US Youth Soccer National League P.R.O. Florida Event: 15U-19U Girls Recap
TAMPA, Fla. — US Youth Soccer National League P.R.O. Florida concluded on Monday, as the 15U-19U Girls played their final games of the event at the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay in Florida.
With many of the group races very close at the top of the standings, a majority of Monday’s games had direct implications as to which teams qualify for the 2022 USYS National Championships. The top two teams in the 15U-18U age groups, plus the next two top overall finishers in some age groups, move on to Nationals while the 19U Girls will have four teams advance from each of the three groups.
The remaining seventh games in most of the age groups will be crucial in determining who advances to the National Championships.
Tom Holevas, head coach for Libertyville FC 1974 Elite 06G (IL), talked about his team’s goals setting after they earned a qualifying spot at the National League Championships.
“I’m extremely excited for the girls and the outcome of the game today,” said Holevas. “They have worked tirelessly for this goal. I have been with this group since U12, so I have been with them for five years and they set the goal to get here before the end of their club career. This is an outstanding achievement and I’m so excited for them. It means a tremendous amount to the team. This will be our club’s third trip to nationals, but this will be the first trip with this group and they wanted it from the minute they entered National League P.R.O.”
Holevas also talked about the competition in National League P.R.O. this season.
“You are playing some of the best teams in the nation at National League P.R.O.,” said Holevas. “So the measuring stick is that the top players in the country are here. Being able to go up against these players and teams makes us just that much stronger and forces us to develop to continue to be better.”
Take a brief look at where the 15U-19U girls teams stand after Monday’s matches…
15U Girls
Group A: Dynamite 2007G (NJ) and Ginga FC Girls 2007 Elite (CT) have both earned qualifying spots to the National Championships and are both currently sitting at the top of the group’s standings with 16 and 14 points respectively. The two teams will face off in March for their local game that will decide who clinches the group’s standings.
Group B: Solar South 07G FDL Adames (TX-N) clinched the group’s standings and has earned a spot at the National Championships. The second spot is still up for grabs as Nationals Union 07 Girls Black (MI) finished with 13 points, but Real Jersey FC 2007 (NJ) will try to earn the spot with their local game coming up.
16U Girls
Group A: Chicago Inter 2006 Red (IL) has earned a spot at the National Championships with its 16 points and holds the top spot in the group’s standings for the time being. The second spot will be determined in the group’s remaining local 7th games.
Group B: Libertyville FC 1974 Elite 06G (IL) has secured a qualifying spot at the National Championships with its 19 points in the group’s standings. The second spot and the group’s champion title is still up for grabs with some 7th games still to be played.
Group C: LMSC Impact (PA-E) clinched the group’s standings with a win on Monday. The second qualifying spot to the National Championships was earned by NJ Premier G2006 (NJ) on Monday when the side picked up a win.
17U Girls
Group A: Chicago Inter 2005 Red (IL) earned a qualifying spot into the National Championships with its win on Sunday. LFA Tottleben 2005G (MO) was able to earn the second qualifying spot with its win Monday.
Group B: Two spots to regionals are still up for grabs in this group. Currently, North Shore United 2005 Girls Blue (WI) and Real Jersey FC 2005 (NJ) both have 11 points after Monday’s games and sit at the top of the group’s standings.
Group C: DKSC 05G Weir FDL (TX-N) clinched the group’s standings with a 1-0 win on Monday. The second spot to the National Championships will be decided in the 7th game between Philadelphia SC Coppa 05 Rage (PA-E) and Penn FC Youth 2005G Black (PA-E).
18U Girls
Group A: Legends FC 04 Girls Black (MI) earned a qualifying spot in the National Championships with its win on Sunday. Sporting St. Louis 2004G Rangers (MO) earned the other spot to Nationals with its win on Monday.
Group B: The group’s top spot is still up for grabs, but DKSC 04G Voutier FDL (TX-N) currently holds it with its 17 points and has a qualifying spot at Nationals. Galaxy SC 2004 Blue (IL) will have a chance to win the group with its 7th game against SLSG 04 (MO) with the winner of that game taking the second qualifying spot at Nationals.
Group C: SDA 04 Blasters (NY-E) clinched the group’s standings with a win on Monday to secure a spot at the National Championships. Team Chicago SC 2004 Elite (IL) earned a qualifying spot into the National Championships with its win on Sunday.
19U Girls
Group A: North Shore United 03/04 Girls Blue (WI) clinched first place in the group’s standings with its win Sunday evening and earned a spot at the National Championships. Strikers FV 03/04 Premier (IL), Evolution Girls Mercurial (IL), and Chicago Inter 2003 Red (IL) all earned spots at Nationals as well.
Group B: The group’s four National Championship Qualifiers have emerged with Chicago FC United Girls 2003 Pre-Academy Red (IL), Michigan Jaguars 2003 NLC (MI), Nationals Union 03 Girls Black (MI), and NY Surf G03 Academy (NY-E) earning those spots.