Virginia State Cup Champions crowned for fall 2012
After Hurricane Sandy delayed the finals a week to this past Sunday, eight State Cup Champions were crowned from six different clubs, including reigning U.S. Youth Soccer National Champions BRYC 95 Elite and VSA Heat Blue.
State Cup champions will represent Virginia at the Region 1 championships in July 2013.
U15 Girls: PWSI Courage 97 Red 1, Richmond Kickers Elite 0
PWSI Courage 97 Red’s road to the championship: PWSI Courage 97 Red defeated Roanoke Star U-15 Girls Elite 5-0 in the Va. State Cup semifinals before holding off Richmond Kickers Elite in the final. The Kickers Elite took down the defending U-14 State Cup champions and top seed Herndon Freedom 97 4-3 in the semifinals. PWSI Courage 97 Red went all the way through the bracket without giving up a goal, opening the State Cup with a 2-0 win over Vienna Strikers Red, then by the same 2-0 margin, defeated both Chesterfield United Crush Blue 97 and #7 Beach FC Red in the quarterfinals.
U15 Boys: Arlington Impact Red 3, FCR Magic 97 1
Arlington Impact Red’s road to the championship: #2 seed Arlington Impact Red reached the 2012 Va. State Cup final with a 2-0 semifinal win over #7 Virginia Rush Nike, and then took down top seed FC Richmond Magic 97 3-1, exacting revenge for this spring’s U-14 State Cup quarterfinal 1-0 loss. Arlington Impact Red opened cup play by defeating a team within its own club, Arlington Impact White 3-0, and then needed penalties to advance in its second round game, 2-1 over Beach FC 97B Red.
U-16 Girls Final: McLean MPS 96 Force 3, PWSI Courage 96 Red 0
McLean MPS 96 Force’s road to the championship: Though unseeded, McLean MPS 96 Force Green were hardly underdogs in the 2012 Va. State Cup, given that it had dual rostering of ECNL players on its team. McLean squeaked through its opening game, needing penalties to beat VAFC U-16 Green 2-1 before defeating top-seed VSA Heat 96G 1-0. McLean then had an easy time in its quarterfinal match, shutting out #8 SOCA Storm 7-0. In the semis, McLean held off Beach FC 96G Red 3-1 before its finals shutout.
U-16 Boys Final: Arlington Strikers Red 3, ABGC Spartans SC 1
Arlington Strikers Red road to the championship: Arlington Strikers Red shutout #2 seed Herndon Boca Juniors in the semifinals before defeating ABGC Spartans 3-1 in the final. ABGC Spartans had reached the final after defeating top-seed Beach FC 96B Red 2-0 in the semifinals. Arlington Strikers Red opened the 2012 State Cup with a 10-1 win over PWSI Courage 96 Red, and followed that with a 3-1 win over SYA Ajax Red. In the quarterfinals, Arlington Strikers Red held off #6 Team America 2-1.
U-17 Girls Final: BRYC 95 Elite 1, PWSI Courage 95 Gold 0
BRYC 95 Elite’s road to the championship: BRYC 95 Elite, the top-ranked U-17 girls team in the country and defending U.S. Youth Soccer national champions, defended its U-16 State Cup title, giving up just two goals, and got a shutout win in the final. In its opening match, BRYC 95 Elite defeated Herndon Comets White 6-0, and in the quarterfinals toppled FASA Elite Impact 10-0. In the semis, BRYC gave up its only goals of the tournament, but outscored Richmond Kickers Elite 5-2.
U-17 Boys Final: Loudoun 95 Red 6, CSL Junkyard Dawgs Elite 0
Loudoun 95 Red’s road to the championship: Top seed Loudoun 95 Red squeaked through its semifinal match in penalties, 4-3 over unseeded SYA Excel Red, but had an easier time in the final, taking down upstart CSL Junkyard Dawgs Elite 6-0. Loudoun, who finished as runner-ups in last year’s U-16 State Cup, started strong in 2012 State Cup play with a 7-1 win over Augusta 95 BR, and held off NVSC Jr. Royals 95 2-1 in the second round before doubling up PWSI Courage 95 Red 4-2 in the quarterfinals.
U18 Girls Final: VSA Heat Blue 2, Richmond Kickers Elite 1
VSA Heat Blue’s road to the championship: VSA Heat Blue, the defending U.S. Youth Soccer National Champions, defended its 2011 State Cup U-17 title with a 5-0 shutout of Roanoke Star U-18 Elite in the semis before holding off Richmond Kickers Elite 2-1 in the final. VSA Heat Blue opened the tournament with an 8-1 win over Arlington Explosion White, and shutout #8 Beach FC Red 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
U18 Boys Final: ABGC Knights FC 2, Reston FC 94 1
ABGC Knights FC’s road to the championship: The #4 ABGC Knights FC did not give up a goal until the semifinals, outscoring opponents 15-0, but still doubled up #8 SOCA Lightning 4-2 and then #2 Reston FC 94 2-1 in the final. ABGC Knights defeated CVU U-18 Boys White 5-0 in its opening State Cup match, following that with a 1-0 win over Loudoun 94B Red and a 9-0 quarterfinal win over Richmond Kickers Elite.
Send us your game descriptions, goal scorers or special stories if you were there. Use the comments section below or email us at [email protected]
