YOUTH SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED

2015 US Youth Soccer National Champions Crowned

After competing in their respective US Youth Soccer Regional Championships and winning, 96 teams competed in Tulsa, OK and only a few could earn the title of National Champions. Today, the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Champions were crowned amidst tears of joys and defeat. Legends FC, Houstonians, Sporting KC, JFC Storm. Baltimore Celtic, Tampa Bay United, Chicago Magic PSG. Carlsbad Elite and FC Golden State White are the 2015 Champions.

The tournament has teams in the U-13 through U-19 Boys and Girls age groups and the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the U-14 through U-18 Boys and Girls age groups. Thanks to technology and US Youth Soccer, fans and families from around the world were able to watch the youth soccer action at the National Championships live. 

Under-14 Girls | Legends FC Gold (CA-S)
Under-14 Boys | Houstonians 2001 (TX-S)
Under-15 Girls | Legends FC 99 (CA-S)
Under-15 Boys | Sporting KC Academy (KS)
Under-16 Girls | JFC Storm 98/99 (FL)
Under-16 Boys | Baltimore Celtic (MD)
Under-17 Girls | Tampa Bay United 97 Premier (FL) 
Under-17 Boys | Chicago Magic PSG Preacademy (IL) 
Under-18 Girls | Carlsbad Elite (CA-S)
Under-18 Boys | FC Golden State White (CA-S)

The remaining champions were crowned Sunday at the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Okla. The country’s top teams in the Under-14 through Under-18 Boys Girls age groups met to conclude the final stage of the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. Sunday’s final matchups featured teams who earned the right to play for their respective National titles through success in group play and victories in their semifinal games.

Cal South captured four National Championships, more than any other US Youth Soccer State Association.

Two clubs captured multiple National Championships, with Legends FC (CA-S) claiming the Under-14 and Under-15 Girls crowns and Baltimore Celtic (MD) winning the Under-13 and Under-16 Boys titles.

“The atmosphere our players, parents and staff created in Tulsa this past week was something truly special,” said said Brandon Quaranta, Head Coach and Baltimore Celtics DOC. “With four teams traveling and competing for a National Championship, the level of support from team to team was amazing. Each game felt like a home match. Winning two National Championships, and three in two years, is an amazing accomplishment for our club, but the culture being fostered is far more important. I feel lucky just to be a part of it.”

Josh Hodges, Director of Coaching for the Legends FC was also thrilled that both his U14 and U15 girls claimed the crown today. “I want to congratulate all of these players and their coaches. It is a great day for the club. Any time you can win two US Youth Soccer National Championships is very special.”

“We have a lot of talented players in our club – we invest a lot into our programs to improve our players’ technical ability and this is great example of our success developing players and great teams. To win U14 and U15 is a great proof of the time we spend preparing our younger players for success on the field. The girls have a great foundation and the bigger picture is preparing them for their future – for college or the U.S. National Team. We have a strong history of successful player development and the U14 and U15 reflect the new generation coming up. Our Youngers program is really driving the future of youth soccer,” said Hodges.

Sunday also featured a pair of rematches from last year’s National Championship finals in the Under-16 Girls and Under-17 Girls age groups. Under-16 JFC Storm 98/99 (FL) managed to reclaim its championship with a win over YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E), while Tampa Bay United 97 Premier (FL) avenged last year’s loss to Beach FC Academy 97 (CA-S) by winning their matchup Sunday to claim the Under-17 Girls title.

“It’s all a credit to these players. They play their hearts out,” Tampa Bay coach Adrian Bush said. “We’ve won everything there is to win. We’ve won a state title, a regional and now we just capped it off with the National Championship. No one can take that away from them, and I’m just so proud of them.”

Meanwhile, Under-18 Girls Carlsbad Elite (CA-S) won its club’s first National Championship while ending DMCV Sharks Elite’s (CA-S) bid for a third-straight title. Another first came in the form of the Under-15 Boys title won by Sporting KC Academy (KS), which marked the first National Championship by a Kansas boys team.

