2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing approximately 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer’s 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.
Twelve teams that advanced to the National Championship Series held July 21-26, at Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were from Cal South, the state association highly recognized as the leader in competitive soccer.
Cal South not only had the most teams participating than any other state, but Region IV also had more teams than the other three regions combined.
Of the twelve teams that advanced to Nationals, four teams will return home as US Youth Soccer National Champions: U14 Girls Legends FC Gold, U15 Girls Legends FC 99, U18 Girls Carlsbad Elite, U18 Boys FC Golden State White. With four National titles and three finalists, Cal South was the most successful state association in the US Youth Soccer National Tournament.
“Cal South teams did a phenomenal job in challenging conditions against the weather and of course great competition,” said Derek Barraza, President of Cal South. “I am very proud of our teams. To see Cal South teams battling other Cal South for the title of National Champion, really reflects the effort of our youth soccer coaches and our talented players in Southern California.”
Take a look at the highlights from the Championship Matches:
U14 Legends FC Gold, Head Coach: Carlos Guerrero
Legends FC Gold came away with a 2-1 win over Dallas Kicks SC 01 (TX-N) in a matchup of very evenly-matched teams in the Under-14 Girls final. Following a 6th-minute Kicks’ corner, Laney Carroll took the ball from box to box and looped a perfectly placed shot just inside the far post to put Legends up, 1-0. Both teams showed the ability to string passes together as the action moved up and down the field for the remainder of the opening 35 minutes. Just before the halftime whistle sounded, the Kicks’ Jaida Thomas made a determined run through the heart of the Legends’ defense and smashed a shot under the bar to equalize the score. The teams remained neck-and-neck in the second half until Legends’ Amy Bishop’s ball into the box received a fortunate bounce that found the back of the net — giving the California side a 2-1 lead in the 45th minute. The Kicks created some quality chances to tie the score, including a shot by Thomas that went just wide after she made a dangerous run around the defense. Legends managed to see the game out and held on for the 2-1 win to claim the Under-14 Girls National Championship title.
U15 Girls Legends FC 99, Head Coach: Josh Hodges
Legends FC 99 (CA-S) won the Under-15 Girls National Championship with late game heroics by Kaylee Ramirez. Legends defeated La Roca Premier PO (UT) 2-1, despite being down a goal at the start of the match. In the 15th minute, La Roca forward Kendell Petersen delivered a corner kick into the box, and defender Bryce Reynolds headed it in for the lead. Legends recovered late in the first half when forwards Ramirez and Denae Antoine worked the ball up towards the left corner flag. Antoine passed it left to teammate Alexandra Jaquez who equalized by shooting a left footed strike to the far post. The tie persisted all the way until stoppage time. Moments before the final whistle, Ramirez scored directly from a corner kick cross and gave her Legends team the game winner. This is the second National Championship for Legends FC 99, after winning the title in 2013.
U18 Girls Carlsbad Elite, Head Coach: Adam Skumawitz
Carlsbad Elite denied Cal South rival DMCV Sharks Elite (CA-S) an opportunity to become just the fifth team to win three-straight National Championships with a 1-0 victory in the finals. DMCV defeated Carlsbad Elite on the finals day of group play 1-0, but Carlsbad claimed a 1-0 victory over the Sharks when it mattered the most as Sydney Yates scored the match’s only goal in the 52nd minute when she headed in a cross past 2013 National Championship Golden Glove winner Melissa Lowder. Carlsbad’s defense would hold strong to win the club’s first National Championship 1-0.
“There is a level of commitment and luck that has to go your way to win this tournament,” said Carlsbad head coach Adam Skumawitz. “DMCV is an unbelievable team that we have played so many times. The girls just wanted it that much more this year.”
U18 Boys FC Golden State White, Head Coach: Robert Friedland
After falling to LVSA 97 Red (NV) in the 2015 Region IV Championships and first day of play at this week’s National Championships, FC Golden State White exacted its revenge in the national final with a 2-1 win. Maicon Abreu was the hero for Golden State as his first goal gave the California squad an early lead in the eighth minute after the forward ran down the left flank, cut back to his right foot and fired a shot into the near post in front of two defenders. It was Abreu again scoring for Golden State in the 50th minute when his first shot was blocked by the LVSA goalkeeper, only for a favorable rebound to come right back. Abreu wouldn’t miss a second time as his shot found the back of the net to put his side up 2-0. However, the two-time defending Region IV champions would not go away easy as LVSA’s Tristian Blackmon’s cross found Justin Lyons for the header in the 80th minute, but that would be as close LVSA would get as the match would end 2-1.
“Winning a National Championship takes a whole lot of work from the players and coaches and a commitment by parents,” said Steve Hoffman, Cal South Director of Coaching Education and Player Development. “I feel that the Legends, Carlsbad United and FC Golden State should be so proud of what they have achieved and how they represented their family’s, clubs and the over 210,000 Cal South members.”
“I am looking forward to the future which is looking brighter every day,” said Barraza. “Cal South is dedicated to supporting our clubs and proud that we have begun to really support these talented teams more financially to help them be successful,”
Congratulations to all of the finalists and champions!
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