US Youth Soccer Region I champions crowned in West Virginia

Daily Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Semifinals

Barboursville, W.Va. (Via US Youth Soccer) – Champions were named today at the 2016 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships in Barboursville, W.Va.

Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 26-31, at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas.

Loudoun Red (VA) and Syracuse Development Academy (MD) both claimed more than one championship for their club. Of the returning champions, three, Under-14 Girls HBC Impact 00 (NY-E), Under-17 Girls Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W) and Under-14 Boys Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD), accomplished back-to-back regional titles.

2016 US Youth Soccer Region I Champions:

Under-12 8v8 Girls:  Allegheny Force FC (PA-W)
Under-12 Girls:  SDFC Galaxy Yellow (NJ)
Under-13 Girls:  NJ Rush 02 Blue (NJ)
Under-14 Girls:  BRYC 01 Elite (VA)
Under-15 Girls:  HBC Impact 00 (NY-E)
Under-16 Girls:  Syracuse Development Academy 99/00 (NY-W)
Under-17 Girls:  Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W)
Under-18 Girls:  Syracuse Development Academy 97/98 (NY-W)
Under-19 Girls:  McLean 96 Green (VA)

Under-12 8v8 Boys:  Bethesda SC Blue (MD)
Under-12 Boys:  Cedar Stars Academy (NJ)
Under-13 Boys:  SDA (NY-W)
Under-14 Boys:  Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD)
Under-15 Boys:  LMSC Sabertooth Rats (PA-E)
Under-16 Boys:  Loudoun Red (VA)
Under-17 Boys:  Pipeline Black (MD)
Under-18 Boys:  Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E)
Under-19 Boys:  Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E)

Under-18 Boys Rep:  Dix Hill Elite (NY-E)*
Under-14 Boys Rep:  FCV Ashburn Elite 01 (VA)*
*Will advance to Nationals as Regional Representatives as Champion already qualified through the US Youth Soccer National League.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 96 teams.

Highlights from all final games…

Under-12 8v8 Boys
Bethesda SC Blue 03 (MD) faced off against LMVSC Patriots Red (PA-E) in the Under-12 8v8 Boys final. Bethesda’s Jose Ortega scored the only goal of the game to give Bethesda score four times from three different scorers to outscore their opponents 4-1 to claim the title. Conor Robertson, Pnadelis Margaronis, and Niko Neal scored for Bethesda with Robertson tallying twice. Khris Turcios-Chavez was the lone goal scorer for LMVSC.

Under-12 Boys
The U-12 Boys final was a rematch of the group play game between Cedar Stars Academy (NJ) and South Central Premier 03/04 (CT). This game had the same end result as group play as Cedar Stars repeated their victory with a 2-0 win over South Central.

Under-13 Boys
SDA (NY-W) kept a perfect record through five games of play at the Region I Championships, and will now be heading to the National Championships in Frisco, Texas. SDA defeated Empire United Soccer Academy – Rochester (NY-W) 3-0 in the final to win the title. Francesco Pagano, Griffin Seebr and Jeorgio Kocevski were the goal scorers for SDA. The New York – West team now advances to Nationals only having allowed one goal against all tournament.

Under-14 Boys
Defending Regional and National Champions Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD) are now repeat Regional Champions after dispatching FCV Ashburn Elite 01 (VA) in the Under-14 Boys final 3-1. Despite the loss, FCV Ashburn will advance to Frisco, Texas, for the National Championships as Regional Representatives with Baltimore having already qualified via the US Youth Soccer National League.

Under-15 Boys
In their first trip to Regionals, LMSC Sabertooth Rats (PA-E) are leaving as Regional Champions. LMSC defeated HMMS Eagle FC 00 Titans (PA-E) 2-0 in a clash of Eastern Pennsylvania teams. Andrew Markopoulous and Jared Dillon were the scorers for LMSC in the 12^th and 53^rd minutes of play. LMSC advance from regionals going undefeated with 18 goals for and just two against.

Under-16 Boys
The Under-16 Boys final was a tight battle between Loudoun Red (VA) and defending Regional Champions Fewster FC (MD). Bret Halsey put the Virginia side ahead in the 10^th minute, but Fewster would answer back early in the second half with a goal from Brenden Hollingsworth. Halsey scored his second goal of the game to seal Loudoun’s place as Region I Champions and give it spot in the National Championships.

