Field Narrows for Teams Chasing US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships
US Youth Soccer News: Preliminary games at the 2016 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships are complete with 102 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-13 to Under-18 age groups will play quarterfinals, and the Under-19 Girls champions will be crowned on Friday, June 26.
The top 216 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.
All six defending regional champions are still in contention to defend their respective titles as Under-13 Boys Total Futbol Academy (CA-S), Under-16 Girls La Roca Premier PO (UT), Under-17 Girls La Roca FD (UT), Under-17 Boys Seattle United 98 Copa (WA) and Under-18 Girls La Roca Premier (UT) all advanced to the quarterfinals.
Additionally, all four defending national champions kept the hope of a nationals return alive by advancing to the next round. Two-time National Champions Under-16 Girls Legends FC 99 (CA-S), 2013 National Champions Eastside FC 98 Red (WA) and 2014 National Champions Under-18 Beach FC Academy 97 Joyner (CA-S) advanced to the quarterfinals, while 2015 National Champions Under-19 Boys FC Golden State (CA-S) advanced to the semifinals.
Five Boise teams are still in contention to claim regional title as Under-13 Girls 02/03 Indie Chicas Lime (ID), Under-16 Girls BNSC Premier (ID), Under-17 Boys Boise Nationals Inter (ID), Under-18 Boys Idaho Rush Premier (ID) and Under-18 Girls FC Nova 97/98 (ID) all advanced to the quarterfinals. Last year, Under-19 Girls FC Nova Nationals (ID) became the first Idaho team to win a regional title and went on to play in the National Championships final.
Match Highlights
Under-15 Boys
Rio Rapids SC 01 (NM) and FC Bravo 00 (AZ) will advance out of the Group D despite FC Bravo being defeated and Rio Rapids tying on Day 3. FC Bravo and Lamorindo FC 00 (CA-N) looked to be heading to a 1-1 draw after Lamorinda’s Conor Roemer and Bravo’s Juan Obeso found the back of the net in the 27th and 52nd minutes respectively, until Bernard Adrio scored for the Northern California side to give Lamorinda its first win.
Rio Rapids SC 01 (NM) and Sparta 01 JK (UT) battled to a 2-2 draw that gave Rio Rapids first place in the group. Connor Starr and 2015 US Youth Soccer ODP Region IV Tournament Team player Skylor Rose found the back of the net to put the New Mexico side up 2-0, but Carlos Brambilla and Kevin Videira Lopes would score in the second half for Sparta to earn the 2-2 tie. While Sparta was eliminated via a head-to-head tie-breaker with FC Bravo, the Utah side will play in the 2016 National Championships thanks to a second place finish in the 2015-16 US Youth Soccer National League Red Division.
Under-15 Girls
LVPSA 01 Red (NV) defeated FC Salmon Creek Nemesis 00 Ellerston (OR) 3-2 on Day 3. LVPSA’s Gabriella Lancaster found the back of the net three minutes into the match, and Laila Loring would double the Nevada side’s lead with a goal in the 28th minute. Malaika Quigley would bring FC Salmon Creek within one goal in the 36th minute, but Marcella Brooks would give LVPSA its second two-goal lead just one minute later. Mackenzie Frimpong’s goal made the score 3-2, but that would be the last goal as the match ended 3-2.
Lamorinda SC United 00 (CA-N) defeated FC Nova Red 00 (ID) 10-2 to move into a three-way tie with LVPSA and FC Salmon Creek. Those two goals conceded against Nova would play a huge factor in the tie-breakers as LVPSA and FC Salmon Creek advanced to the quarterfinals.
Under-16 Boys
Rio Rapids SC 00 and Heat FC 00 FC (NV) will advance out of Group C after wins on the final day of group play. Rio Rapids would make it three wins in three days to take first place in the group after a 2-1 win over Real Colorado National 99/00 (CO). Luca Seazzu’s goal in the 27th minute and a Real Colorado own goal would give the New Mexico side the 2-0 lead. Ethan Anderson would cut Rio’s lead in half with a goal in the 78th minute, but an equalizer was not in the cards as the match ended 2-1.
