2017 Region IV Presidents Cup Kicks Off in Salt Lake City
The 2017 US Youth Soccer Region IV Presidents Cup is now underway in Salt Lake City, Utah. The six-day tournament, which takes place June 13-18, kicked off Tuesday with 13U through 17/18U Boys and Girls teams starting the action at the Salt Lake City Regional Athletic Complex.
The tournament will feature more than 120 US Youth Soccer boys and girls teams competing for a regional title and a chance to advance to the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup, July 12-16 in Auburndale, Fla.
Despite some rainy conditions to start the day, teams brought plenty of energy to the fields as they looked to take the first step in making a run at a Region IV Presidents Cup title.
“This is a great opportunity for us to face this competition here in Utah,” 15U Girls Barca Cantera (CA-S) coach Bersain Zarimba said following his team’s 3-0 win. “We came here to try and make it to the finals. We’ve started off well with our first game, so we have to work for tomorrow and be ready for another challenge.”
Preliminary games will continue through Thursday, June 15. Quarterfinal matches will be held Friday, June 16, with semifinal matches following on Saturday, June 17. Regional champions will be crowned following final matches on Sunday, June 18.
Utah Youth Soccer Association will host the event, and 12 other State Associations represented include Alaska, Arizona, California-South, California-North, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup offers teams the challenge of experiencing different types of play by competing from state to regional to national levels. The Presidents Cup provides teams with a progressive, competitive experience that highlights competition, camaraderie and community.
Day 1 | Age Group Recaps
13U Boys
Some ties on the opening day of play allowed a couple teams to grab an early hold of first place in their groups. A 4-1 victory on Tuesday has CV San Jose Earthquakes 04B Gold (CA-N) sitting alone atop Group A, while Barcelona NV 04 Academy (NV) is the leader of Group B following a 1-0 win. Meanwhile, TFA SFV 04 (CA-S) and AYSC Arsenal 04B (AK) each secured shutout wins to earn three points apiece in Group C. Chris Amaya, Jeremy Mohn and Gustavo Vera Pelcastre all registered multi-goal games, as they each scored twice to lead the 13U boys age group.
13U Girls
The first day of play wasn’t enough to separate the teams in Group A, as both games finished in draws — giving each team a point heading into Wednesday. The Group B matches were also very tightly contested, as Real Colorado Olympico (CO) and CSC Avalanche 04G (AK) each came away with 1-0 victories. Meanwhile, Beach FC LB G04 Nunes (CA-S) came away with a 4-2 win in Group C behind a strong offensive effort. Elsewhere in the group, Blue Knights 04 UL (UT) picked up a 2-0 win, as Hallie Tripp netted both goals — making her the leading scorer among 13U girls after a day of play.
14U Boys
A decisive win on Tuesday pushed Visalia Galaxy Strikers (CA-N) to the top of Group A after the other match ended in a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest is well-represented in Group B, as Eastside FC B03 White (WA) and 4-H 03B Chelsea Pedro (OR) each picked up day one victories. In Group C, Boise Nationals Timbers Blue (ID) recorded a shut out win and Downtown Los Angeles Soccer Club B03 (CA-S) used five goals to power it to a key opening victory. Carlos Lopez recorded a hat trick to lead Downtown LA SC, while Visalia teammates Antonio Alcantar and Nathan Jimenez each scored twice. Ray Martinez also added two goals for AZ Hammers (AZ).
14U Girls
In Group A, Arsenal FC 03 (CA-S) and WA Premier FC G03 Black (WA) each secured convincing wins to put themselves in great position heading into the second day of play. Meanwhile, Colorado Rapids Youth 03G Select (CO) and Wasatch Elite 03G (UT) picked up three points each to move to the top of Group B. A couple of clean sheets helped Eagles SC G2003 (CA-S) and Cook Inlet S.C. 03G (AK) make an early move in Group C, while the Spokane Sounders (WA) are alone atop of Group D after one day of play. Ashley Aranda, Grace Edvalds and Kolo Suliafu are co-leaders among goal scorers, as they each registered a hat trick on Tuesday.
