US Youth Soccer National League Las Vegas Preview: U-15 Boys
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Age Group Previews, Games to Watch and Player Notes: U-14 | U-16 | U-17 | U-18
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+Read: Boys wrap up first leg of US Youth Soccer National League alongside CASL Showcase
(Via US Youth Soccer) – The 2014-15 US Youth Soccer National League Boys season will wrap up play March 13-15 at Heritage Park in Henderson, Nev., as 48 teams — representing 19 states and 40 clubs — play their final three games and solidify the division standings. In the Under-15 through Under-18 age groups, each division will be represented by four of the eight teams, while the Under-14 divisions will each feature all eight sides.
Blue Division
All four Under-15 Blue Division teams competing in Las Vegas are still alive to claim the title and punch a ticket to the National Championships. With defending National Champion United FA 00 Premier (GA) already finished with 16 points, there’s a chance just one of the four teams playing in Vegas advances to Tulsa through the National League. That fact will make for six very exciting games within the division over the course of the three days.
Notable teams
Fullerton Rangers White (CA-S) — A solid performance in North Carolina has Fullerton entering the final weekend in a tie for second place. It has an impressive goal differential, which could come into play in a tiebreaker situation.
Dallas Texans 00 Red (TX-N) — The North Texas side is tied with Fullerton in second place after it showed the ability to come out on top in close games.
Sporting KC Academy (KS) — An opening-day loss to United FA was the lone blemish on an otherwise dominant week in North Carolina for Sporting KC. It could make things interesting with similar play in Las Vegas.
Alliance ASC Pro 18 (MI) — Alliance enters the final weekend of play in fifth place, but it’s in striking distance and could jump up in the standings with some positive results.
*United FA 00 Premier (GA) — The 2014 National Champions wrapped up their season in Orlando and are currently in first place with 16 points.
*Team has completed all seven games and will not be playing in Las Vegas.
Game to watch
March 13, Sporting KC Academy (KS) vs. Fullerton Rangers White (CA-S)
Sporting KC will likely need a win over Fullerton or Dallas to jump into second place in the group. The Kansas side gets that opportunity on the first day of play in Las Vegas, as it looks to keep the momentum going after three straight victories to finish its week in North Carolina. Meanwhile, a Fullerton win would keep it in the driver’s seat heading into its final two games.
Red Division
One berth to the National Championships remains in the Under-15 Red Division after South Carolina United FC 99 Elite (SC) wrapped up its season with 16 points to secure a top-two finish. Two teams playing in Las Vegas have a shot at earning the division’s second spot at Nationals, with Real Colorado National 99/00 (CO) having the best chance of playing its way into the top two and potentially the division title.
Notable teams
Real Colorado National 99/00 (CO) — The Colorado side controls its own destiny heading into the games this month. Real earned seven points against the teams in the top half of the current standings, and three wins in Vegas would result in a division title.
FRAM Lawson (CA-S)— FRAM needs three wins and some help in other games to have a chance at a top-two finish when the dust settles in Las Vegas.
*South Carolina United FC 99 Elite (SC) — South Carolina has clinched a top-two finish and will be crowned division champions if Real Colorado drops any points in Las Vegas.
*Arlington Eagles Red (VA) — The Virginia side is currently in second place, but it will need some favorable results in the final weekend to stay in that spot.
*Team has completed all seven games and will not be playing in Las Vegas.
Game to watch
March 15, FRAM Lawson (CA-S) vs. Real Colorado National 99/00 (CO)
Should each team win its first two games, this matchup would have a ticket to the National Championships on the line. A tie would be enough to put Real through in that scenario, while FRAM would need a win to a force a goal differential tiebreaker. The Colorado side could also clinch the division title if it wins this matchup and completes a 3-0-0 weekend.
Other Notes
Quantrell Jones of Baltimore Celtic SC Christos (MD) was selected for the March U.S. Under-15 Boy’s National Team camp.
Cameron Duke of Sporting KC Academy (KS) was part of the U.S. Under-14 BNT that competed Feb. 6-17 in Spain, and he was also selected for the March U.S. Under-15 Boy’s National Team camp.
[player_box id=49060 leftright=right]Nelson Flores Blanco and Edison Giron of Arlington Eagles Red (VA) were on the Virginia 1999 roster at the 2015 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships.
Narcis Sprecic of Alliance ASC Pro 18 (MI) was on the Michigan 1999 roster at the 2015 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships.
