2014 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships Kickoff in New Mexico
While the World Cup is watched on TV, youth players from all over Region IV have traveled to New Mexico as their top performing teams compete against other State Champions or high ranking teams. As day three of bracket play starts, here is the recap of the youth soccer tournament and the action so far.
The 2014 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships kicked off on Monday at New Mexico Tournament Soccer Complex in Albuquerque, N.M. State champions, US Youth Soccer Far West Regional League champions and select wildcards hoped to get off on the right foot on day one to advance to the knockout rounds.
The top 237 US Youth Soccer boys and girls teams from the 14 State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region IV compete for the regional title.
States represented including host, New Mexico, are Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Eight champions from 2013 are back to defend their regional title – U-13 Boys FC Golden State Academy (CA-S), U-14 Girls Legends FC 99 (CA-S), U-15 Boys Pateadores San Diego (CA-S), U-15 Girls Eastside FC 98 Red (WA), U-16 Boys Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S), U-17 Boys FC Golden State White (CA-S), U-17 Girls Legends FC (CA-S) and U-18 Boys Santa Clara Sporting 95 (CA-N).
Of these eight defending region champions, four are defending US Youth Soccer National Champions including: Legends FC 99, Pateadores San Diego, Eastside FC 98 Red and Santa Barbara SC White. Santa Barbara will look to make their third straight trip to the National Championships, where they have taken home the first place trophy in their last two appearances. In order to do that, they will need to capture their fourth Region IV Championship at the complex where they won their first.
Day 1 Action:
“We are back in Albuquerque where we won our first region championship at the U12 level,” Santa Barbara coach Rudy Ybarra said. “I told the players they are walking with a target on their backs. Everyone knows who we are and they want to show they can play with us. You get a reputation when you win three region championships and are back-to-back national champions.
Santa Barbara kicked things off against Colorado Storm 98 North Royal (CO) with a goal from Sahid Conteh in the 31st minute, but a costly mistake from Santa Barbara keeper, Edward Delgado, allowed Cody Ewing to equalize in the 43rd minute for the Storm. Both teams traded scoring chances in hopes of netting a game winner, but ultimately the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
“I think we obviously didn’t play as well as we are capable of, but we had some clear chances to score,” Ybarra said. “Not to take anything away from them, but I thought we controlled the first 20 minutes of the game, but in the end I think we had some attacking players who lacked intensity, but they are mature enough to understand that, and I think we will be just fine.”
The other defending champions were in action today as well. On the boy’s side, FC Golden State 01 began their tournament run in the Under-13 division with a 1-1 draw against Downtown LVSC 01 Academy (NV). Matthew Hoppe broke the scoreless stalemate in the 29th minute only for LVSC’s Stephen Russell to equalize in the 60th minute. In the Under-15 age group, Pateadores San Diego started their title defense in convincing fashion with a 6-0 victory over Capital FC Timbers 98 Red (OR) as six different players got on the scoreboard for the defending national champions.
The former region champs in the older age groups had a little bit more difficulty on day one of pool play. Under-17 FC Golden State was the first 2013 Region IV champion to fall, as a hard fought match against Eastside FC 96 Red (WA) resulted in the Washington squad winning off a late goal by Dyllon Nguyen. FC Golden State has already qualified to the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championship via the US Youth Soccer National League along with two-time national and Region IV champion Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S).
Fullerton Rangers were also on the wrong end of their match today with a loss to West Coast FC (CA-S) 2-1. Under 18 Boys Santa Clara continued the rough afternoon for defending champs with a loss to LVSA 96 White (NV) 2-0 thank to a pair of goals by Daniel Musovski in the fourth and 43rd minute.