Carl Higham, Girls Director at Carlsbad United said, “To win our first National Championship, defeating our our local Cal South rival, the Del Mar Sharks in the final, especially as they are the back-to-back National Champions — is a dream come true. This is a very special group of Carlsbad Elite girls who have battled hard on the field – for over ten years in competitive youth club soccer –  against this local, Cal South rival. To win today was amazing and we are very proud of our players and coaches.”

Adam Skumawitz, Carlsbad United – Elite U18 Team Coach said, “This week was a celebration of our seniors, our families, and our Southern California youth soccer club. I am forever grateful for the love and support of our parents and the commitment and heart of our players. This team fought through incredibly talented and tough competition all week. They never quit and found a way to win. Playing against Del Mar was a storybook ending for us as we have had years of great battles with them. It was so rewarding to have our girls execute the game plan and finish today as National Champions. Our girls all head off to college in the next few weeks but the memory of winning the Carlsbad’s first ever, US Youth Soccer National Championship will stay with them forever. It was my privilege to coach this group the past three years and I believe they have firmly set a standard for all those who follow.”

“It means everything as this is the biggest achievement that they can have so far,” Sporting KC coach Istvan said. “To play in this competition gives them lots of experience and proves that you have to work hard to achieve something and at the end you can go home with sweet memories.”

On Saturday night, the Under-13 and Under-19 National Championship finals were played, as Under-19 Massapequa Arsenal (NY-E) claimed the James P. McGuire Cup on its 80th Anniversary.

A few highlights from Saturday’s final matches…

Under-13 Girls: So Cal Blues Baker (CA-S) 1-2 (PKs) PSG MI Gators 02 Orange (MI)
PSG MI Gators 02 Orange (MI) (RII-C) won the Under-13 Girls championship defeating So Cal Blues Baker (CA-S) (RIV-C) in penalty kicks. The match went to halftime scoreless, leading to believe that both teams would have a match similar to their 0-0 preliminary match on Wednesday. In the 51^stminute however, PSG broke through the stalemate on a corner kick play. So Cal Blues tried to clear the ball, but PSG serviced it back in and forward Madison Medalle got a beautiful header to put the Gators in the lead. As play continued, So Cal pressured and produced multiple corner kicks in an effort to get back in the match. Sure enough a corner kick play helped the Cal South side, and defender Lillian Shea saved So Cal Blues with a stoppage time goal, taking the match to overtime. After the 1-1 score remained in overtime, penalty kicks were needed to determine a winner. PSG went up first and got goals by Arianna Jalics, Justina Gaynor, Caitlin O’Malley and Emily Mathews. Intermittently, So Cal players Rilee Harmon, Isabella DAquila, and Marisa Bubnis also found the back of the net. As So Cal’s fourth kicker took a shot, PSG keeper Emma Bourtorwick got a block tapping the ball up and out. All that was needed was one last PSG goal to end it, and midfielder Jessica Koje slotted it in for the victory.

“It’s almost a feeling of relief right now,” said PSG Gators Head Coach Jeremy Harkins. “I’m so happy for those girls. All the tears really tell the story. This is by far the best team that they’ve ever played and it’s because they worked so hard that they got it done.’

Under-13 Boys: Baltimore Celtic Darby 01/02 (MD) 1-0 (PKs) EC Real Galaxy FC 01 (CA-N)
Both teams rested players in the final game of the group stage in which Celtic won 3-0, but the full strength of each team were on display as they battled for the Under-13 National Championship title. In a game between the two highest scoring teams in the age group, the unexpected hero would turn out to be the Celtic keeper Grant Farley. Both teams seemed nervous at the start as neither could keep possession. Celtic seemed to settle down and aim for the long ball on the counter as Real Galaxy looked to link up with the speedy Jacob Mayer.

