US Youth Soccer Region I Championships preliminary rounds games begin
Preliminary games day 1 of 3 complete
Scores and Standings | Score Alerts | Video
Barboursville, W.Va. (Via US Youth Soccer) – The first day of round robin play kicked off at the 2015 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships today at the Scott Orthopedic Soccer Complex, the Soccer Stadium at Marshall University and Barboursville Soccer Complex in Barboursville, W.Va.
The Region I Championships feature top teams in the Under-12 through Under-19 age groups and began on June 25, with opening ceremonies at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Barboursville, W.Va. Round robin games take place today through Sunday, June 28, with semifinal matches Monday, June 29. The regional champions will be crowned following final games on Tuesday, June 30.
US Youth Soccer State Champions and select wildcards in the U-12 through U-19 Boys and Girls age groups from 15 state associations, including host West Virginia, are participating in the event.
Nine teams are back to defend their 2014 regional titles…
Girls
U-13G Greater Binghamton (NY-W)* 1-1 South Central Premier Spirit (CT)
U-14G South Shore Select Elite (MA)* 6-0 DE Rush 00 (DE)
U-17G Beadling SC Wolfpack 97/98 (PA-W)* 2-0 Syracuse Development Academy 97/98 (NY-W)
Boys
U-13B FSA FC Elite (CT)* 1-3 Kaka White (NJ)
U-14B Baltimore Celtic Dynasty (MD)* 1-1 FPYC Fury (VA)
U-15B Arlington Eagles Red (VA)* 3-0 DE Rush 99 (DE)
U-16B Loudoun 98 Red (VA)* vs Black Watch Burlington Academy (VT) – Score will be available online (late game)
U-18B Manhattan SC PSG (E-NY)* 5-2 Severna Park Fever (MD)
U-19B (E-PA) Lehigh Valley United 95 (PA-E)* 1-1 DE Rush Arsenal (DE)
Notes from a few of today’s games…
Under-13 Girls
Under-13 Girls Greater Binghamton United FC (NY-W) looked to be off to a hot start on their 2014 Region I title defense as Ione Fetsko gave Greater Binghamton a great early chance on a breakaway but her chance was stonewalled by the South Central keeper. A last minute first-half goal from Anglina Fahrenkrug gave the Western New York side the lead heading into halftime. Fahrenkrug brought down a cross in the box and after settling it down and slotted a shot past the keeper to make the score 1-0. South Central responded midway through the second half when Taylor Wyatt scored to level the game. Neither team broke the deadlock and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
We prepare for this year round,” said Binghamton Head Coach Bahij Kashou. “We continue to play against the top clubs in the country so it keeps us tuned and ready for the top competitions.”
Under-14 Boys
“Two outstanding teams, sensational game,” said FPYC Fury Head Coach Kevin McKenna after the game. “I thought overall both teams well coach. Celtic teams are always extremely well coached and very well disciplined. My boys show a lot of heart and moved the ball and attacked well. All around outstanding game I was really pleased at the performance of both teams. Anyone who watched this enjoyed a great game.”
FPYC Fury (VA) came out quick and caught the defending champions Baltimore Celtic Dynasty (MD) off-guard and got an early goal in just the 5th minute by Jason Krein. Celtic didn’t waste any time in leveling the score when Danny Paucar found the back of the net just seven minutes later. Both teams had chances to grab the win but neither side could find a game winning goal and the score finished 1-1.
“This is the group of death with three top five teams,” continued Kevin McKenna. “The boys came out and tied Celtic in the first game 1-1 and I really truly believe we’ll win this group. I believe in them and they believe in themselves and as long as everyone is positive and comes out with that mentality I think we’ll be successful.
Under-14 Girls
The Under-14 Girls field will have to work hard to compete with returning champions South Shore Select Elite (MA). After winning last year’s Regional Chanmpionship and getting a taste of the 2014 National Championships it is clear that South Shore will be hard to stop as they tune up for the 2015 National Championships. Brooke Cavino got the Massachusetts side started with the only two first half goals in the 14th and 24th minutes of play. Cavino notched her hattrick early in the second half and then teammates Hannah Vogt, Olivia Johnson and Isabelle Ruprecht completed a dominant performance from the returning champs brining the final score to 6-0 over Delaware Rush 00 (DE). South Shore will be tough to beat but will have all the other Under-14 Girls teams gunning for their title as the games continue tomorrow.
Under-15 Boys
Under-15 Boys Delaware Rush 99 (DE) did all they could to hold defending champions Arlington Eagles Red (VA) at bay. After much back and forth in the first half, Arlington turned the momentum in their favor when Edison Giron received the ball deep in Delaware’s box and slotted it to the bottom right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. Arlington came out in the second half and gave a full display of what the talented team is capable of. In the 59th minute Samuel Goodkind put in a cross into the box that found its way to a wide open Nelson Flores Blanco in the six-yard box who smashed it into the goal. Later, Flores Blanco showed his assist ability as well as he found William Socas with a beautiful through ball. Arlington had an amazing chance to extend the lead but couldn’t capitalize. Paul Bangura put the finishing touch on the game as he tallied Arlington’s final goal as he received a through ball and chipped the ball up and over Delaware’s sliding keeper to bring the final score to 3-0.
Under-17 Girls
Beadling SC Wolfpack 97/98 (PA-W) faced off against Syracuse Development Academy 97/98 (NY-W) in their first game of the 2015 Region I Championships. SDA got on the board early when they sent a dangerous cross into the box. The Beadling keeper caught the cross but lost control when she ran into an attacking player and Jade Gentile put the New York side up 1-0. Beadling had more chances in the first half and controlled the game but could not get anything to go their way. Gentile sealed the game in the second half when she stole a ball in the Beadling defensive zone and had slotted home a 1v1 breakaway with the keeper.
Under-18 Boys
The first match of this year’s Regional Championships pit Baltimore Celtic (MD) against Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E) who won the Under-16 Boys National Championship in 2013. Smithtown came flying out of the gates putting plenty of pressure on the Baltimore side, trying to impose their physical style of play. Celtic withstood the pressure and settled in but couldn’t seem to find a rhythm. Fernando Cortez put the New York side ahead with a strike just five minutes into the first half. Celtic leveled the score just over ten minutes later when Joseph Hall found the back of the net. The hotly contested match was put to bed when Smithtown captain TJ Butzke scored in the 82nd minute of play. The New York side held off Celtic to win 2-1.
Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 21-26, at Mohawk Soccer Complex.