Heat FC would take care of business with a 4-0 win over Pac NW 99 Maroon (WA). Andres Mendoza began the scoring with a goal in the 14th minute, followed by Bryan Martinez’s pair of goals in the 43rd and 48th minutes. Ramon Urias-Medina would finish off the scoring with his goal in the 56th minute.
Under-16 Girls
DMCV Sharks Elite (CA-S) and ETFC 99 Athletica Black (OR) battled to a 3-3 draw on the final day of group play. DMCV’s Daniela Nelson broke the scoreless stalemate in the 12th minute, only for Brittany Smith to equalize for the Oregon side one minute later. The teams would trade goals two more times as DMCV’s goals would come from Callie Petrey-Juarez and Taylor Gomez, while ETFC received goals from Anne McNeil and Jaida Nyby.
Leahi 00 Premier (HI) moved to the top of Group C after a 1-0 win over Utah FC Black (UT). Daysha Ann Solidum would score the match’s first and only goal in the 31st minute. Both teams ended up advancing to the quarterfinals due to the DMCV and ETFC draw.
Under-17 Boys
Capital FC Timbers 98 Red (OR) and SC del Sol 99 Colavecchia (AZ) will represent Group D in the quarterfinals after both sides faced off on the final day of group play. Jonathan Burgo Lopez began the scoring in the 27th minute, and Juan Ramirez Perea would double the Arizona side’s lead in the 53rd minute. Capital FC would respond in a big way with a goal from Conner Karsseboom and an own goal to bring the score to 2-2. In the final minute, Armando Lopez Ruiz would net the game-winner to secure his side’s spot in the quarterfinals.
Elite FC Elite 99 (NM) spoiled Santa Clara Sporting 98 Green’s (CA-N) hopes for a quarterfinals bid by defeating the Northern California side 2-0. Luis Calderon broke the scoreless stalemate in the 41st minute, and Estevan Pina would double the New Mexico squad’s lead for the 2-0 win.
Under-17 Girls
Three Rivers SC Black (WA) and FCSC Nemesis 98 (OR) punched their tickets to the quarterfinals round after both sides earned wins on Day 3. Three Rivers would defeat Las Vegas Premier SA (NV) 7-3 thanks to a Taylor Matheny brace paired with goals from Kelly Brown, Kayleen Sambrano, Katie Van Pelt and Sadie Newsom. Las Vegas Premier’s goals would come courtesy of Hannah Borgel, Lydia Rankin and Melanie Ara.
FCSC defeated Ahwatukee 99 White (AZ) 3-1 to secure the other quarterfinals spot in Group C. Marley Lefore netted the opening goal in the 19th minute, but Ahwatukee’s Paige Maling would equalize six minutes later as the match went into halftime tied at one. Angelina Krawczyk would score the eventual game-winner in the 66th minute, and Sabine Postma would add an insurance goal in the 87th minute for the 3-1 win.
Under-19 Boys
A pair of ties on the final day assured the standings in Group A after Day 2 would remain the same as Arizona Arsenal 97 Premier Teal (AZ) and Westside Timbers 96 Copa (OR) advanced to the semifinals. Arizona won Group A after a 0-0 draw with Real National 96/97, while Westside Timbers tied Juventus JUFC (NV) 1-1 with Westside’s goal coming from Gabrial Parrish, and JUFC’s goal coming courtesy of Daniel Nunez. Joining those two teams in the semifinals will be Rio Rapids SC (NM) and defending National Champions FC Golden State.
Under-19 Girls
The finals match in the Under-19 Girls is set as Colorado Rush (CO) will take on So Cal Blues Dodge (CA-S). Blues secured a spot in the final with a 7-1 win over BNSC Premier (ID). Hailie Mace and Sasha Stephens netted braces for the Southern California side to go with goals from Denae Verdine, Jocelyn Orejel and Nikole Rosen, while BNSC’s goal was scored by Sierra Smith.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 96 teams.
Daily reports and complete results from the tournament are available on http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org. Follow the moments from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on Twitter and share the moments with us on Facebook.
