US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup Kicks Off
The first day of the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup concludes as U13 through U17 age groups compete in the annual tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Youth Soccer News: The 2016 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup kicked off Thursday at the Mohawk Sports Complex in Tulsa, Okla. The four-day event features 40 US Youth Soccer Boys and Girls teams in the U13 through U17 age groups that have earned their way to the National Presidents Cup via success in their respective US Youth Soccer Regional Presidents Cup events.
In addition to playing for a national title, players will get the chance to expose their talents in front of college coaches throughout the weekend.
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.
For the U16 Girls FWSC 00 Academy Strikers (IN), National Presidents Cup represents a significant opportunity and a matter of overcoming obstacles. FWSC is one of the oldest clubs in Indiana, and head coach Andy Stout makes sure the girls on the team are aware of the heritage from which they are playing for. As one of the few Fort Wayne, Ind. teams to compete in a US Youth Soccer national tournament, this opportunity means a lot.
“I don’t think our girls fully understand that yet,” Stout said. “For those of us who grew up playing and coaching in the area, it’s a huge deal.”
FWSC is also made up of girls with high grade-point averages, who care about their community and who have experienced significant medical issues.
“They really have come together as a family,” said team manager Todd Gilpin. “They lift each other up. It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work.”
The US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup will continue preliminary games through Saturday, July 16. Consolation and championship matches will take place on Sunday, July 17.
For more information on the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup, visit here.
Match Highlights:
Under-13 Girls: 02 CSA Charlotte Torsion (NC) 0-2 Hawks Academy (CA-S)
After a scoreless first half, Hawks Academy (CA-S) found the back of the net twice in the second half for a 2-0 win over 02 CSA Charlotte Torsion (NC). Nicole Goodman and Mikayla Abrenica scored within one minute of each other to earn the victory.
Under-14 Girls: NUU 01 Wave (PA-E) 4-4 Eclipse Elite 20 (IL)
The leads switched off in pairs during a back-and-forth battle between NUU 01 Wave (PA-E) and Eclipse Elite 20 (IL), which ended in a 4-4 tie. Eclipse Elite’s Emily Sitkowski got the ball rolling with an early goal in the fourth minute, and Cailyn Munar increased the lead to 2-0. Three minutes later, NUU’s Kaitlyn Dunn cut into Eclipse Elite’s lead, and after two minutes, Ellie Rowe tied the game at 2-2. Within another two minutes, Bella Grisafi stole the advantage back for Eclipse Elite. In the second half, Eclipse Elite’s Haley Arnold made it a 4-2 game, but NUU’s Erin Tompkins and Dunn finished two goals to tie the match for a dramatic ending.
Under-15 Girls: Union SC Crimson Tide Academy (NJ) 1-1 FC United Select 2 (IL)
The first half between Union SC Crimson Tide Academy (NJ) and FC United Select 2 (IL) resulted in even play and a scoreless battle. However, in the 59th minute, Kayla Miller-People gave Union SC a 1-0 lead with a goal. FC United Select earned the equalizer when Maggie Brett took an opportunity inside the 18-yard box and hit the ball high into the goal. Brett’s last-minute goal came in the 80th minute, and the game concluded in a 1-1 tie.
Under-16 Girls: Greeneville Galaxy Select (TN) 1-3 California Elite Soccer Club Black (CA-S)
California Elite Soccer Club Black (CA-S) got on the board first against Greeneville Galaxy Select (TN) when Kayla Bame scored in the seventh minute. Victoria Soriano and Rielly Rasmussen increased California Elite’s lead to 3-0 later on in the first half. Although Greeneville Galaxy’s Katherine Galoffin added a goal in the 29th minute, California Elite held the Tennessee team off for the 3-1 win.
