Virginia teams lead list of US Youth Soccer Region I Champions

KINGSTON, R.I. (via USYouthSoccer.org) – Champions were named today at the 2014 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I.

Winners in the Under-13 through Under-19 age divisions advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, presented by the National Guard, to be played July 22-27, at Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md.

Beadling SC (PA-W), VSA Heat Blue (VA) and Baltimore Celtic (MD) all claimed more than one championship for their club. Of the 12 returning champions, three, Under-14 Girls NEFC Elite (MA), Under-18 Girls Beadling SC Wolfpack (PA-W) and Under-19 Boys PDA Harkes (NJ), accomplished back-to-back regional championships while Under-15 Girls YMS Premier Xplosion (PA-E) captured their third straight title.

2014 US Youth Soccer Region I Champions

Under-12 8v8 Girls: Greater Binghamton FC (NY-W)
Under-12 Girls: Sachem Speed (NY-E)
Under-13 Girls: South Shore Select Elite (MA)
Under-14 Girls: NEFC Elite (MA)
Under-15 Girls: YMS Premier Xplosion (PA-E)
Under-16 Girls: Beadling SC Wolfpack (PA-W)
Under-17 Girls: VSA Heat Blue (VA)
Under-18 Girls: Beadling SC Thunder (PA-W)
Under-19 Girls: VSA Heat Blue (VA)

Under-12 8v8 Boys: PWSI Courage Red (VA)
Under-12 Boys: FSA FC Navy (CT)
Under-13 Boys: Baltimore Celtic Dynasty (MD)
Under-14 Boys: Arlington SA Eagles Red (VA)
Under-15 Boys: Loudoun SC Red (VA)
Under-16 Boys: Baltimore Celtic (MD)
Under-17 Boys: Manhattan SC PSG (NY-E)
Under-18 Boys: Lehigh Valley United (PA-E)
Under-19 Boys: PDA Harkes (NJ)

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 today’s games…

Under-12 8v8 Boys

PWSI Courage Red (VA) faced-off against Baltimore Celtic Darby (MD) in the Under-12 8v8 Boys final. An early Samuel Kalishman goal put PWSI early but PWSI’s Jared DuBose answered in the 21st minute to even the score. Elmer Villatoro put PWSI ahead in the second half but Baltimore’s Domenico Caltabiano scored just before the final whistle to send the game into overtime. Neither team could find the back of the net and PWSI won the Region I title in penalty kicks.

Under-12 Boys

The Under-12 Boys division followed suit and also went in penalty kicks. FSA FC Navy’s (CT) Alec Hughes put FSA right up at the end of the first half but PDA Kaka White’s (NJ) Peter Stroud scored just 4 minutes later. Neither team could find the back of the net again in regulation or in overtime. FSA won in penalty kicks to claim the Under-12 Boys title.

Under-13 Boys

Baltimore Celtic Dynasty (MD) faced off against neighboring Virginia’s BRYC Elite (VA) in the Under-13 Boys final. Celtic did what they have been doing best all tournament, and kept BRYC from scoring all game. A Celtic goal by Danique Parker in the 76th minute was all that separated the sides in this great Under-13 match up. Celtic defeated the Virginia side 1-0 to claim the title.

Under-14 Boys

Delaware Rush (DE) was on the back foot against Arlington SA Eagles Red (VA) from the opening kick-off. Arlington’s Edison Giron scored in just the 6th minute to put the Virginia side ahead. Nelson Flores Blanco added an insurance goal for Arlington in the 27th minute and then some tough defense helped Arlington hold on for the 2-0 victory and the Under-14 Boys Region I title.

Under-15 Boys

Loudon SC 98 Red (VA) scored two early first half goals against Delaware Rush 98 to win this Under-15 Boys matchup 2-0. Stephen Foss and teammate Dorion Dixon both scored in the opening 20 minutes to give Loudon a nice cushion. Neither team found a way to score in the second half and the final ended 2-0 in favor of the Virginia team. Rush will advance to the National Championships as Region I representatives as Loudon had already qualified through the US Youth Soccer National League as Blue Division champions.

