US Youth Soccer National Championships 2019 Semifinals Recap

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (July 27, 2019) — After several thrilling semifinal games Saturday morning at the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland, Kan., all final matchups are set at the 2019 US Youth Soccer National Championships.

For complete statistics, including goal scorers, please visit the schedule, standings and scores website.

Two clubs have multiple teams in the finals, including Lou Fusz (MO) with three teams and Solar (TX-N) with two. The teams from those two clubs were among the victors on Saturday, which saw 11 games go to overtime, with seven of those matches needing kicks from the mark to decide which sides advanced to the finals.

Sunday’s finals include the 19U Boys Championship, as Baltimore Celtic SC 00 (MD) and Lehigh Valley United 2000 Black (PA-E) compete for the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest and most prestigious trophy in youth sports. The McGuire Cup final kicks off at 7 a.m. CT on Field 1 of the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex. Baltimore Celtic 00 will be looking to earn its third straight National title.

All 2019 National Championship finals can be seen live online at http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/live/.

Several teams are one step closer to realizing the ultimate youth soccer dream after securing a spot in Sunday’s final matches with semifinal victories on Saturday morning. Three defending champions — Under-16 Boys LVSA 03 Silver (NV), Under-17 Boys Arlington SA 2002 Red (VA) and 19U Boys Baltimore Celtic SC 00 (MD) — are among the finalists in the 14U through 19U age groups and will have a chance to repeat as the National Champions on Sunday.

A few highlights from Saturday’s semifinal matches…

14U Boys
Libertyville FC 1974 Elite (IL) came back to defeat Nationals Union 05 Black (MI), 3-2, and punch its ticket into the 14U Boys final. Nationals Union took an early lead in the 10th minute when Joe Longo found the back of the net. Saul Valadez leveled the score midway through the half for Libertyville but Union reclaimed the lead just before the halftime whistle thanks to Aleksander Markovski. Libertyville equalized yet again as Zachary Hult finished a chance in the 51st minute. With the time running out in regulation time, Valdez notched his second goal of the game to give the Illinois side a, 3-2, advantage late. In the other semifinal, STA 2005 (NJ) and Raiders FC 2005 (IL) needed kicks from the mark to separate the two sides. After a scoreless period of regulation, it was more of the same during the overtime period. The game headed to kicks from the mark where it took 14 rounds to decide the winner. Daniel Farberov made the last kick for STA and then Ryan Eapen made a huge final save to send STA into the final.

14U Girls
Lou Fusz Geerling 05 (MO) will meet D’Feeters 05 Black (TX-N) in Sunday’s 14U Girls Championship final. The Missouri side advanced by defeating NJ Stallions 05 Fire (NJ), 2-0, in their semifinal matchup. Lou Fusz took an 18th minute lead when Megan Rogan ran up to a bouncing ball in the box and pinged a half volley into the right corner of the net. Jessica Dodd sealed the win with an insurance goal in the final minutes to send Lou Fusz through to the final. The Missouri side will meet D’Feeters 05 Black (TX-N) after the North Texas side advanced with a 1-0 (PK) win against Pipeline Spirit PreAcademy 05 (MD). Following a scoreless regulation and overtime, D’Feeters converted five attempts to Pipeline’s four in kicks from the mark to earn the victory.

15U Boys
Real Jersey FC (NJ) held off Downtown LVSC 04 Gold (NV) to earn a 3-2 win in their 15U Boys semifinal. The New Jersey side took a lead just before halftime when Milton Jones found the back of the net. It doubled that advantage just two minutes after the break when a corner kick was flicked on to Joseph Cino, who hammered his shot into the roof of the net. Nicholas Walker scored to pull LVSC within one, but Andrew Kitch quickly put Real Jersey up, 3-1, when he picked up the ball just inside of midfield and beat several defenders before sliding a shot inside the right post. Walker scored his second of the game to bring LVSC back within a goal, but Real Jersey held on for the 3-2 victory. Jersey will face PA Dominion 04 (PA-E) after the Eastern PA side won an overtime match, 2-0, over PPA KSA 04 Pro-Profile (GA). In the first overtime period, Beckett Wenger was brought down in the box to earn a penalty kick for PA Dominion, and Shane Velez converted the ensuring attempt inside the left post to put the PA side up, 1-0. Wenger sealed the win in the second overtime period when he got free down the left side and tucked a shot inside the near post to cap the 2-0 victory.

