REGION IV & Cal South Continue Their Winning Ways
US Youth Soccer’s Region IV and in particular, the youth soccer teams from Cal South were among 40 participating US Youth Soccer Boys and Girls teams in the U13 through U17 age groups that came from all over the country to compete for this national title. And yes, as usual – Cal South teams won the most championships.
Three Cal South teams return home from US Youth Soccer‘s Presidents Cup in Kansas City as champions! These talented youth soccer teams were among the 40 squads participating in Overland Park, KS at the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup.
The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup offers teams the challenge of a progressive, competitive experience that highlights competition, camaraderie and community. The tournament had teams from all over the United States competing for titles July 9th – July 12th and the ten new champions were crowned on Sunday, July 12, 2015.
Region IV teams performed very well and the areas youth soccer teams took home seven titles with winners from Cal South, Nevada, Hawaii and Washington.
Region III had two champions from Florida and South Texas, and Region II was represented by one champion team from Missouri.
“US Youth Soccer Region IV is very pleased that teams from Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, and Cal South won 7 of 10 National Championships last week at the National Presidents Cup Tournament,” said Ric Listella, Region IV Chair. “Results such as these confirm that Region IV is a driving force in Youth Soccer in America today.”
Listella said, “Region IV State Associations, their Clubs, Leagues, and staff work very hard to develop and promote progressive programs for youth soccer player development and these results clearly demonstrate that effort. Results breed success and these results at Presidents Cup will stimulate more energy to help these teams reach the next level.”
Cal South brought home Championship medals with the GU13 Santa Monica United FC, BU15 UIFC Panthers, and BU17 Legacy FC teams. Cal South’s Anaheim FC won the consolation game in the U13 Boys bracket.
Derek Barraza, Cal South Board President said, “We are proud to have two boys and one girl’s teams from the LA / Orange County area win National Championships. It is so exciting for these players to be successful and everyone at Cal South, and especially our Board of Directors, are thrilled for them. These victories are thanks to the hard work and dedication of the coaches and their players.”
“I also think it important to thank the parents for all their support,” said Barraza. “I remember those years of being a soccer dad and all the driving, time and money spent encouraging my players. Offering support through the losses and celebrating the wins, but I wouldn’t trade those days for anything.”
“I received a lot of compliments on the US Youth Soccer’s Fair Play Award winners; our Legacy FC U17 boys. They earned the respect of everyone on the field including their opponents and the administration,” said Barraza. “It was a great show of good sportsmanship and respect.”
Here is a list of all of the Champions at the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup.
Under-13 Girls – SMUFC 01 (CA-S)
Under-13 Boys – Bonita Storm (FL)
Under-14 Girls – Lonestar Red North (TX-S)
Under-14 Boys – Players Elite AP (NV)
Under-15 Girls – Leahi 00 Premier (HI)
Under-15 Boys – UIFC Panthers (CA-S)
Under-16 Girls – Missouri Rush SC Nero-Menendez (MO)
Under-16 Boys – PacNW 98 Blue (WA)
Under-17 Girls – Washington Timbers 97 Green (WA)
Under-17 Boys – Legacy FC (CA-S)
Highlights from Championship Matches:
Under-13 Boys: Bonita Storm (FL) 2-1 CFJ West 01/02 Red (IL)
Bonita Storm (FL) swept through preliminary play with a 3-0-0 record, and defeated CFJ West 01/02 Red (IL) 2-1 in the final to become the Under-13 Boys National Presidents Cup champion. Bonita player David Gomez came up big in the match with two goals in the first 15 minutes to get the win. In just the 2nd minute, after a free kick play, Gomez possessed the ball and took a shot that bounced off the left post and into the net. Blake Brandenburg recovered quickly for CFJ West in the 4th minute, after following his own rebounded shot. The tie further fueled Gomez and in the 15th minute, Bonita midfielder Orestes Muniz sprinted down the right sideline and crossed it in to Gomez for the game winner.
Under-14 Boys: Players Elite AP (NV) 3-0 FC Pride 01 Elite (IN)
Players Elite AP (NV) concluded the tournament with a perfect 4-0-0 record and never allowed any goals to enter their net. Their 3-0 win versus FC Pride 01 Elite (IN) awarded them the Under-14 Boys championship. Joel Gutierrez produced all three goals, concluding the event with a hat trick. Gutierrez beat the keeper to get the first goal in the 23rd minute, and doubled the lead in the 54th minute after scoring from a rebounded ball. In the 57th minute, Gutierrez successfully put a penalty kick shot in the top left corner for the 3-0 win.