Under-17 Girls: Dynamo STX (TX-S) 0-4 FC Warriors Blue (NV)
FC Warriors Blue (NV) constantly looked for goals, defeating Dynamo STX (TX-S), 4-0 in their first preliminary match. One goal in the first half came from Alyssa Abby Nunez. It wasn’t until the second half when Nunez scored again by striking the ball from the side of the 18-yard box and making contact with the upper right side of the net. McKenna Stratton earned the third goal as she blasted the ball from outside of the 18-yard box, sending the ball over the Dynamo goalkeeper’s head. Nunez topped off the game with a fourth goal and her third of the match.
Under-13 Boys: Herndon Argentinos Jrs. (VA) 1-3 FC United Select 1 02/03 Copa (IL)
Under-13 FC United Select 1 02/03 Copa (IL) got off to a good start at the 2016 National Presidents Cup after defeating Herndon Argentinos Jrs. (VA) 3-1 Ethan Webster started the scoring and grabbed the game’s lone first half goal in the 12th minute. FC United kept the pressure on and score two more goals in the 49th and 56th minutes by Patrick Brennan and Alexis Escobar. Herndon managed to grab a late consolation goal in the dying minutes, when Jad Bader found the back of the net to bring the final score to 3-1.
Under-14 Boys: Superior SC Aztecas 02 (TX-N) 1-0 Fire FC Premier 02 MH (UT)
The back and forth battle between Superior SC Aztecas 02 (TX-N) and Fire FC Premier 02 MH (UT) was decided by one goal. Neither team could find the back of the net in the first half as both sides tried to figure the other out. Aztecas got the break they needed as Fire finally made a tragic mistake. Fire’s keeper came out towards a bouncing ball and a miscommunication with a defender saw the defender’s attempt to head the ball back to his keeper go wide of his target. Aztecas’ Jarrett Parga recoverd the misplayed ball and scored the game winner for The North Texas side.
Under-15 Boys: Kearny Reds (NJ) 3-0 Ela Elite (IL)
Kearny Reds (NJ) couldn’t breakdown Ela Elite (IL) for the entire first half but the floodgates finally opened in the second half. Kearny’s Omar Sowe scored in the 42nd minute to give the New Jersey side the 1-0 lead. Sowe scored again just five minutes late to increase his team’s lead, and then finished off the scoring in the 50th minute when he completed his hat-trick. With the win, Kearny sits on top of the group tied with F.C. Bachmanlake (TX-N) who also won 3-0 in its game today, against Players Elite AP (NV).
Under-16 Boys: Alliance Soccer Club Galaxy (MD) 0-2 Boilers FC Gold (IN)
Under-16 Boilers FC Gold (IN) took the lead in the 28th minute when Mason Nolan broke through the Alliance defense and smashed a shot towards goal. The Alliance keeper got a hand to the ball but the power of the shot took it past the keeper and into the back of the net. Boilers kept the pressure on into the second half and it paid off as Jakub Hall added a goal in the 48th minute of play. Alliance could not find an answer and the score finished 2-0. Boilers will face 99 FSC Force Premier (NC) in its day two game in a matchup of the two winners on day one.
Under-17 Boys: The Soccer Pit Cobras (FL) 1-3 Rampage 99 Black SC/TL (UT)
Rampage 99 Black SC/TL (UT) started its National Presidents Cup scoring in just the 11th minute of play when Cameron Tayrien scored. Neither team scored again in the first half as the Utah side carried its 1-0 lead into halftime. Rampage kept on the pressure and saw multiple attempts in the second half hit the crossbar. Tyler Malan had his shot tipped into the crossbar by the Cobras goalkeeper and then Tanner Hart fired a shot from the right side that smashed off the crossbar. Rampage finally got on the board again when a through ball found Madison Clark who slotted his shot into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead. Cobras pulled on back in the 76th minute when Raymundo Cervantes was brought down in the box. Ulises Soto stepped up and buried his penalty kick to make the score 2-1. Any hope of a Cobra comeback was put to bed when Austin Freeman beat his defender in the 90th minute and placed his shot into the bottom right corner beyond the diving Cobras keeper to make the final score 3-1 in favor of the Utah side.
To view all of Thursday’s results, check out the schedule, standings and scores website.
Source/Photo Credit: US Youth Soccer