15U Girls
SC Waukesha 04 Blue (WI) will meet FC Revolution Dynamo (PA-E) in the 15U Girls 2019 National Championship final. SC Waukesha posted a, 2-0, shutout in the semifinals over LVSA 04 National League (NV). The two teams went scoreless until five minutes left in the first half when Elena Zuchowski scored to put SC Waukesha ahead just before halftime. In the 60th minute, SC Waukesha got an insurance goal from Kayla Budish to put them up by two goals and secure a spot in the finals. FC Revolution advanced to the finals, winning 4-3 in kicks from the mark against 04 Boise Thorns Elite (ID). The teams came out quick off the first whistle with three goals in the first 14 minutes of play. Avery McBride began the scoring by putting Boise ahead in just the seventh minute of the game. It was a short-lived lead as Taylor Mentzer scored the equalizer for FC Revolution just six minutes later and she scored her second goal of the game just one minute later to put them up by one goal. FC Revolution held on to the lead for the remainder of the first half and well into the second half until Hayden Wilsey answered in the 60th minute to send the game to overtime. After a scoreless overtime period, FC Revolution prevailed in kicks from the mark with a score of 4-3 to earn a spot in the championship match. SC Waukesha and FC Revolution finished in first and second place respectively in group play with SC Waukesha topping FC Revolution, 3-2, on the first day of group play.

16U Boys
LVSA 03 Silver (NV) will face off against Beadling 2003 South Red (PA-W) for the 16U Boys crown. LVSA advances after recording a 4-3 win over Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W) in kicks from the mark. Philip Phillips scored in the 16th minute to put Syracuse ahead, but LVSA’s Alan Lopez answered just two minutes later to knot the game at 1-1. In the 58th minute, David Ramirez put LVSA in the lead by one goal. Ethan Caruana scored with five minutes left in the game to send it to overtime. LVSA pulled out a 4-1 win in kicks from the mark following a scoreless overtime period. Beadling earned a hard-fought, 2-1, win against FC Dallas 03 Premier (TX-N) in its semifinal match. Emanuel Martinez put FC Dallas on the scoreboard just 10 minutes into the game. After holding on to the lead for the remainder of the first half, Joseph Fonagy netted the equalizer for Beadling in the 56th minute and scored the eventual game winning goal just six minutes later to push Beadling through to the finals. Beadling will look to turn its fortunes from last year where LVSA took the title.

16U Girls
Group B Runners-Up, Legends IE (CA-S) defeated Group A Winners, PSA National 03 (NJ), 1-0, to advance to the 16U Girls National Championships final. It was a scoreless game between the two-sides throughout regulation time and the game headed to overtime. It looked like the game was headed to kicks from the mark but Legends’ Elsie Romero scored the game winner in the 99th minute to send the Cal South side through to the final. In the other semifinal, Lou Fusz 03 Blue (MO) outlasted LVSA 03 National League (NV), 4-3, in overtime to punch its ticket into the final. After a scoreless first half, there was a flurry of goals between the two teams in the second half. Chloe Netzel started the scoring in the 46th minute and then added her second of the game in the 68th minute to push Lou Fusz to a 2-0 lead. LVSA clawed its way back to force overtime as Samantha Nieves and Jacqueline Hillegass both scored a late goal to level the sides. Lou Fusz pulled away in overtime with a goal from Bryanna Rutherford and then Netzel completed her hattrick to make it 4-2. LVSA’s Olivia Garcia pulled one back in the dying minutes but her team couldn’t complete the comeback as Lou Fusz holds on to advance to the 16U Girls National Championships final.

17U Boys
Arlington SA 2002 Red (VA) has a chance to defend its National title after it secured a 2-0 win over Baltimore Celtic 02 (MD) on Saturday. The Virginia side took a 17th-minute lead when James Canady found the back of the net. Arlington worked hard to defend its narrow lead until Joseph Core netted a second goal in the 76th minute to help seal the 2-0 win. Arlington will meet Solar Castro in the final after the North Texas side overcame an overtime deficit to defeat Michigan Jaguars 02 Green (MI), 4-3, in its 17U Boys semifinal. Johnathan Sauceda put Solar up twice in regulation, but Isaac Shiner and Mohamed Babale each provided answers for Michigan to send the match to overtime. Shiner netted his second goal of the match in the 106th minute to put the Jaguars in front. However, Harvey Castro equalized five minutes later when he freed himself at the top of the box to strike a right-footed blast under the bar. Jackson Castro scored a 116th-mintue winner when he deflected in a corner kick to give Solar the 4-3 victory.

17U Girls
Pipeline 02 Pre-Academy Spirit (MD )posted a, 3-2, win over Legends FC 02 Academy II (CA-S) in the semifinals. A goal by Pipeline’s Baylee DeSmit in the ninth minute of the game put them up early. Marissa Ortega scored for Legends FC in the final minute of the first half to send the game to the halftime knotted at one a piece. DeSmit scored her second of the game in the 66th minute to put the Maryland side back in the lead but Sydney Ervine found the answer in the 87th minute to tie the game for Legends FC. Pipeline’s Olivia Quaranta quickly answered with the game-winning goal in the final minute of the game to lockdown the victory. Cleveland FC 02 (OH-N)  held on to a earn a 3-2 semifinal win over North Shore United 2002 Blue (WI). North Shore took an early lead in the eighth minute with a goal from Mae Sinclair. Cleveland FC went scoreless in the first half but answered just six minutes into the second half with a goal from Haley Anspach and two minutes later Cleveland went up by one goal with a score from Shelby Sallee. In the 63rd minute, Anspach scored her second goal of the game and eventual game winner for Cleveland. A late push by North Shore led to an own goal with five minutes left, but Cleveland fended off the attack for the victory. Cleveland defeated Pipeline in group play with a 6-2 victory. Pipeline will look for redemption against Cleveland FC in the 17U Girls championship match.