Mayer had the two best looks of the entire game when in the first and second half he broke through for 1v1s with Celtic’s Farley. In the first half, Farley made a stellar kick save to keep the score at 0-0 and then in the second half came out and made another strong 1v1 save against Mayer to keep the score 0-0 at the end of regulation. Overtime was more of the same back and forth action as the teams slowed down and were visibly tired. Real Galaxy seemed to have the game in hand when Celtic was called for a handball in the box for a Galaxy penalty kick in the final seconds of the game. Farley made another huge save as he dived to his right and pushed the ball wide of the goal to send the game to kicks from the mark. Celtic took the win with a 4-3 advantage as Farley once again came up big saving the final kick to give his side the win. “It was an unbelievable game with everything you’d expect in the National final with two teams that definitely deserved to be here,” said Celtic head coach Mike Lookingland. “Our goalkeeper came up huge. We just added Grant about six months ago and he’s never played goalie until this year. Grant is an extremely hard worker and to save a pk in the last minute of OT and to get that last save, thank goodness he’s dedicated to his craft. I am so excited for him and for our team.”

Under-19 Girls: Gretna Prima 95/96 Green (NE) 1-0 (PKs) FC Nova Nationals (ID)
The Under-19 Girls National Championship featured two teams from states that have yet to win a National Championship as Gretna Prima 95/96 Green (NE) and FC Nova Nationals (ID) squared off to decide who would hoist the Ross Stewart Cup. The match featured two players with U.S. Youth National team experience in Gretna’s Michelle Xiao and Nova’s Grace Hancock. Goals were hard to come by as the match remained a scoreless stalemate past regulation and extra time; requiring penalty kicks to determine the winner. Gretna keeper scored the Nebraska side’s first penalty kick and saved another as Gretna would ultimately win Nebraska’s first National Championship in penalty kicks.

“The girls were so excited to play together one more time. They are such a close team and to win the whole thing is extremely amazing,” Gretna head coach Doug Trenerry said. “This year starts my 40th year of coaching so I have been doing this for a while, and obviously this is very special. It is one of the most special groups I have been with.”

Under-19 Boys: Massapequa Arsenal (NY-E) 3-1 St. Louis Scott Gallagher (MO)
For the first time in 56 years, a New York team claimed the James P. McGuire Cup, as Massapequa Arsenal (NY-E) defeated St. Louis Scott Gallagher (MO), 3-1, in the Under-19 Boys final. Arsenal put the pressure on from the opening whistle and secured a lead just three minutes into the game. The SLSG keeper got his hands on a low drive through traffic, but Arsenal’s Michael Farese was in the right spot and hit home the rebound to put his side in front. Massapequa threatened with a couple of dangerous free kicks shortly after, but SLSG fended them off and play evened out. Shortly after halftime, Scott Gallagher netted an emphatic equalizer when Steven May hit a volley from well outside the box that flew inside the left post. Arsenal earned a chance to regain the lead in the 67th minute when it drew a penalty, and Nicholas Cestaro converted his kick from the spot to put the Eastern New York side back on top. Brendan Gallivan extended the lead to 3-1 with another penalty kick, and Arsenal held off a late push by SLSG to take the 3-1 victory and claim the McGuire Cup. The championship caps off a long run for Massapequa Arsenal, as many of the players have been playing together since they were 8 years old.

A few highlights from Sunday’s final matches…Girls Championship Finals

Under-14 Girls: Dallas Kicks SC 01 (TX-N) 1–2 Legends FC Gold (CA-S)
Legends FC Gold (CA-S) 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.

Under-15 Girls: Legends FC 99 (CA-S) 2-1 La Roca Premier PO (UT)
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 Kaylee 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, Kaylee 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.

Under-16 Girls: YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E) 0–3 JFC Storm 98/99 (FL)
In a rematch of the 2014 Under-15 Girls National Championship, JFC Storm 98/99 (FL) once again got the best of YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E) with a 3-0 win to become the Under-16 Girls National Champions. After a scoreless first half, JFC got the scoring started early in the second. In just the 46^th minute JFC’s Lindsey Magee made a run toward the Xplosion endline and cut back a pass to Leila Azari who was streaking forward towards the goal. Azari hit her shot first-time for the game winner and the 1-0 lead. It was back and forth for 20 more minute before Azari hit for her second on the game. Azari got to the end line and fired a hard shot at the near post. The YMS keeper mishandled the shot and the ball bounced in for a 2-0 lead. After a YMS red card, JFC kept their foot on the gas. Angeline Daly ended the scoring as she got in 1v1 with the keeper. YMS keeper Danielle Samson sprawled out for the save but Daly snuck the ball passed Samson to bring the score to 3-0. With the blow of the final whistle, JFC repeated as the US Youth Soccer National Champions.