Under-16 Boys

Synergy Football Academy (VT) did all they could to hold off Baltimore Celtic SC (MD) in the first half. Despite the great first half effort by the Vermont side, Celtic could not be contained in the second half as Piroz Bahar would find the back of the net twice. Celtic’s Keegan Kelly would add a third goal to bring the final score to 3-0 to give Celtic the Under-16 Boys Region I title.

Under-17 Boys

The Under-17 Boys final was a matchup between two powerhouse National League teams, Manhattan SC PSG (NY-E) and defending National Champions Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E). Smithtown looked to take the control early with a Beau Hornberger goal in just the 9th minute. Only ten minutes later Sean Fitzgerald evened the score at 1-1 for PSG. Just two minutes later PSG’s Moctar Niang gave PSG the lead for good. Neither team could score in a tough, physical second half and PSG would win 2-1. Smithtown will still advance to the National Championships as the winner of the National League Red Division.

Under-18 Boys

Lehigh Valley United 95 (PA-E) put Penn Fusion SA 95 (PA-E) on their heels early with a Colten Habecker goal just the second minute of the game. Penn Fusion couldn’t find an answer for Habecker as he scored again in the 22nd minute of play to put LVU up 2-1. Habecker completed his hat-trick in the second half to bring the final score to 3-0 and LVU grabbed the Region I Under-18 Boys title with the win.

Under-19 Boys

PDA Harkes (NJ) advanced to the National Championships last year after winning the regional title and looked to defend that title against Beadling SC (PA-W). PDA’s Matthew Clausen scored in the 3rd minute with what would end up being the game winner. Neither team could score again in regulation time and PDA Harkes will now advance to the National Championships to play for the prestigious Under-19 Boys James P. McGuire Cup.

Under-12 8v8 Girls

Tough defense from both Greater Binghamton FC Select (NY-W) and Victory Express Platinum (PA-W) kept either team from scoring in regulation time. Greater Binghamton’s Anglina Fahrenkrug found the answer to Victory Express’ defense and scored back to back goals in the 69th minute to give her team a 2-0 win and the Under-12 8v8 title.

Under-12 Girls

Sachem Speed (NY-E) had managed to keep all their opponents from scoring through group play and the semi-finals and it was no different when they met PDA Storm (NJ) in the final. Neither team could score in the first half but Sachem’s Brooke Papele found the back of the net in the 41st minute to put her team ahead 1-0. Sachem’s tough defense would hold and they would win 1-0 and finish the tournament without allowing a goal.

Under-13 Girls

South Shore Select Elite (MA) defeated Greater Binghamton FC Select – Riley (NY-W) in an Under-13 Girls matchup to advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. South Shore’s Brooke Cavino scored in the 10th minute of play to give her team a 1-0 lead. South Shore would hold off Greater Binghamton for the rest of the game to win 1-0 and to earn the Under-13 Girls Region I title.

Under-14 Girls

FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E) couldn’t continue where their older counterparts left off last year and fell to NEFC Elite (MA) 2-0 in the Under-14 Girls final. Taylor Kofton scored for the reigning Region I Champions NEFC with a beautifully struck free kick in the 26th minute. Taylor Sherman would add a goal at the beginning of the second half and then some tough defense helped give NEFC a 2-0 win over the Eastern Pennsylvania team.

Under-15 Girls

YMS Xplosion 98 (PA-E), defeated Loudon 98 Red (VA) 1-0 in the Under-15 Girls Final. YMS’Casey Kilchrist found the back of the net just before halftime to put the Eastern Pennsylvania team up 1-0. Loudoun couldn’t find an answer for the YMS defense in the second half and the game ended 1-0 for a YMS win. YMS has now won three consecutive Region I titles. Despite the loss, Loudon will advance to National Championships as the Region I representative as YMS advanced as Runner-Up in the National League Red Division.

