US Youth Soccer National League 2019-20 Season Preview: 15U 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 15U Boys.

Schedule, Scores and Standings | History and Results

The 15U Boys Black Division includes several teams with some valuable early experience in a variety of competitions. Among them is Raiders FC 2005 (IL), which is coming off a Black Division title from a season ago, when the Illinois side went 5-1-1 to win a tight race in the standings. Raiders did well at the US Youth Soccer National Championships, as it advanced to the semifinals before coming up short in kicks from the mark. That should provide some extra motivation for Raiders to get back to that stage, and it will look to do so by winning a second consecutive Black Division title.

A return to the National Championships will also be a goal for 05 PGSA Stars (NC), which won the 2019 US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championship. PGSA produced three straight shutout wins in the knockout stages of Regionals to secure the title, as it showed it can string together strong performances against tough competition. That ability will make it a tough matchup for Black Division foes if it can continue that trend in the National League season.

Meanwhile, Real Jersey FC 2005 (NJ) enters the season after winning the US Youth Soccer Mid Atlantic EDP Conference Premier I Division with a 7-0-2 record. That showing, combined with a winning record from last year’s National League season, will make Real Jersey a team to watch this season. Olympiacos FC B05 Academy (CA-S) is also coming off a top finish in the US Youth Soccer Pacific Conference, as well as an appearance in the final of the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championship. The Cal South side has a chance to see if that success will translate to the National League when it begins Black Division play.

Pennine United 05 (OH-N) is out to reclaim its National League title in this year’s 15U Boys Blue Division, but several challengers will make that a difficult task. The Ohio North side won the Blue Division a year ago, as it went 6-0-1 while outscoring opponents, 20-to-3.

Overtaking Pennine for the Blue Division title will be a goal for MSC Academy 05/06 (IL), which tied the Ohio North side when the two teams met at the National Championships. MSC Academy advanced to Nationals by winning the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championship — earning victories in each of its five games in Saginaw, Mich. The Illinois side also finished first in the US Youth Soccer Midwest Conference Premier I Division, giving it proven success in league formats.

Santa Clara Sporting 05B Green (CA-N) and Tropical Impact 2005 Orange (FL) each finished on top of their division in the US Youth Soccer Pacific Conference and US Youth Soccer Sunshine Conference. Both sides followed their conference success by making runs to the knockout rounds of their respective Regional Championships.

Meanwhile, Washington Capital United 05 Blue (MD) and Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 05 Boys Black (PA-E) each followed up second-place finishes in their respective conference competitions by making a run to the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships semifinals — adding to the Blue Division sides who bring plenty of league and tournament experience to the upcoming season.

A handful of teams who have enjoyed triumphs in league formats highlight the 15U Boys Red Division. Leading that group is Nationals Union 05 Black (MI), which is coming off a Red Division title last season, as well as a first-place finish in the US Youth Soccer Great Lakes Conference Premier I Division. In addition to its strong league play performances, Nationals also advanced to the final at the Midwest Regional Championships and the semifinals at the National Championships —giving it even more valuable experience to fall back on as it looks to defend its Red Division title.

LVSA 05 Red (NV) also has titles in multiple 2018-19 competitions on its resume, including winning the 2019 Far West Regional Championship. The Nevada side averaged just under five goals per game during its dominant run in Boise, Idaho. Prior to that, LVSA won the US Youth Soccer Desert Conference and showcased strong defensive play to show it can win various styles of games. LVSA also defeated Nationals Union when they met in the group stage at Nationals, which should give it some confidence entering Red Division action.

With a 13-2-1 record, Bethesda SC Blue 05 (MD) finished first in the US Youth Soccer South Atlantic EDP Conference Club vs. Club Division.  The Maryland side finished just one point ahead of the next team in the standings, so it knows the importance of each result over the course of a league season. The same can be said for ISC Super Eagles 2005 Boys (NJ), which encountered the same scenario in the Mid Atlantic EDP Conference Club vs. Club Division. The Super Eagles compiled a 12-1-3 record, which allowed it to win the division with a one-point edge over the second-place side. That valuable league play experience will make ISC a tough matchup for Red Division foes.

As defending National Champion Libertyville FC 1974 Elite (IL) will be the team to beat in the 15U Boys White Division. The Illinois side won the White Division title as a 14U side last season, and it will aim to repeat that feat this season. Libertyville should be full of confidence, as it capped a run to the National Championship with a 3-0 victory in the championship game. The poise and experience gained from that accomplishment will surely help Libertyville in the White Division, but that alone won’t guarantee the Illinois side another division title as it must navigate a group full of teams that are anxious to knock off the defending champion.

DKSC 05 Boys (TX-N) will look to build on the league play success it had last season, when it won the US Youth Soccer Frontier Conference by winning all five of its matches — allowing just two goals against over that span. That North Texas side won its group at the Southern Regional Championships, but it fell in kicks from the mark in the quarterfinals — leaving it motivated to earn a spot at Nationals this season.

Meanwhile, Future SA 05 (NJ) did just enough to win a tight race in the US Youth Soccer North Atlantic EDP Conference Premier I Division. The New Jersey side went 6-1-1 to take the conference title, and it will look to add to its league format achievements when it begins National League play. TUSC 05 Boys Red (TN) also brings a recent league play triumph to the White Division, as the Tennessee side went 8-1-0 to win the US Youth Soccer Mid South Conference.

• Zsombor Onodi (Pennine United) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Isaac Calderon (LVSA) – Best XI and leading scorer (five goals) at the National Championships; Leading scorer at the Far West Regional Championships with 13 goals
• Ariel Nunez (PGSA Stars) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Alan Alonso (Libertyville FC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Miguel Garcia (Libertyville FC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Zachary Hult (Libertyville FC) – Best XI at the National Championships
• Ryan Belal (BRAUSA) – Tied for leading scorer at the Eastern Regional Championships with five goals
• Ryan Davis (PGSA Stars) – Leading scorer at the Southern Regional Championships with 10 goals

2019 US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Interregional – 2005 Roster
Midwest Region – Leonardo Arana (Michigan Jaguars), Jared Garcia (ECU Maroon)
South Region – Connor MacLean, Lucas Wolthers (TUSC); Ariel Nunez (PGSA Stars); William Wackerfuss (Germantown Legends)
West Region – Victor Mateo (LVSA), Trevor Walk (USA Premier)

2019 US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Interregional – 2006 Roster
South Region – Sil Rottink (Germantown Legends)