“We’re the first team in Florida to win back-to-back National Championships,” said JFC head coach Mike Walker. “Last year we were unknown but this year we were definitely on everyone’s radar.”

Under-17 Girls: Beach FC Academy 97 (CA-S) 0–1 Tampa Bay United 97 Premier (FL)
For the fourth time in the last two National Championships, Beach FC Academy 97 (CA-S) and Tampa Bay United 97 Premier (FL) matched up, with Sunday marking the second straight year they played for the National Championship. Their previous matchups were decided by one goal or less, and the first half reflected that history as the teams went into the break in scoreless tie. In the 48th minute, Tampa Bay took the lead when Emily Evangelista placed her first-time shot inside the right post — marking the Florida side’s first lead over Beach FC since their opening match of the 2014 National Championships. As it has for the last year, Tampa Bay displayed stout defense to hold on to its lead and record a 1-0 victory to claim the Under-17 Girls National Championship.

After some great matchups in the last 12 months, Tampa Bay coach Adrian Bush said beating a team like Beach FC solidifies his team’s status as the National Champion.

“There’s so much respect between both teams. Every one of their kids, from their coaching staff to their players — they’re first class,” Bush said. “To beat them in the championship is only fitting. We’ve avenged two losses that we’ve had, and there’s no question we’re National Champs.”

Under-18 Girls: Carlsbad Elite (CA-S) 1–0 DMCV Sharks Elite (CA-S)

Under-18 Girls Carlsbad Elite (CA-S) denied in-state 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 52^nd 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,” Carlsbad head coach Skumawitz said. “DMCV is an unbelievable team that we have played so many times. The girls just wanted it that much more this year.”

“First of all, I want to thank everyone who has supported us, from our local DMCV Shark community, our friends and family, club teams from all over the country as well as college coaches who have enjoyed not only our competitive team mentality but our possession style of play,” said Felicia Kappes, Head Coach of the DMCV Sharks U18 team.

“What I am most proud of as a DMCV Shark coach and the Director of the College program is that our players are prepared to be impact Freshman at the collegiate level. We would have loved a storybook ending winning three US Youth Soccer National Championships in a row, but we also recognize the priority was developing our players for the next level technically, tactically, physically and mentally.  These girls know they are ready and are forever Champions.”

“These young women not only played great soccer but truly appreciated and cherished the special bonds of friendship and loyalty on and off the field,” said Kappes. “Our camaraderie was the key ingredient to our success and for the life lessons learned on and off the field these 6 years together.  Our girls were disappointed but not defeated or defined by this one loss today.  Their DMCV Shark legacy is bigger than this one game. It is an end of an era but a beginning of a new chapter to their lives.  The Best is Yet to Come!”

Boys Championship Finals

Under-14 Boys: GSA 01 Premier (GA) 0-2 Houstonians 01 (S-TX)
Houstonians 2001 (TX-S) took home the Under-14 Boys crown after defeating GSA 01 Premier (GA) 2-0 with both goals off the foot of forward Kevin Gonzalez. In the 32nd minute, Houstonians countered a GSA corner kick and Gonzalez received a pass on his half of the field. Gonzalez flicked the ball behind him to gain advantage and sprinted from the half-line outrunning a GSA defender. Right as he approached the box, Gonzalez shot a rocket to the left upper 90, and the unstoppable shot put Houstonians in the lead. Gonzalez found his brace in the 65th minute, beating two defenders and the keeper. Houstonian’s keeper kicked the ball up field, and as a GSA defender tried to play it back and head it to his keeper, Gonzalez stole the ball and tapped it in with his left foot to double the score. Houstonians earned three ties during group play, won a penalty kick shootout to advance to the semis, and won 2-1 in semis and 2-0 in the final to earn the Under-14 Boys championship.

