US Youth Soccer Region I Championships set to kick off Friday
Barboursville, W.Va. (Via US Youth Soccer) – Teams, parents, referees, tournament officials and volunteers gathered Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Thursday afternoon for opening ceremonies to kickoff the beginning of the 2016 US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships.
Preliminary games begin Friday at 8 a.m. at the Scott Orthopedic Soccer Complex, the Soccer Stadium at Marshall University and Barboursville Soccer Complex in Barboursville, W.Va.
Eleven of 16 possible teams are returning to regional competition as 2015 US Youth Soccer Region I Champions. On the girl’s side, Under-13 Ginga FC (CT) and HMMS Eagle FC Impact (PA-E) are back to defend their Under-12 titles from last year. Under-15 HBC Impact 00 (NY-E), Under-16 Penn Strikers (PA-W) and Under-17 Beadling Bulldogs (PA-W) round out the remaining returning girls champions. Boys returning regional champions include the Under-13 PDA Drogba (MD), Under-14 Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD), Under-15 McLean 00 Green (VA), Under-16 Fewster FC (MD), Under-17 Penn Fusion 98 (PA-E) and Under-18 Baltimore Celtic 97/98 (MD).
This year’s field also includes three former US Youth Soccer National Champions (listed with current age-group): Under-14 Boys Baltimore Darby 01/02 (2015), Under-18 Boys Baltimore Celtic 97/98 (2014) and Under-19 Boys Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (2013).
Numerous other players are returning to this week’s tournament in hopes of realizing their goal of advancing to the 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas, July 25-31 at Toyota Soccer Center.
The top 234 boys and girls US Youth Soccer teams from 15 State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region I will compete for the regional title. The games will be held July 1-5 at the Barboursville Soccer Complex, Scott Orthopedic Soccer Complex and the Soccer Stadium at Marshall University
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.
