Soccer News: 14 State Associations Fight For Regional Title – Day 3
Preliminary games at the 2015 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships are complete with 118 teams qualifying for advancement to the knockout rounds on Friday, June 26, at the Simplot Sports Complex in Boise, Idaho.
After an off-day on Thursday, teams in the Under-12 to Under-18 age groups will play quarterfinals, while Under-19 Boys will play semifinals and the Under-19 Girls champion will be crowned on Friday, June 26.
The top 238 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, Idaho, are Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Of the six defending region champs in attendance, five are still alive in the tournament. Under-13 Girls So Cal Blues Baker (CA-S), Under-16 Girls Pride Predators 99 (CO), Under-17 Boys Santa Barbara SC White, Under-18 Boys LVSA 97 Red (NV) and Under-19 Boys Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S) all will look to defend their region crown starting on Friday.
Four Idaho teams have cemented their slot in the knockout stage on Friday with a fifth team, Under-18 Girls BNSC Premier (ID), facing off against LA Galaxy SB Elite (CA-S) in kicks from the mark to determine who goes to the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Only a handful of Idaho teams have made it to the regional finals with Boise Nationals Italia (ID) being the only team to advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships as a Region IV Representative. Under-19 Girls FC Nova (ID) will look to become the first Idaho Region IV champion in the finals against FRAM (CA-S) on Friday, June 26. Under-17 Boys BNSC Liverpool (ID), Under-14 Girls, FC Nova (ID) and Under-18 Girls CDA Sting (ID) will look to continue their run in the quarterfinals that are also on Friday.
Under-13 Boys
PacNW Maroon (WA) earned a spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-3 win over La Roca TJ (UT). Deven Brown began the scoring in the 12th minute off a strong run down the right side before cutting back and scoring on a shot to the far corner. Alec Diaz netted a brace shortly after with his second being a one-timed laser off a failed clearance. Fabrice Aiken got La Roca on the board, but Danny Robles countered shortly after halftime to make the score 4-1 before Jayden Nielsen scored two goals of his own for PacNW. Aiken struck again for La Roca, and Ashton Weber finished the scoring off two minutes later for to make it 6-3.
SC del Sol 02 Leebrook (AZ) and Maui United Soccer Club 2002 (HI) faced off today to see which team would claim the second quarterfinals spot from Group D. Kanoa Kelii proved to be difference as the only goals of the match were from his hat trick, and as a result, Maui United advances with the 3-0 victory
Under-13 Girls
Eagles SC (CA-S) rounded up an impressive group stage performance with a 1-0 victory over Real Colorado National 01/02 (CO). Indira Vera’s late goal in the second half gave Eagles a 3-0 record, and knocked Real Colorado out of the tournament as well due to Washington Premier 01 (WA) and USA Stars (CA-N) tying 1-1.
Under-16 Boys
An Intra-state battle of familiar foes at the top of Group C occurred today as USA 99 Premier (UT) defeated La Roca TJ (UT) 1-0. Both teams were regional semifinalists last year, and together feature seven players on the Utah 99 Olympic Development Program (ODP) team that won Utah’s first ODP Championships in the state’s history. USA’s Benjamin Gonzalez, Jose Hidalgo and Aaron Nixon joined La Roca’s Easton Embley, Samuel Hess, Justin Howard and Cayden Nelson to win an ODP national title just couple of months ago, but found themselves on opposite sides as Nixon, who scored eight goals in last year’s Region IV Championships, scored the game’s only goal in the fourth minute when he fired a low shot into the opposite corner. Both teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
“We tied 2-2 on Wednesday against SJ Earthquakes PDA 99 Black (CA-N) (SC). We play the RIO Rapids SC 99 (NM) (SC) on Friday. It’s great to be a part of such a prestigious competition. The quality of play and teams is exceptional and my players will benefit greatly from being here in Boise,” said Billy Garton with San Diego Albion SC. “Lots of college coaches are watching our team and the boys are delivering so far. We have a long way to go to win it and against some excellent teams.”
Under-16 Girls
2013 US Youth Soccer Region IV and National Champions, Eastside FC 98 Red (WA) punched its ticket to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over HSC Bulls Academy 99 (HI). Eastside, which is without Under-17 U.S. National Team and 2013 National Championships Golden Ball winner Joanna Harber, found the back of the net early and often as Natalie Weidenbach, Zoe Milburn, Laura Roberts and Makaylie Moore all scored. Joining Eastside in the quarterfinals from Group C is Seattle United (WA), who clinched a spot with a scoreless draw against 2014 region semifinalists Ahwatukee 99 White (AZ).
A 1-1 draw against Legends FC 98 (CA-S) allowed defending region champs Pride Predators 99 (CO) to advance to the quarterfinals. Kieran Bixler began the scoring in the 20th minute, and Legends equalized with a goal from Caitlin Rogers in the 53rd minute. A win would have sent Legends to the quarterfinals, but the Colorado side was able to hold off a relentless attack to clinch a spot in the next round.
Under-17 Boys
Three-time defending region and two-time national champs Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S) did just enough to advance to the quarterfinals with a 1-1 tie against Crossfire Oregon 97 Green 1 (OR). Peter Kargbo broke the scoreless stalemate in the 19th minute, but Jesus Daniel Betancourt Padilla equalized for Crossfire in the 57th minute. Neither team was able to gain the edge afterwards as the match ended 1-1.
PacNW 97M (WA) mounted a comeback to solidify a place in the quarterfinals after going down by one goal in the ninth minute courtesy of Utah Storm 98 Premier’s (UT) Ian Stonehockler. Jared Lewis equalized for PacNW 10 minutes later. It took until the second half for PacNW to complete the comeback as Daniel Espeleta netted a free-kick to secure the lead and a quarterfinals spot. Utah Storm also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 1-1-1 record.
Under-18 Girls
CDA Sting Premier (ID) wrapped a bow on their first place finish in the Group A with a 1-1 tie against Santa Clara Sporting 96 Green (CA-N). Sporting’s Ashley Kirchick struck first in the 33rd minute, but CDA cemented a first place finish and a spot in the quarterfinals when Caitlin Barber equalized in the 65th minute.
Under-19 Boys
Westside Timbers 95 Copa was looking at an early trip home towards the end of their match against LV Premier 96 (NV) today. Westside needed a tie to advance, while LV Premier needed a win to advance to the semifinals. LV Premier struck first in the 8th minute with a goal from Eric Sanchez, but Timbers responded with William Macfarlane’s goal in the 37th minute. Tristan Medio-Simon put LV Premier up for a second time, and it looked as if it would be enough to send them to the semifinals, but Chase Boone scored in the 90th minute for Timbers to secure a 2-2 draw, and ultimately a spot in the semifinals. 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championships team Scottsdale 96 Blackhawks Burke (AZ) also advanced out of Group A with 3-0 record, while two of the final four teams in the 2014 National Championship, Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S) and Santa Clara Sporting 95 Green (CA-N) advanced out of Group B.
Under-19 Girls
Local side FC Nova (ID) secured a spot in the finals with a convincing 6-1 win over OVC Vejar (CA-S). Allegra Weeks’s brace combined with goals from Grace Hancock, Akina Fujimoto, Alyssa Stewart and Hallie Widner’s goals, while OVC’s goal came from Jasmine Cibrian. Nova will take on FRAM (CA-S) who defeated Nova 2-1 yesterday.
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