Under-15 Boys: Sporting KC Academy (KS) 3–1 Fewster FC (MD)
Sporting KC Academy (KS) finished their tournament with five straight wins to claim the Under-15 Boys National Championship. Sporting’s 3-1 final win came against Fewster FC (MD) in the National Championship final. Sporting started off the scoring in the 22nd minute when Roman Knox found U.S. Under-14 National Team Player, Cameron Duke with a pass. Duke got around his defender and slotted the ball passed the Fewster FC keeper for a 1-0 lead. Fewster’s Thomas Sidleck evened the score line early in the second half when he picked up a poor clearance and then took a couple dribbles and beat the keeper near post. Sporting answered immediately when Abdu Kikhia received a pass at the top of the box from a teammate. Kikhia turned, beat his defender and expertly place a low shot back post for a 2-1 advantage with what would end up the game winner. Kansas City continued to hold the majority of the possession bending but not breaking against the Fewster attack as they looked for an equalizer. Sporting’s Jacob Hall scored a late goal in added time when Kikhia dribbled to the endline and whipped a ball across the face of the goal for an easy tap-in by Hall to seal the win. With the 3-1 win Sporting KC Academy are the new Under-15 Boys US Youth Soccer National Champions and the first boys team from Kansas to win the national championship.

Under-16 Boys: Seattle United 98 Copa (WA) 1–2 Baltimore Celtic (MD)
The Under-16 Boys finals featured two National Championship newcomers as Baltimore Celtic (MD) defeated Seattle United 98 Copa (WA) 2-1. This marked the second time the teams squared off as both teams hailed from Group A and played on day three. Seattle United defeated Celtic 1-0 in group play, and it looked like the finals could be a mirror image when in the 16th minute a Seattle long throw-in bounced around in the box for Vicente Aquino Contreras to pounce on and put the Washington squad up early 1-0. Celtic responded in the 57th minute when Nicolas Brown found himself alone on the end of a through-ball and beat the keeper on the far post for the 1-1 tie. Overtime appeared to be on the horizon until a 74th minute Celtic corner kick was headed back into the box and found Dominic Duncan for the point blank shot to put his team up 2-1, and ultimately secure the National Championship.

Under-17 Boys: Arlington Impact Red (VA) 1–4 Chicago Magic PSG (IL)
After falling behind early, Chicago Magic PSG Preacademy (IL) stormed back for a 4-1 win over Arlington Impact Red (VA) in the Under-17 Boys National Championship final. Arlington took a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute when Brandon Orozco timed his run behind the Chicago back line and sent a right-footed strike just inside the far post. Chicago Magic tied the game and subsequently took the lead on two well-taken free kicks by Arron Ibilola. The Virginia side hung around as it pushed for an equalizer, but Chicago pushed the lead to 3-1 in the 81st minute when Jesus Perez finished a nice give-and-go with a chip over the Arlington keeper. Michael Gallo added a stoppage-time insurance goal to cap Chicago’s 4-1 victory that gave the club its first National title in 12 years.

“It means a lot for the club and myself that we came out on top. It’s been a long time since the [Chicago] Magic have won the National Championship,” Chicago Magic coach Bato Radoncic said. “We’ve put a lot of effort and work into this age group. For the last six years we’ve been winning the State Cup, so now it finally paid off with us winning the National Championship.”

Under-18 Boys: FC Golden State White (CA-S) 2–1 LVSA 97 Red (NV)
After falling to LVSA 97 Red (NV) in the 2015 Region IV Championships and first day of play at this week’s National Championships, Under-18 Boys FC Golden State White (CA-S) 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.

2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships | Finals

Fans can relive the moments from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on Twitter and share the experiences with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Until next year when thousands of teams start on the Road to the National Championships…. Congratulations to all who earned the titles of Champion and those who worked hard to try to gain the title.

Main Image Photo Credit: Briana Aguila / Cal South