Under-15 Boys: UIFC Panthers (CA-S) 2-1 Dynamic FC 99/00 (IL)
Undefeated UIFC Panthers (CA-S) took home the Under-15 Boys crown after a 2-1 victory against Dynamic F.C 99/00 (IL). A pair of Rodrigo Saldana goals gave UIFC the win. In the 36th minute on a breakaway, Saldana saw the keeper come out of the net and took a shot for the lead. In the second half in the 43rd minute, UIFC’s offense produced a shot on goal, and when Dynamic’s keeper punched it out, Saldana headed it in for the brace. Adrian Medina put Dynamic FC on the board in the 57th minute after a successful penalty kick shot in the top right corner, but a strong backline and Saldana’s goals held on for the UIFC triumph.
Under-16 Boys: VSA Heat 98 Blue (VA) 1-2 (OT) PacNW 98 Blue (WA)
In an unbelievable turn of events, PacNW 98 Blue (WA) defeated VSA Heat 98 Blue (VA) 2-1 to become the Under-16 Boys champion. After going 80 minutes scoreless, two back-to-back handball penalty kicks resulted in a 1-1 tie that took the match to overtime. PacNW’s Kasey Cowell gave PacNW the lead seconds before the final whistle, but an exact handball call on the other side of the field allowed Michael Chang to tie the match for VSA with a successful penalty kick shot. Late in overtime on a set piece play, PacNW’s Erik De Anda took a shot over the wall, teammate Alexander Bailey headed it down and Kasey Cowell slammed it in the net. The final whistle blew seconds later, and Cowell’s late game heroics gave PacNW the win.
Under-17 Boys: ASA Black Hawks (MD) 1-2 Legacy FC (CA-S)
Legacy FC was crowned the Under-17 Boys champion with a 2-1 win versus ASA Black Hawks (MD). After a scoreless first half, Legacy turned up the heat in the second half with goals in the 63rd and 72ndminutes. Christopher Peralta opened the scoring for the Cal South side with a penalty kick opportunity, taking a kick that was blocked by Black Hawk’s keeper, but finishing up the play by following his shot to get the lead. The Legacy score doubled when Imer Figueroa took a free kick and Noel Rosales headed it in the net. Guadalupe Terrazas-Dominguez put ASA Black Hawks on the board in the 87th minute, but Legacy dominated the remainder of the match to win.
Under-13 Girls: CSA Charlotte SA Torsion (NC) 0-1 SMUFC 01 (CA-S)
A first half goal gave SMUFC a 1-0 win and the Under-13 Girls crown, defeating CSA Charlotte SA Torsion (NC). In the 18th minute, a corner kick for SMUFC resulted in the lead when Sadie Holt connected with the ball at the 18 yard line and took a successful shot near the left goal post. SMUFC protected the lone goal for the remainder of the match to win the championship.
Under-14 Girls: Lonestar Red North (TX-S) 2-1 (PKs) Souderton Stingers (PA-E)
After a penalty kick shootout, Lonestar Red North (TX-S) became the Under-14 Girls champion. Lonestar got a 1-0 lead against Souderton Stingers (PA-E) in the 33rd minute after Ryan Dittoe got a breakaway and took a shot that flew right over the keeper’s fingertips. Erin O’Keefe found the equalizer for SMUFC in the 45th minute and the match concluded with a 1-1 score. Both teams battled to get the tie breaker in overtime, but neither could find the back of the net. In penalty kicks, Lonestar’s four successful shots outweighed SMUFC’s two goals granting them the crown.
Under-15 Girls: Eclipse Elite White (IL) 0-2 Leahi 00 Premier (HI)
Leahi 00 Premier (HI) took home the Under-15 Girls crown after defeating Eclipse Elite White (IL) 2-0. After a scoreless first half, Leahi forward Jacey Lyn Iwane stepped back on the field determined. Iwane positioned herself in the left side of the box for the 42nd minute lead. In stoppage time, Eclipse Elite’s keeper came out of the box for a free kick opportunity to tie, but Leahi midfielder Cheyenne Anuhea Smith got the ball and took a long shot from midfield to the open net to get a 2-0 result.
Under-16 Girls: Crossfire Select 98 McLaughlin (WA) 0-1 Missouri Rush SC Nero-Menendez (MO)
A first half goal gave Missouri Rush SC Nero-Menendez (MO) a 1-0 win versus Crossfire Select 98 McLaughlin (WA) to become the U-16 Girls National Presidents Cup champion. In the 17th minute, Morgan Weller took a left footed shot that went over the keeper and just underneath the crossbar for a Missouri lead. Missouri Rush’s defense protected the advantage for the remainder of the match, and the early goal resulted in the game winner.
Under-17 Girls: Washington Timbers 97 Green (WA) 2-0 CWSC United Red (OH-S)
Under-17 Girls Washington Timbers 97 Green (WA) defeated CWSC United Red (OH-S) 2-0 for the title. In the 42nd minute, Rylee Macdonald took a left footed drive near the outside of the penalty box to give Washington Timbers a 1-0 lead at the half. Forward Kaili Brundage ran up to a crossed ball in the 60thminute to double the Washington advantage and secure the win.
US Youth Soccer – “The Game for ALL Kids!” – is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.
