US Youth Soccer Piedmont Conference 2019-2020 Midseason Recap

FRISCO, Texas — The 2019-20 US Youth Soccer Piedmont Conference season has come to the midway point and teams are staying focused as they prepare for their remaining league matches.

The Piedmont Conference features Premier I and Premier II Division teams in the 13U through 19U age groups, with the 13U age groups playing their season in the spring of 2020. The Piedmont Conference features 208 teams this season from the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, with 78 teams in Girls Premier I, 62 in Boys Premier I, and 67 in Boys Premier II.

The first half of the season saw many teams battling for the top positions in each bracket within the Premier I and Premier II Divisions. In addition to division titles, teams are competing for promotion within the conference or, in the case of Premier I teams, an automatic berth into the National League (national tier) for the 2020-21 season. Teams are also competing to qualify for the US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championships. The top team in the Premier I Division of each 13U-19U gender age group will qualify for the 2020 Southern Regional Championships as the Piedmont Conference representative.

In the 14U Girls Premier I Division, Charlotte SA 06 South Elite (NC) has managed to maintain its first place position after going 5-0-0 to begin the season. This Charlotte team is the defending Piedmont Conference champion after it won the 13U Girls Premier I Division last season.

“Our success has come from the hard work put in, the commitment to each other and the desire to truly grow as players and a team,” said Stewart Draper, head coach of Charlotte SA 06 South Elite. “Back in August, we wrote individual and team goals for the year. We are working hard to accomplish these goals and will do whatever it takes to make sure we are successful.”

After a great start, Draper said that they will continue with their goals through the rest of competition for the 2019-20 Piedmont Conference season.

”Our goals won’t change,” Draper said. “We will continue our technical development as players whilst competing at the highest levels that we are capable of as a team. We would like to continue our good run of form and compete within the National League showcase events under the Charlotte Soccer Academy banner.”

In the 18U Boys Premier I Division, Smyrna SC 2002 (GA) holds first place after winning all five of its early conference games this season.

“I attribute our success so far to a continuation of our progress and success from last year,” said Craig Reynolds, head coach of Smyrna SC 2002. “We are committed to an attractive, tactically relevant style of play and push for high performances in every game. Our group is very ambitious after losing in the semifinals of Regionals and are determined to go beyond that benchmark this year. We have also added a few players that have enhanced our quality at a few positions.”

With the successful start to the season, Reynolds said that the Smyrna 2002 boys will not complicate anything going into the rest of the season.

“The goals for the second half are simple,” Reynolds said. “Win the division, win State Cup, and advance beyond Regional semis.”

Some notes on the season up to this point:

Girls – Premier I Division

• Inter Atlanta FC 05G Elite (GA) have the slight edge over Wake FC 05 Blue G (NC) and NCFC 05 Elite G (NC) in the girls 15U Premier I Division with a record of 5-0-0.
• 04 NCFC Elite Girls (NC) have had a commanding start to the season with a record of 7-1-0 to hold first place in the 16U Premier I Division. Georgia Rush 2004 (GA) follows closely behind at 6-0-0.
• In the 17U Premier I Division, Charlotte SA 03 South Elite G (NC) holds on to first place after a win this past weekend.
• Charlotte SA 02 South Elite (NC) are at the top of 18U Premier I Division with a record of 5-0-1 going into the last few games of the conference season. Charlotte SA 02’s only loss has been to Savanah United 02 Premier (GA).
• In the 19U Premier I Division, 01 Charlotte Independence SC North (NC) sit at first place with a record of 5-1-0.

Boys – Premier I Division

• Pro Profile Academy GS 06B (GA) hold the first place position with a record of 5-0-1 in the 14U Premier I Division.
• Pitt Greenville SA 05 (NC) are at the top of the 15U Premier I Division after winning the first four games of their season.
• In the 16U Premier I Division, Pro Profile Academy GS 04B (GA) have the slight edge over Triangle United SA 04 Wake Blue (NC) even after the two teams’ matchup ended in a draw last month.
• North Carolina FC 03 Elite (NC) are in first place in the 17U Premier I Division with their three wins on the season.
• In the 19U Premier I Division, Kalonji PPA KSA 01 (GA) and AFC Lighting 01 Gold (GA) have both started the season at 3-0-0, with Kalonji PPA KSA 01 not allowing any goals so far.

Boys – Premier II Division

• Alpharetta Ambush SC 06B Red (GA) started its season with four wins and is at the top of the 14U Premier II Division.
• In the 15U Premier II Division, Alliance SC Archies 05 Elite (GA) hold first place with a record of 6-0-1.
• NDSA Alianza Gold 04 (GA) took over first place in the 16U Premier II Division with a pair of wins this past weekend.
• Triangle United SA Wake Gold North (NC) remains undefeated this season with a record of 5-0-0 and holds the first place position in the 17U Premier II Division.
• Athens United SA 02 (GA) maintains its first place position in the 18U Premier II Division after a win and a loss in South Carolina this past weekend.
• Mays Strikers 01B Elite Clasico (GA) and Coast FA 02 Red (SC) are both at the top of the 19U Premier II Division with records of 3-1-0. The two teams tied 3-3 when they faced off last month.

Piedmont Conference play continues Oct. 12-13 at North Mt. Carmel Park in Hampton, Ga.

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