Under-17 Boys
Pipeline Black (MD) cemented their spot as Regional Champions after defeating Loudoun 98 Red (VA) 4-1. With Loudoun already having qualifying for Nationals via the National League, Pipeline had technically already qualified for the National Championships after it won its semifinal match. Pipeline was not content with just qualifying and went at the Virginia side grabbing a convincing victory. Jake Dengler started the scoring in the 10^th minute, and an own goal just two minutes later put them up 2-0. Loudoun’s Kostandino Nika cut the lead in half in the 16^th minute but Pipeline again responded before half with a Seth Anderson goal to once again extend the lead. Pipeline added yet another goal, early in the second half, when Eduardo Rodriguez found the back of the net and brought the final score to 4-1.

Under-18 Boys
Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E) lost 1-0 in last year’s final match but turned their fortunes around this year as it beat Dix Hills Elite (NY-E) 2-1 to claim the Regional title. Dix Hills will advance to Nationals as regional representatives with Lehigh Valley already qualifying for Nationals via a first place finish in its group in National League play.

Under-19 Boys
Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E) is headed back to Nationals after failing to qualify last year when it lost 1-0 in the last year’s Regional final match. This year, Smithtown took the most of its opportunity and defeated Baltimore Celtic 96/97 1-0 (PKs) after winning in kicks from the mark. Smithtown won the Under-16 Boys National Championship in 2013 and will hope to replicate that success once again in its last year of eligibility as they compete for the prestigious James P. McGuire Cup, the older trophy in youth sports.

Under-12 8v8 Girls
Allegheny Force FC (PA-W) defeated BRYC Elite (VA) 3-2 to claim the Under-12 8v8 Girls title. Allegheny only allowed five goals all tournament while scoring 21 goals of its own on its way to becoming champions.

Under-12 Girls
SDFC Galaxy Yellow (NJ) advanced to Regionals as a state wildcard and is now leaving as Regional Champion. SDFC managed to beat Smithtown Panthers (NY-E) on day two, narrowly winning with a 1-0 margin in the first meeting. SDFC was a bit more comfortable with the final results as it won 3-0 in the rematch on finals day.

Under-13 Girls
NJ Rush 02 Blue (NJ) defeated North United Rush (PA-W) 3-0 to claim the Under-13 Girls Regional title. North United Rush had only allowed one goal all tournament and the New Jersey side scored three starting with a Mackenzie Clement goal in just the 4^th minute. Amanda Attanasi and Jillian Drumm added second half goals to bring the final score to 3-0.

Under-14 Girls
After falling in the semifinals last year, South Short Select Elite (MA) advanced to the final game this year and faced BRYC 01 Elite (VA). BRYC managed to keep the two highest scorers in the tournament, Alyssa Flemming and Madeliene Broderick, from finding the back of the net and keep a clean sheet on its way to victory. The BRYC side only need one goal to earn the Under-14 Girls regional title.

Under-15 Girls
HBC Impact 00 (NY-E) defeated Princeton SA IGFA 00/01 (NJ) 1-0 to repeat as Regional Champions. All HBC needed was a Ryan Conway goal in the 10^th minute of play as neither team could find the back of the net for the rest of the match. With the result HBC returns to Nationals where they will hope to improve on its results from its first trip there.

Under-16 Girls
Syracuse Development Academy 99/00 (NY-E) knocked off the defending Regional Champions, FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E) in a very well-played tough match between the two sides. SDA’s Marissa Greiner scored in just the 4^th minute and then Kirsten Underwood extended the lead to 2-0 just 10 minutes later. Sage Magruder managed to cut the lead in half midway through the second half, but Penn Strikers could not score an equalizer. With the 2-1 win, SDA advances to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

Under-17 Girls
Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W) matched up in the final against a FC Copa Celeste (NJ) side who had just knocked out three-time National Finalists YMS Xplosion (PA-E). Beadling defeated FC Copa 2-0 to defend its Region I Championships title on two early first half Lexie Kolano goals. Beadling defended well and is now headed back to Nationals.

Under-18 Girls
The Under-18 Girls final was a rematch of a day three game between Beadling SC Wolfpack 97/98 (PA-W) and Syracuse Development Academy 97/98 (NY-W). In their first matchup, Beadling defeated SDA with a score of 3-1. The final game was a different story as it took kicks from the mark to separate the two sides after they finished regulation tied 1-1. Syracuse claimed the Under-18 Girls title by defeating Beadling SC in kicks from the mark, with some heroic goalkeeping from Jennafer Rholin who made some huge saves to help guide her team to a National Championship berth.

Under-19 Girls
After just missing qualifying Nationals with a 1-0 loss in last year’s final, McLean 96 Green (VA) defeated Vincent United Pride (PA-E) 3-0 to claim the Regional title and a spot in the 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championships. McLean finishes the tournament with no losses, 17 goals four and only six goals against in five games. McLean’s Jarena Harmon finished the tournament as top scorer in the Under-19 age group.

Today’s scores…