15U Boys
A late goal helped Catalunya FC 2002B Tsunami (CO) earn a 2-1 win on Tuesday, which allowed it to keep pace with fellow Group A winner California Rush 02 Nero (CA-S). In Group B, STU Chelsea Academy 02 (WA) used early strikes to cruise to a 3-0 win, while HG Eagles SC (CA-S) overcame a halftime deficit to pull out a 3-2 victory. BARCELONA (NV) is on top of Group C after a dominant win, and Visalia Galaxy Strikers 02 (CA-N) scored twice in the second half to secure a come-from-behind, 4-3, win. The Strikers’ comeback overshadowed a two-goal game from Twin Falls Rapids (ID) forward Sergio Varela, who is tied atop the scoring leaderboard with Raul Pantoja.
15U Girls
In Group A, Barca Cantera (CA-S) used a couple late goals to pull away for a 3-0 win. Blitzz FC Gold (MT) also earned three points with a 4-1 triumph. La Roca Premier KP (UT) and Idaho Rush Premier (ID) each picked up 1-0 victories to begin Group B play on the right foot. And in Group C, a pair of clean sheets boosted Impact United TA (UT) and Cook Inlet S.C. 02G (AK) to the top of the early standings. Sara Tolliver led all scorers, as she netted each of the four goals in the Blitzz FC win. Meanwhile, Alexa Gonzalez and Jimenna Sanchez each scored twice for their respective sides.
16U Boys
Santos Laguna White (CA-S) picked up a 4-1 win to open Group A play, which gives it an early goal differential lead over fellow day one winner Liverpool FC 01B SG (UT). In Group B, the teams find themselves right where they started at the start of Tuesday’s games — even in the standings on points. With each game ending in a tie, the four teams all head into the second day of action in Salt Lake City with one point. Elsewhere in 16U Boys play, F.C. Boyle Heights (CA-S) and Players Academy Blue 2001 (NV) each claimed two-goal victories to move to the top of Group C. Hector Velasco scored both of F.C. Boyle Heights’ goals in a shutout victory, while Jacobo Ortega Cardenas and Aymen Bushara also scored twice in their respective games on Tuesday.
16U Girls
Harbor Premier G01 Green (WA) sits atop Group A following a dominant showing in its opening game. Broomfield Blast SC Magista (CO) also picked up three points with a 4-2 victory. In Group B, a couple of close games resulted in one-goal wins for Cook Inlet S.C. 01G (AK) and Pacific FC 01G Ice (OR) — putting them at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Lady Nomads ’01 Red (NV) and L30 Crush G01 (UT) each produced big shutout wins to set the pace in Group C. The Nomads’ Maile Markham leads the age group with three goals, while Alyssa Gray, Josie Loock and Ava Seelenfreund each scored twice.
17/18U Boys
Close matches in Group A saw CGA Academy Elite (ID) and F.C Deportivo UdeG (CA-S) each come away with one-goal wins. In Group B, Inter America Halcones FC (CA-S) sits at the top of the table following a 2-0 win, while Lake Hills Synergy (WA) also picked up three points on Tuesday behind two goals from Shane Riley. Blitzz FC Gold (MT) found the back of the net three times in a victory in Group C, where NCU Manchester United (CA-N) also got a win thanks to a late first-half goal.
17/18U Girls
An explosive second half helped Blitzz FC Gold (MT) secure a 6-2 win in Group A action, while Rampage Black LH (UT) kept pace with a 3-1 win. Meanwhile, IE Surf G00 Kooiman (CA-S) and Celtic 00 White (UT) put in strong defensive efforts to pick up victories to open Group B play. And in Group C, Cook Inlet S.C. 00G (AK) used an offensive explosion to earn a 7-3 win, and Colorado Rapids Select (CO) also earned three points with a 3-1 victory. Cook Inlet’s Jordan Foraker netted a hat trick, while Taylor Cox scored all three of her side’s goals in the matchup between the age group’s two leading scorers.
Note: The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is a separate series of events from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.
Source: Press release US Youth Soccer