18U Boys
The 18U Boys championship game will be an all-Southern Regional matchup with Solar 01 Stricker (TX-N) against PPA KSA 01 Pro-Profile (GA). Solar advanced after besting FC Dallas 01 Premier (TX-N), 8-7, in kicks from the mark. FC Dallas jumped out to an early lead with a goal from Edward Knight III in just the seventh minute of the game. After carrying the 1-0 lead to halftime, Porter Pomykal added another goal to the scoreboard for FC Dallas just seven minutes into the second half. The two-goal lead was cut in half just seven minutes after Christian Naizer answered for Solar. Five minutes later, the equalizer was scored by Solar’s Kaleem Shabout and the game headed to overtime. Neither team was able to find the game-winning goal in overtime, sending it to kicks from the mark where Solar won, 8-7, to move on. PPA fell behind early against Sparta 01 Premier JK (UT) after Fabian Gonzalez Limones scored just 13 minutes into the game. Jerry Desdunes scored in the final minute of the first half for PPA to send the game to the half tied at one goal a side. Four minutes into the second half, Deedson Vixamar put PPA ahead by one score. Vixamar tallied another goal in the 72nd minute to extend the PPA lead and capped off his hat trick in the 86th minute as PPA topped Sparta, 4-1, en route to the National Championship match.

18U Girls
Premier Navy 2001 (MD) and 01 Lady Lobos Rush Premier (TN) each won their semifinals by two-goal margins to set up a matchup with each other in the 18U Girls final. Premier Navy took a lead on Celtic FC Premier JR (UT) late in first-half stoppage time when Nia Christopher received a pass in stride as she entered the penalty area. She shook from a defender to clear some space and powered a right-footed shot past the keeper. Madison Greenberg added a late insurance goal to seal a 2-0 victory for Premier Navy. The Lady Lobos’ win over La Roca PO (UT) featured more twists, as the Tennessee side earned a 4-2 victory. Elizabeth Slavinsky put Lobos up in the 13th minute before Sarah Wynn and Caroline Stringfellow scored for La Roca to put the Utah side up, 2-1. Sydney Ham immediately responded to equalize for Lobos, and Ashton Storey headed in a 66th-minute corner kick to put the Tennessee side in front. Slavinsky later added her second of the game to seal the 4-2 win.

19U Boys
Baltimore Celtic SC 00 (MD) has a chance to earn its third straight National Champion tomorrow against Eastern Regional foe Lehigh Valley United 2000 Black (PA-E). In a physical 90-minute fight for a spot in the finals, Baltimore pulled out a, 1-0, shutout over FC Dallas Youth 00 (TX-N). The lone goal of the game came from John Peterson with 10 minutes left in the first half to boost Baltimore to the championship match. Lehigh Valley claimed a, 3-1, win against LMSC Rats (PA-E) in an all Eastern Pennsylvania semifinal match. Dominic Flowers scored in the 14th minute to put Lehigh Valley up by one goal. Luke Brautigam scored in the 25th minute to extend the Lehigh Valley lead to two goals, while Hale Lombard netted a score one minute later. The LMSC deficit was cut to two goals in the 58th minute with a goal from Sean Touey. Lehigh Valley held on to the two-goal lead to advance and now has a chance to take down the reigning National Champions. Baltimore and Lehigh Valley met in group play where Lehigh Valley posted a, 2-0, shutout victory with goals from Carter Houlihan and Luke McMahon.

19U Girls
Lou Fusz Elam (MO) outlasted National League Red Winners, Campton United Red (IL) in kicks from the mark to punch its ticket to the 19U Girls National Championship final. Jessica Preusser put Lou Fusz up early, scoring in just the fifth minute of the match. Campton’s Hannah Rittenhouse leveled the score in the 23rd minute but Lou Fusz’s Samantha Courtois put her team back in the lead just two minute later. It looked like Lou Fusz would grab the win in regulation time, but Rittenhouse scored her second of the game and the game headed to overtime. After a scoreless overtime period, the game headed to kicks from the mark where Lou Fusz Elam triumphed, 3-2, from the spot. The other 19U Girls game also went to kicks from the mark after a six-goal thriller. After both teams were unable to find a goal in the first half, both teams went off for three each in the second. Celtic took a, 2-0, lead in the second half as Jamie Shepherd and Tara Warner each scored. MapleBrook’s Claire Odmark pulled one back for her team but Anna Pickering brought Celtic’s lead back to two just a couple of minutes later. MapleBrook fought back in the dying minutes of the game as Mia K Omar notched a goal and then Marie Sennes added a goal in the final seconds to send the game to overtime. Celtic outlasted MapleBrook, 4-2, from the spot to book its place in the 19U Girls final.