Soccer News: Champions Crowned at 2015 US Youth Soccer Region III Presidents Cup
U.S. Youth Soccer announced the 2015 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Presidents Cup champions, crowned Sunday in Lafayette, LA. Winning teams in the Under-13 through Under-17 Boys and Girls age groups advance to the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup, July 9-12 in Overland Park, Kansas.
The tournament featured 116 teams that had won their respective State Presidents Cup events from 12 different US Youth Soccer State Associations – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Texas and Tennessee.
2015 US Youth Soccer Region III Presidents Cup Champions:
| Age Group | Champion | Hometown |
| Under-13 Boys | Bonita Storm (FL) | Bonita Springs |
| Under-13 Girls | 01 Charlotte SA Torsion (NC) | Charlotte |
| Under-14 Boys | Southern Alliance Futbol Elite (GA) | Warner Robins |
| Under-14 Girls | Lonestar Red North (TX-S) | Austin |
| Under-15 Boys | WCWAA Black (NC) | Weddington |
| Under-15 Girls | Greeneville Galaxy Select (TN) | Greeneville |
| Under-16 Boys | FCT Scorpio (FL) | Tampa |
| Under-16 Girls | 99 LA Fire Navy (LA) | New Orleans |
| Under-17 Boys | SC Bulls 97 Boys Elite (SC) | Martinez |
| Under-17 Girls | CUFC 97 Green (NC) | Charlotte |
Match Highlights:
Sunday featured abbreviated games due to the weekend’s inclement weather that resulted in unplayable conditions on most fields. Teams played 20-minute halves on Sunday and went directly to kicks from the mark if tied after regulation.
Under-13 Boys
An offensive outburst helped Bonita Storm (FL) to a 4-0 victory over Genesis FC (TX-N) in the Under-13 Boys final. The Storm’s David Gomez opened the scoring in the fifth minute, and teammate John Nunez doubled the advantage shortly after. The Florida side’s defense held strong, and Orestes Muniz added a pair of goals to help Bonita Storm to the shutout victory.
Under-13 Girls
The defenses stood strong in the Under-13 Girls matchup between CFC Red Star 01/02 Elite (GA) and 01 Charlotte SA Torsion (NC) in an evenly-matched contest on Sunday. Each side worked hard to generate looks at goal, but neither team managed to create a winning goal in regulation, and the match was decided in a penalty kick shootout. In the pressure-filled situation, Charlotte SA converted four of its kicks from the mark to take the title with a 4-2 shootout win.
Under-14 Boys
Southern Alliance Futbol Elite (GA) and FWFC 01 BR (TX-N) were evenly matched for the early portion of the Under-14 Boys final. Neither team was able to break through until Southern Alliance’s Brett Galonczyk beat the keeper in the 27th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead. FWFC pushed for an equalizer in the final minutes, but the Georgia side’s defense maintained a clean sheet to take the title with the 1-0 victory.
Under-14 Girls
A 27th-minute strike by Lonestar Red North’s Anna Borer proved to be the difference in the South Texas side’s 1-0 win over Arkansas United Black (AR) on Sunday. Each side fought to produce the vital opening goal, and Lonestar grabbed the advantage when Borer managed to find the back of the net. The South Texas side did well in the closing minutes to keep Arkansas off the scoreboard and hold on for the 1-0 win.
Under-15 Boys
Bryson Park/KSA 00 Elite (GA) and 99 WCWAA Black (NC) needed kicks from the mark to determine their Under-15 Boys championship matchup. Neither side was able to break down the opposition in regulation, and the game went to a shootout with the teams level at 0-0. WCWAA managed to edge KSA in the shootout, 5-4, to take the match and advance to the National Presidents Cup in Overland Park.
Under-15 Girls
A dramatic late equalizer led to a 2-1 shootout victory for Greeneville Galaxy Select (TN) in the Under-15 Girls final against 99 SC Bulls (SC). After a scoreless first 20 minutes, the South Carolina side jumped in front when Dejah Holman found the back of the net in the 24th minute. That goal nearly proved to be game-winner, but Greeneville’s Katlyn Jones netted an equalizer in the final minute to send the game to a shootout. Greeneville rode the momentum of Jones’ strike to come away with a 4-2 shootout victory and take the title.
Under-16 Boys
Julio Orellana scored twice, as FCT Scorpio (FL) came away with a 4-0 win over Tulsa Nationals 99 Black (OK) to claim the Under-16 Boys title. Orellana opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and Christopher Drost doubled the Scorpio lead shortly after when he found the back of the net. Nicolas Arango pushed the Florida side’s advantage to 3-0 with a 26th-minute goal, and Orellana capped the 4-0 victory with a goal at the half-hour mark.
Under-16 Girls
The Under-16 Girls final needed shots from the mark to decide a champion after Arkansas Comets FC 99 NAVY (AR) and 99 LA Fire Navy (LA) played to a scoreless draw in regulation. The back lines controlled the match, as neither side was able to penetrate the opposing defense and find the back of the net. After the game ended tied at 0-0, LA Fire outscored the Comets, 4-2, in the shootout to claim the Region III title.
Under-17 Boys
The first-ever South Carolina team is heading to the National Presidents Cup, as SC Bulls 97 Boys Elite (SC) earned a 2-0 win on Sunday against PACHUCA FC (FL). Mekhi Honore put the Bulls up with a strike shortly before halftime. In the 29th minute, Jacob Vaiden capped the win by finding the back of the net on a free kick to help the South Carolina to a 2-0 victory.
Under-17 Girls
CUFC 97 Green (NC) held off a late push by Cajun Soccer Club Rage 98 (LA) to come away with a 2-1 win in the Under-17 Girls final. Megan Brandl put CUFC in front when she found the back of the net in the 18th minute. Brandl struck for a second time in the 34th minute for what proved to a vital goal for the North Carolina side. Minutes after Brandl’s second tally, Taylor Brumfield provided a response to pull Cajun SC back within one, but CUFC held on to its narrow advantage to earn the 2-1 victory.
UPDATE: US YOUTH SOCCER ISSUES STATEMENT ON REGION III PRESIDENTS CUP