Under-16 Girls

The 2012 National Champions MRM Coyotes (MD) couldn’t find a way to score against Beadling Wolfpack (PA-W) in the Under-16 Girls final. Beadling got a 1-0 lead and held on to win the Region I title and now advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Despite the loss, Coyotes will advance to Nationals as Runner-Up in the National League Blue Division.

Under-17 Girls

Toms River FC United (NJ) could find no answer to the VSA Heat Blue (VA) defense in the Under-17 Girls final. VSA got two first half goals, one by Amanda Philip and another by teammate Taylor Decker to grab a 2-0 lead at halftime. Bella Muzo added a late cushion goal for the Virginia side to bring the final score to 3-0 over the defending regional champions Toms River.

Under-18 Girls

The Under-18 Girls final game was a back and forth matchup between Beadling SC Thunder (PA-W) and PDA Ginga (NJ). Beadling’s Amber Fichter struck first but that goal was answered only nine minutes later by PDA’s Jessia Moskal. Beadling took a 3-1 lead with goals from Margaret Scott and Katie Alexander early in the second half. PDA looked for a late comeback and got an 88th minute goal from Brittany Cooper but could not find a late equalizing goal. Beadling got the win and the Region I title with the 3-2 victory.

Under-19 Girls

VSA heat Blue (VA) had only allowed one goal in the Region I Championships but conceded to FC Frederick (MD) in the Under-19 Girls final in just the 4th minute of play. Emily Marshall put the Maryland side ahead with the early goal. Anna McClung tied it up in the 33rd minute for VSA but a late first half goal by Frederick’s Danielle Fernandez gave them the 2-1 lead going into halftime. VSA seemed as though they may not find an answer until VSA captain Meghan Cox converted a penalty kick to tie the game. McClung then scored her second goal in the dying embers of the game to seal the comeback win for VSA and send them back to Nationals for the third year in a row.

Finals Scores

Under-12 Girls
PDA Storm (NJ) 0 Sachem Speed (NY-E) 1

Under-12 Boys
PDA Kaka White (NJ) 1 FSA FC Navy (CT) 2

Under-12 8v8 Girls
Greater Binghamton FC (NY-W) 2 Victory Express (PA-W) 0

Under-12 8v8 Boys
PWSI Courage Red (VA) 3 Baltimore Celtic Darby (MD) 2

Under-13 Girls
Greater Binghamton FC Select – Riley (NY-W) 0 South Shore Select Elite (MA) 1

Under-13 Boys
Baltimore Celtic Dynasty (MD) 1 BRYC Elite (VA) 0

Under-14 Girls
FC Penn Strikers (PA-E) 0 NEFC Elite (MA) 2

Under-14 Boys
Delaware Rush SC (DE) 0 Arlington SA Eagles Red (VA) 2

Under-15 Girls
YMS Premier Xplosion (PA-E) 1 Loudoun Red (VA) 0

Under-15 Boys
Loudoun SC Red (VA) 2 Delaware Rush (DE) 0

Under-16 Girls
MRM Coyotes (MD) 0 Beadling SC Wolfpack (PA-W) 1

Under-16 Boys
Synergy Football Club Academy (VT) 0 Baltimore Celtic (MD) 3

Under-17 Girls
VSA Heat Blue (VA) 3 Toms River FC United (NJ) 0

Under-17 Boys
Manhattan SC PSG (NY-E) 2 Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E) 1

Under-18 Girls
Beadling SC Thunder (PA-W) 3 PDA Ginga (NJ) 2

Under-18 Boys
Lehigh Valley United (PA-E) 3 Penn Fusion SA (PA-E) 0

Under 19-Girls
VSA Heat Blue (VA) 3 FC Frederick (MD) 2

Under-19 Boys
Beadling SC (PA-W) 0 PDA Harkes (NJ) 1