 02 (UT) came into its game with Boca Juniors LA 02 (CA-S) needing a win to keep its quarterfinal hopes alive but the two teams tied, 1-1, in the final group game. Griffin Dillion goal put La Roca in the lead just 15 minutes in and Luke Johnson almost made it 2-0 off a free kick, but just flashed his shot by the goal. Shortly after the second half kickoff, Boca equalized the score at the end of an Andres Bravo goal. Each team created a few chances to add another goal but neither team was able to capitalize and Boca clinches the top spot in the group and a spot int he quarterfinals.
18U Girls
Hawaii Rush 01 (HI) takes first place in Group A and La Roca PO (UT) places second after a tight, 1-0, game on Wednesday. London Miller had a great chance to put La Roca ahead early with a free kick but the chance was caught by the opposing goalkeeper. La Roca continuously applied pressure in the first half but could not convert the chances into goals. After a back and forth second half, Rush’s Bree Fuller scored the game winner for her team in the 90th minute off of a corner kick.
19U Girls
Westside Timbers 00 Copa BTS NLNC (OR) needed a victory to keeps and earned a, 3-0, win over Greater Seattle Surg 00 (WA) to keeps its Far West Regional Championships dream alive. Westside Timbers started the game right off the bat with immediate offensive pressure as Seattle looked to attack off the counter. Amelie Stoddard broke the deadlock as she tapped in a goal via a cross to the far post. Timbers finished off the half with a flurry as Haley Leavenshit a shot ball bounces in off the far post and then Mackenna Antonini added another in the final minute of the half. With no more goals, Westside marches in the quarterfinals after securing second place in the group.
19U Boys
Downtown LVSC 00 Gold (NV) secured a victory against Livingston Fuego FC 00/01 on Wednesday with a, 4-1 win and clinched the top spot in Group A. Livingston Fuego starts off the match with a strong offensive attempt in the 10th minute but the shot was saved by LVSC goalkeeper Ivan Rodgriguez. In the 22nd minute, Diego Zacarias of Downtown LVSC fired a laser of a shot into the goal to give the Nevada side the lead. Alfredo Diaz doubled LVSC advantage with a goal seven minutes later and took his team into halftime up 2-0. A penalty kick was awarded to Livingston Fuego FC but is saved by Rodgriguez. Despite being down, Livingston battled back to cut the lead to 2-1 with a goal from Gerardo Flores but was met by more goals from LVSC late in the match. Downtown LVSC scored in quick succession in the 81st minute with a goal from Alfredo Flores and then Ethan Kovach added a goal in the 87th minute. Downtown LVSC 00 Gold now heads into quarterfinals as the winners of a very tight Group A.
