NJ Top Players Compete in National Championship
Winners were crowned over the weekend at the New Jersey Youth Soccer National Championship Series as six teams earn a chance to represent the state in the Region I Tournament next summer. Held for U12-U14 teams, the tournament was held on November 6th at Friendship Fields in Bordentown, NJ.
Youth Soccer News: As the temperature grows colder, the fall soccer tournament season heats up. New Jersey youth soccer coaches are well known for their dedication and their players are recognized around the country for their competitive spirit. On a recent windy fall day that challenged team’s skill and discipline, the top teams in the U12-U14 age groups competed for the title of the 2016 New Jersey State Champion.
Saturdays semifinals saw 24 teams compete for the 12 spots in Sunday’s finals.
Only six could leave with the honor of being champion of their respective age groups in the 2016-2017 New Jersey Youth Soccer National Championship Series.
For these teams, they not only win the championship title, but they also earn a chance to represent New Jersey against the best teams in the US Youth Soccer‘s Region I Championship taking place next summer to try to become Regional champion.
Region I includes Connecticut, Delaware, Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York West, Pennsylvania West, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia.
“All of you should be proud of yourselves,” Buddy Hart, NJYS Games Commissioner, told the players. “You are among the best players in the entire country.”
Not surprisingly, almost all of the finals were tight matches. Following his team’s comeback victory, Ryan Kuldanek of Real Jersey FC said, “We showed some great character today coming back from a 1-0 deficit. It was a complete team effort against a great opponent.”
Sophia Bradley of the NJ Stallions was deeply satisfied with being a state champion, “It just feels incredibly rewarding. All the hard work that we have put in over the last couple of months, has finally paid off.”
NJ Youth Soccer National Championship Series Champions:
| U12 Girls: NJ Stallions Wayne 05 Blue | U12 Boys: PDA Van Basten |
| U13 Girls: SDFC 2004 Yellow | U13 Boys: Real Jersey FC 2004 |
| U14 Girls: NJ Crush FC Heat | U14 Boys: FC Copa Academy 03 Black |
Approximately 185,000 players across 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer State Associations compete and showcase their skills against some of the best competition in the United States. Learn more about NJ Youth Soccer tournaments here.
Source/Photo Credit: New Jersey Youth Soccer