On the girl’s side, Under 14 Girls Legends FC 99 notched a 2-0 victory over CDA Sting Barcelona (ID) with goals coming from Alexandra Jaquez and Bryanna Duckett. In the Under 15 Girls age group, Eastside FC secured a late 1-0 victory thanks to Laura Roberts’ goal in the 78th minute. Under-17 Girls Legends FC, who took home the national title in 2012, started off strong with a 4-0 victory over Exiles Black (CA-S) fueled by two goals from Angela Mitchell. This year marks the first time in the last three years Legends FC will need to qualify through Region IV after failing to qualify via the US Youth Soccer National League.
Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championships, July 22-27, at Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown, Md. 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.
Day 2 Action:
Local teams from Albuquerque, N.M. have held their own in the first two days of group play. Under 17 Girls, Rio Rapids SC 97 Zia (NM) has already qualified for the quarterfinals round as they sit atop their pool with a 2-0 record. Rapids won in convincing fashion yesterday against ETFC 96 Impact (OR) 7-1 as Amelie Bierle netted a hat trick while Lauren Milliet added two goals of her own. In today’s game, Rapids defeated Northwest Nationals 96 Red (WA) 2-0 with goals coming from Jasarra Baca and Jordyn Lacy. New Mexico Rush 96 (NM) has also guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals in the Under 18 Girls bracket with two 3-2 victories in as many days.
Yesterday New Mexico Rush defeated La Roca Premier AB (UT) due to Jordi Harris’ goal sandwiched in between a pair of goals from Claire Lynch. Today, Rush defeated Lamorinda United 95 (CA-N) with Murphy this time having a goal in the middle of a pair from Zoie Hensley.
Under 18 Boys Rio Rapids SC Reds (NM) finds itself in a comfy position at the top of their pool after a 3-0 victory against LVSA 96 White (NV) as Brian Lopez, Corey Carabajal and Justin Hix all found the back of the net in a span of seven minutes. Rapids needs only a tie tomorrow against defending Region IV Champions Santa Clara Sporting 95 (CA-N) to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Six former US Youth Soccer National Champions were in action today as well and one team has already secured a spot in the quarterfinal round. 2012 National Champion Legends FC (CA-S) secured their spot in the quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory in the Under 17 Girls age group. Mikayla Flores put Legends up 1-0 in the 38th minute, and Desarae Felix added an insurance goal in the 55th minute.
Defending region and national champions, Legends FC 99 (CA-S) and Eastside FC 98 Red were also in action on the girl’s side. Legends FC faced off against Arsenal Colorado Gold 99/00 (CO) in the Under 14 Girls age group and the match ended in a scoreless draw. Under 15 Girls Eastside FC 98 got out to an early lead against Pride SC Predators 99 (CO) thanks to goals from Laura Roberts in the 13th minute and Alexa Kirton in the 33rd minute, but Pride Predators responded with Athena Kuehn scoring seven minutes after Kirton, and Hannah Burgo netting the game’s final goal in the 44th minute to end the match in a 2-2 draw.
Under 15 Boys Pateadores San Diego (CA-S) looked as if it could be victims of an upset after going down 1-0 to Idaho Rush (ID) in the 60th minute thanks to a goal from Gerreson Spencer. However, after a variety of scoring opportunities, Pateadores responded with the equalizer in the 75th minute when Angel De Leon’s cross from the left flank found Christopher DePetro’s head for the point blank goal. Two-time defending national and region champ Santa Barbara SC defeated Alum Rock Impact (CA-N) 3-0 with Brandon Sanchez, Jules Pasco and Dennis Cole all getting on the board.
2011 and 2012 National Champions, Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S) defeated Hawaii Rush 97 (HI) 3-0. Andrew Guerrero scored his second goal in as many games in the 27th minute when he found himself receiving a pass deep in the box before turning the defender and capitalizing. Ricardo Ruiz and Damian Resendiz added insurance goals in the 74th and 90th minutes respectively.
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-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 96 teams.
Daily reports and complete results from the tournament are available onhttp://championships.usyouthsoccer.org. Follow the moments from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on Twitter and share the moments with us on Facebook.
