Youth Soccer National League Resumes With Tough Competition For Boys
Boys start up again with Day 1 of 3 for the 2014-15 US Youth Soccer National League season
The 2014-15 US Youth Soccer National League Boys resumed league play Saturday, as 32 of the 80 teams competed at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., alongside the Disney Soccer Showcase.
The National League provides an avenue for teams to play in meaningful matches against top competition from across the country for continued development and opportunities for exposure at the national team, collegiate and professional levels. In addition to recruiting opportunities, the top two finishers from each division will earn a ticket to the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships, making each match valuable to the teams’ fate as it could make or break their chance at competing for the National Championship.
The battle for positioning in the standings remains tight, and there is still very little clarity at the top of most of the divisions. Not only did Saturday see no division titles clinched, but all second-place spots in the boys divisions remain up for grabs through the first day of play in Florida.
The depth of the National League field continues to shine through, as just one team — Under-18 FC Dallas 97 Premier (TX-N) — has yet to lose or tie. Meanwhile, Saturday saw most teams fighting to stay ahead of the pack or get back into the hunt for division titles and top-two finishes.
A late penalty kick goal proved to be the difference between a win and first place rather than a tie and third place for Under-15 South Carolina United FC 99 Elite. The goal scorer, Grayson Barber, is on pace to break the single-season scoring record, while his team’s win puts it in a good position to punch its ticket to the National Championships.
“We knew coming in that this first game would be huge for us. We had a slow start in the first half, but we stuck with it and it feels great,” said South Carolina coach Rob Strickland, who added that his team is enjoying the experience of competing in the National League. “We’re from a smaller state in South Carolina, so we love the opportunity to play against great teams from across the country. It’s the toughest competition we get all year.”
While South Carolina United is sitting atop its division, defending National Champion United FA 00 Premier (GA) needed a win Saturday to stay alive in the hunt for a top-two finish and return to Nationals. United FA coach Jose Pinho said his team knew it needed nine points in Florida to have a shot at earning a berth to the National Championships through the National League, and the challenge to do so can help prepare the players for to try and defend their title.
“The competition is great. It’s our second year in the National League. We played last year and won, and it prepared us very well for Nationals, which we won,” he said. “I think it’s always hard to be a defending National Champion. At the end of the day, we’re the team to beat. And it’s hard. To get on top is hard, but to stay there is way, way harder.”
The National League teams that do not compete in Orlando, including all Under-14 squads, will complete their season at the Players College Showcase in Las Vegas — with boys games held March 13-15 and girls games played March 20-22.
The National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues (US Youth Soccer Region I Champions League, Midwest Regional League, Region III Premier League and Far West Regional League). The National League provides an avenue for teams to play in meaningful matches against top competition from across the country for continued development and opportunities for exposure at the national team, collegiate and professional levels.
Some highlights from Saturday’s matches…
Under-15
A late penalty helped South Carolina United FC 99 Elite stay on top of the Under-15 Red Division, as it edged Arlington Eagles Red (VA), 3-2, on Saturday. David DeVaro put South Carolina in front shortly after the opening kick, but Edison Giron equalized in the 20th minute to pull Arlington even. Just before the halftime whistle, Nelson Flores Blanco connected on a nice back heel to beat the keeper and put Arlington in front. South Carolina’s Grayson Barber responded early in the second half when he hit a left-footed blast that rang off the near post and into the net. Barber then converted a 75th-minute penalty kick for his 12th goal of the season, and that proved to be the difference in South Carolina’s 3-2 win. Concorde Fire 99/00 (GA) remains just one point back in the group standings, as all four Red Division teams playing in Florida are near the top of the table.
In the Under-15 Blue Division, defending National Champion United FA 00 Premier (GA) is back in contention for top-two finish after a dominant win over BRYC 99 Elite (VA) to start its weekend. Eric Garcia netted two goals, while Zachary Ernst, Rigoberto Campa and Dalton Seckinger each added one to help the Georgia side to a 5-0 win. United will need all the points it can get in Florida, as the rest of the group leaders will finish their seasons in Las Vegas.
Under-16
SDFC Rangers (NJ) jumped to the top of the Under-16 Blue Division with a 1-0 win over Concorde Fire Elite 98/99 (GA) on Saturday. The New Jersey side went ahead in the 33rd minute off of a corner kick. The initial ball into the box was flicked on to the back post, where Ryan Peterson headed it home to give SDFC the lead. The defense made sure that goal held up, as SDFC claimed the shutout victory.
A 2-2 tie gave both Delaware Rush 98 (DE) and 98 Charlotte United Gold (NC) a boost in the standings, but each would have benefited greatly from a full three points to help get back in the hunt for a top-two finish in the Under-16 Red Division. Bryan Hartmann and Aidan Kelly scored first-half goals for Delaware, while Melvin Covert and Ian Bircak found the back of the net for Charlotte. Delaware created some dangerous chances in the second half, but the Charlotte defenders did well to get in the way of Rush shots to keep them in check and force the tie.
Under-17
Sunrise Elite 97/98 (FL) secured a key 3-1 victory over Alliance Academy 98 Black (MI) to remain in the hunt for a top-two finish in the Under-17 Red Division. In the sixth minute, Sunrise’s Frederick Gil sent a cross to the back post, where teammate Donald Emerson volleyed it in for the opening goal. Anthony Bowie equalized for Alliance, but Taylor Willman put Sunrise back in front with a goal in the 47th minute. Gil added an insurance goal in the final minute to help Sunrise to the 3-1 win.
Elsewhere in the Red Division, FC Dallas 98 Premier (TX-N) picked up a much-needed win against Dix Hills Elite (NY-E), as both teams entered play in the middle of the standings. Dix Hills struck first when James Contino found the back of the net, but Adan Garcia added a pair of goals before halftime to put FC Dallas in front. Luis ZuaZua added a late goal to extend the FC Dallas advantage, as the Texas side held on to pick up the crucial three points in the standings.
In the Under-17 Blue Division, Arlington Impact Red (VA) extended its lead at the top but dropped its first points of the season in a 2-2 tie against Houstonians FC 98 Red (TX-S). A win Sunday would guarantee the Virginia side a top-two finish and punch its ticket to the 2015 National Championships in Tulsa.
Under-18
A 3-0 win over third-place Century V (PA-W) helped CUP Gold 96/97 (OH-S) extend its lead at the top of the Under-18 Blue Division to five points. CUP forward Luke Treadway scored in the opening minutes of each half to give the Ohio side a 2-0 advantage. JJ Iroh added a second-half goal to help cap the 3-0 victory and give CUP an opportunity to clinch a top-two finish this week in Florida and secure a spot at the 2015 National Championships.
In the Under-18 Red Division, FC Dallas 97 Premier (TX-N) became the lone National League Boys team without a loss or tie, as it moved one step closer to returning to the National Championships with a dominant 7-0 win on Saturday. A win or tie Sunday against Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (NY-E) would clinch the division for FC Dallas, which finished as the Under-17 National finalist last season in Germantown, Md.
National League action continues Sunday, Dec. 28, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports with games at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Complete standings, scores and schedules, including goal scorers and match information, can be found at the results page here. Click on the score of each game for more information.
