US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships – Day 2 Recap
Preliminary Games, Day 2 of 3
Scores & Standings
Saturday Photos
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SAGINAW, Mich. — The 2019 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships continued Saturday at the Saginaw Township Soccer Complex in Saginaw, Mich.
More than 220 games have been completed, and Sunday’s action will decide the 56 teams moving on to the semifinal round.
With each team entering Saturday with one result finalized, the second day of play presented several crucial matchups for teams to stay in contention for semifinal berths. In the 17U Girls age group, LFA United Blue 02 (MO) netted a dramatic stoppage-time goal to earn a 3-2 win against Indy Premier 02G Elite I (IN) in a matchup of two Day 1 winners.
“The importance of the win is huge because they had a plus-3 on goal differential and we had a plus-1,” LFA coach Mike Preusser said. “They were ahead of us on that, so we didn’t feel a draw was going to be enough for us going forward. We really had to get the win.”
LFA United won its group last year at regionals before coming up short in the semifinals. Preusser said the team’s goal this week is to advance further than last year’s semifinal run and compete for the Midwest Regional Championship.
“It’s an amazing experience when you’ve got 16 of the top teams in your age group in the region, and you’re able to be amongst that group and compete for the title,” Preusser said. “The girls understand it, and they know the magnitude of it. They just rise to the challenge like they did today.”
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.
A few notes from Saturday’s games:
13U Girls
In a matchup 1-0-0 teams, MTA 2006 Schoeberl (MN) showed resiliency to come away with a 3-2 win over SBV Barcelona (KS). The Group C match began with SBV taking a lead in less than two minutes, as Adelyn Broesder opened the scoring. MTA equalized later in the half on an Arianna Balgobin goal, but SBV regained the lead with a 32nd-minute tally from Allie Owens. MTA once again had an answer, as Brooklyn Miller found the back of the net in the 56th minute to level the score at 2-2. The Minnesota side later gained its first lead of the day, as Isabela Engle netted a 61st-minute goal to put MTA up, 3-2. That score line held, as MTA came away with the win and three points to move to the top of the Group C standings.
14U Boys
After jumping out to an early lead, ECU 05 B Maroon (IN) hung on for a 3-2 win against KHA 05 Red (KY) — giving the Indiana side six points in the Group B standings. Joshua Cruz got in behind the defense and finished an early chance to give ECU a 1-0 lead after just three minutes of action. Teague Misner doubled the advantage later in the half, and Edgar Mora-Gonzalez later made it 3-0 in the second half when he gathered a loose ball off of a free kick and fired it inside the far post. KHA provided an immediate response to pull a goal back, as Matthew Dreas found the back of the net to cut the ECU lead to 3-1. The Kentucky side later pulled within a goal as Timothy Griffin converted a 69th-minute penalty kick. However, ECU held on in the final moments to secure the victory and stay atop the group standings.
15U Girls
After a draw in its opening Group C match, CDA Premier 04 (OH-S) secured an important win against Michigan Jaguars 04 Green (MI) on Saturday. Following some early Michigan attacking pressure, CDA jumped in front when Jada Moorman hit a shot high and inside the near post in the eighth minute. Elizabeth Dreas quickly doubled the CDA lead, as she made a run into the six-yard box and directed a low cross past the keeper to make it 2-0. Dreas extended the CDA lead to 3-0 in the 50th minute, and she found the back of the net in the 56th minute to complete a hat trick. Gianna Virginillo added a late goal for the Ohio South side to cap the decisive shutout victory that keeps CDA within two points of group leader SC Waukesha 04 Girls Blue (WI).
16U Boys
Milwaukee Bavarians 2003 (WI) fought back from a goal behind to defeat SLSG 2003 Elite (MO) and move to the top of a tightly bunched Group D. SLSG took a 21st-minute lead when Cole Ross hit a penalty kick with pace to the lower left corner. The Missouri side nearly doubled its lead in the 30th minute, as it executed a nice passing move down the left flank. However, Milwaukee keeper Egan Bedwell made an initial save on a powerful shot and a follow-up attempt was cleared off the line by a Milwaukee defender. Bedwell later came off his line to deny another SLSG scoring chance, keeping his side within a goal heading to the second half. Milwaukee took advantage of its defensive stops by equalizing in the 68th minute via a Mitchell Dryden goal. Gabriel Anguil then netted the game-winner in with just a couple minutes left in the match to give Milwaukee the win and push the Bavarians to four points in the standings.
17U Girls
A stoppage-time winner helped LFA United Blue 02 (MO) earn a 3-2 win against Indy Premier 02G Elite I (IN) in a key Group D matchup. Maria Alexopoulos and MacKenzie Arnold netted goals on either side of halftime to give LFA a 2-0 lead midway through the second half. However, Lea Alexander quickly responded to Arnold’s strike to pull Indy back within a goal. The Indiana side equalized with a Sarah Foulk tally in the 86th minute, as the game looked destined to conclude in a tie. However, LFA earned a corner kick in stoppage time, and Hanna Jones powered a header into the back of the net to give the Missouri side the 3-2 win.
18U Boys
Michigan Wolves 01 (MI) picked up its second win in Group B with a 3-0 victory on Saturday in a physical match against Team Challenger FC 01 Black (OH-N). The Wolves applied early pressure that culminated with an opening goal in the 24th minute. The Team Challenger keeper did well to make a lunging save on an initial low drive, but Justin Wojcik quickly followed and hit the rebound into an open net to put Michigan up, 1-0. That score line remained the same until midway through the second half, when Charles Sharp found the back of the net to double the Michigan lead. Saeid Jannoun added a late insurance goal, as the Wolves earned the 3-0 victory to keep them on top of the Group B standings.
19U Girls
OBSC Magic Elite (IL) picked up its second win in as many games with a 5-0 win over DASC 2000 Girls 1 (SD) on Saturday in Group B action. Giselle Sahagun put OBSC in front in the 13th minute when she received a pass and placed her shot inside the left post. Sahagun doubled the lead in the 30th minute when she found the back of the net following an assist from Ciara Thomas. Before the game hit halftime, Thomas distanced OBSC from DASC, as she scored a pair of goals from the left wing. Thomas completed a hat trick in the second half to seal the victory for the Illinois side.
