US Youth Soccer National League 2019-20 Season Preview: 14U Boys

With the 2019-2020 US Youth Soccer National League season kicking off  this month, we take a look ahead at the competition with an in-depth preview of each age group.

In this edition, find out what’s in store for the 14U Boys.

Schedule, Scores and Standings | History and Results

The 14U Boys Black Division features several teams that have already proven themselves in league formats, but they need that experience and more to overtake FC Dallas 06B Premier (TX-N). The North Texas side is coming off a trip to the US Youth Soccer National Championships after it won the US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championship. FC Dallas also won the US Youth Soccer Frontier Conference by a razor-thin margin, so it will look to apply its experience in league play and on the national stage when it takes on the Black Division this season.

La Roca S CS (UT) also enjoyed success in multiple competitions last season, as it won the US Youth Soccer Desert Conference by going 8-0-1 and narrowly taking first place via tiebreaker. La Roca also advanced to the semifinals at the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships, showing it can string together results over the course of a few days.

A couple other teams topped their Conferences, including ISC Inter 2006 Boys (NJ), which won the US Youth Soccer Mid Atlantic EDP Conference Club vs. Club Division with an 11-1-2 record. Meanwhile, 06 Lobos Rush Premier (TN) went 6-1-0 to win the US Youth Soccer Mid South Conference. Both sides will look to draw from that experience when competing for the Black Division title this year.

Fresh off claiming the 2019 National Championship, 2006 Pipeline Pre Academy (MD) is a prime contender for the 14U Boys Blue Division title. The Maryland side showcased a formidable defense throughout its run at the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships and National Championships. Pipeline conceded just one goal at Regionals, as it claimed the title, and it followed that up by posting four shutouts in Overland Park, Kan., to claim the National title. If that defensive ability carries over to this National League season, Pipeline will be a challenge for any opponent.

West Pines United FC (FL) also brings some valuable experience ahead of its Blue Division campaign. West Pines won the US Youth Soccer Sunshine Conference and advanced to the quarterfinals at the Southern Regional Championships — giving it some success in both league and tournament formants that it can draw from this season.

Results from early Fall 2019 have indicated that SC Wave Juniors 06 Boys (WI) should be another team that could cause problems for Blue Division opponents. The Wisconsin side went 7-1-1 while finishing second in the US Youth Soccer Midwest Conference Premier I Division. Tennessee SC 06 Boys (TN) is also coming off a strong early fall season, as it went 6-0-0 to win the Mid South Conference.

A field of teams with a mix of league and tournament achievements comprises the 14U Boys Red Division. Standing out among them is Rebels SC Elite 06 Boys (CA-S), which won the Far West Regional Championship and earned some valuable experience competing at Nationals. Rebels overcame two losses at the start of Regionals, as it bounced back to earn a quarterfinal amid four straight wins to close out the competition and claim the Far West title. An ability to put a loss behind it and move forward should help the team as it looks to navigate the Red Division schedule this season.

NLS Ajax 2006 White (MD) has already proven it can handle league formats, as it went 6-0-2 to win the US Youth Soccer South Atlantic EDP Conference Premier I Division. Similarly, Raiders FC 2006 (IL) put together a strong spring 2019 season in the Midwest Conference Premier I Division to go 7-0-2 and finish in first place. That put it one spot — and one point — ahead of fellow Red Division side SDB Academy Galacticos (KS), and both teams will hope to translate that league success to the National League.

After coming up short of the National Championship, Michigan Jaguars 2006 Green (MI) is out to finish on top of the 14U Boys White Division and earn a trip back to Nationals. The Michigan side used offensive firepower to win the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championship. It earned shutout wins in its first two matches at Nationals to earn a spot in the final, but it dropped that match and finished as the National runner-up. Nevertheless, that experience will prove beneficial when the Jaguars begin their National League campaign.

While each team’s goal is to capture the White Division title, FC Europa 2006 Elite (PA-E) could also have some extra motivation after it came up short of qualifying for Nationals this past summer. The Eastern PA side put together a strong performance to finish as the Eastern Regional Championship runner-up. Its only dropped point came in a draw in group play and one-goal loss in the final to the eventual National Champion — indicating that FC Europa can hang with teams on the national stage.

PPA KSA 06 Pro-Profile (GA) will be another team to keep an eye on after it made a run to the semifinals of the Southern Regional Championships, where it dropped a close game to the eventual Regional Champs.

• Edward Smith III (Pipeline SC) – Golden Ball, Best XI at the National Championships
• Joel Rodriguez (Rebels SC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Leonardo Loya (Rebels SC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Anthony Topolski (Pipeline SC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Kobe Keomany (Pipeline SC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Travis Zeleji (Michigan Jaguars) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Philippe Oliveira (Pipeline SC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Tyler Mezzadra (Pipeline SC) – Golden Glove, Best XI at the National Championships
• Ryan Zellerfrow (FC Europa) – Leading scorer at the Eastern Regional Championships with nine goals
• Michlyn Murphy (FC Dallas) – Tied for leading scorer at the Southern Regional Championships with five goals

2019 US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Interregional – 2006 Roster
East Region – Ryan Zellefrow (FC Europa)
West Region – Gavin Fenn, Pedro Gonzalez, Brody Laga, Lal Zar, Dodi Makassa (La Roca); Justin Geracci (LVSA)