US Youth Soccer Region III Championships continue in North Little Rock, Ark.

Preliminary Games, Day 2 of 3
Scores and Standings

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Via US Youth Soccer) — The 2015 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships continued Saturday at the Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, Ark., and various locations in the area. More than 190 games have been completed, and tomorrow’s action will decide the 92 teams moving on from the event’s preliminary round. Sunday’s matches begin at 7:45 a.m. CT and continue throughout the day with the final matches kicking off at 6 p.m.

Seeking players for future roster spots, more than 100 college coaches have registered for the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships, with more expected during the rest of the week. Year after year, the coaches enjoy the level of performance and urgency that comes when the teams play for advancement in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.

“It’s an unbelievable experience for our players,” said Chris Ring, coach of Under-16 Girls FC Dallas 99 Premier (TX-N). “Not only do we get to compete for the National Championship, but we’re coming out here and playing in front of 20, 30, 40 college coaches every game. It’s big-time for us.”

Ring’s team took advantage of its opportunity on Saturday, as FC Dallas came away with an important 2-0 win to move into a tie atop Under-16 Girls Group D. After experiencing the type of competition present at the Region III Championships, Ring and his team know they must continue to stay focused moving forward.

“We were here with this team last year, and I’ve been to Regionals multiple times. I understand that it’s a grind,” Ring said. “It’s not always about the first couple days. You have to be prepared to make it to the end.”

Some highlights from Saturday’s matchups…

After a tie in its first game, FC Dallas 99 Premier (TX-N) faced Day 1-winner GCUFC 99 Girls (MS) in an important Under-16 Girls Group D game. After an even first half that ended scoreless, FC Dallas struck first in the 47th minute on a Gabriella Duca strike. The Texas side regained the ball after the restart and Duca immediately found the back of the net for a second time. GCUFC saw a couple of very dangerous chances go just wide, and FC Dallas hung on for the key 2-0 shutout victory.

After a semifinal appearance at last year’s Region III Championships, Concorde Fire 99/00 (GA) is on track to make another deep run after earning its second 2-0 victory in Under-15 Boys play. Eric Olvera put Concorde ahead in the 12th minute, and Thair Britton added a late second-half goal to help seal the win. Concorde’s defense continued to remain organized, as it notched a second clean sheet to keep the Georgia side at the top of its group.

Elsewhere in Under-15 Boys action, defending Region III and National Champion United FA 00 Premier (GA) picked up its first win of the weekend in a matchup against in-state foe Bryson Park/KSA 00 Premier (GA). Each matchup in Group A has been dominated by the defenses, and this game was no exception. United’s Alonzo Millsap netted the game’s lone goal in the 31st minute, as the defending champions earned a crucial three points in the group standings.

A matchup between a pair of Friday winners — OFC 01 Phillips (OK) and CCSC 00 Sol Black (FL) — decided the makeup of the top of the Under-14 Girls Group D. The game got off to a quick start, as CCSC’s Maryssa Kosman put her side in front in the 11th minute. OFC responded immediately, with Peyton Vincze equalizing in the 13th minute before quickly finding the back of the net for a second time to put OFC in front, 2-1. Oklahoma’s Megan Nielsen pushed the advantage to 3-1 after 30 minutes of play, and OFC made sure that lead stood for the duration of the match. Neither side managed to find the back of the net in the second half, as OFC took the key 3-1 victory.

Under-18 Boys BRSC/CSC Alliance 97 (LA) picked up a big result in Group D with a 2-1 win over VHSC Steamers 97 (AL). Alliance went up 1-0 on Peyton Marter’s 14th-minute goal, and the Louisiana side had a couple close calls around the half-hour mark that could have doubled its advantage. Steamers fought back, and Clayton McDonald found the back of the net when the ball snuck into the back post off of a corner kick, leveling the score at 1-1. Alliance regained its lead in the 55th minute when Jeremy Thompson found the back of the net, and that proved to be the winner as the Louisiana side took the 2-1 victory.

In Under-16 Boys play, Oklahoma FC 99 (OK) picked up a second Group A win in a tight contest with Houston Express (TX-S). OFC took a 19th-minute lead on a strike from Dante Brigida, and Joshua Berney doubled the advantage with a goal early in the second half. Houston continued to work hard to cut into its deficit and pulled a goal back when Nicholas Seydler found the back of the net in the 80th minute. That wasn’t enough for Houston, as OFC held on for the 2-1 victory to remain atop the group.

In their first year at the Region III Championships, Under-13 Girls United FA 02 Premier (GA) and CESA 01 (SC) are each sitting at two points after a 1-1 draw on Saturday. In a very competitive matchup, United FA’s Katie Chuckran opened the scoring when she beat the keeper in the 13th minute. The Georgia side appeared to be heading to halftime with that advantage, but CESA’s Carly Ann Thatcher found the back of the net in the 35th minute to level the score at 1-1. Both sides threatened the opposing goal in the second half, but the defenses held strong as they split the points to remain tied for second place in Group B.

Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships, which will be played July 21-26 at the Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Okla.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions, 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.

Daily reports and complete results from the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships are available on http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/regionIII.

Saturday’s scores…
*Please check the scores and standings for late game results.