YOUTH SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS GROUP PLAY CONCLUDES

A few highlights from Thursday’s matches…

U13 Girls: NJ Rush 02 Blue (NJ) 1-4 Cincinnati United Premier Gold (OH-S)
Cincinnati United Premier Gold (OH-S) came out with a 4-1 victory against NJ Rush 02 Blue (NJ). Kailyn Dudukovich tallied three goals for the match as she scored the first in the 10th minute. The game remained 1-0 until Dudukovich scored two goals in the second half. Brooklyn Harris made it a 4-0 game in the 58th minute, and although NJ Rush got on the board with a late goal from Amanda Attanasi, Cincinnati United Premier Gold took the win.

U14 Girls: BRYC 01 Elite (VA) 0-1 PSG MI Gators 02 Orange (MI)
PSG MI Gators 02 Orange (MI) continue to look to defend their 2015 National Championship title as they qualify for the semifinals after a 1-0 win over BRYC 01 Elite (VA). The only goal of the match came from Olivia Sampson in the 16th minute. BRYC and PSG Gators will both advance to Saturday’s semifinals after each team posted a 2-1-0 record in group play.

U15 Girls: FC Pride 01 Elite (IN) 6-1 HBC Impact 00 (NY-E)
The 2015 National Championships semifinalists, FC Pride 01 Elite (IN), clinched a 2016 semifinal spot after defeating HBC Impact 00 (NY-E), 6-1. It was a 2-0 game at halftime after Heather MacNab scored in the 10th minute and Evelyn Norfleet scored a late first half goal. In the second half, FC Pride tallied three goals within nine minutes with two goals from Abby Isger and one from Emily Speidel. Isger earned her third of the match in the 52nd minute. Daniella Cornelia put the ball in the net for HBC to complete the game, but FC Pride finished the game on top. FC Pride will go into Saturday’s semifinal match as the second seed in their bracket after finishing group play with a 2-1-0 record.

U16 Girls: Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W) 3-1 Albion SC White (CA-S)
Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W) claimed a 3-1 victory over Albion SC White (CA-S) on the final day of group play. Sidney Reeves from Syracuse Development Academy scored back-to-back goals within the first four minutes of the game. Although Emali Mac Kinnon from Albion cut into Syracuse Development Academy’s lead with a goal in the 17th minute, Reeves finished her third of the game in the second half to put the game out of reach.

U17 Girls: YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E) 0-2 EGA Maroon 98 (NE)
EGA Maroon 98 (NE) defeated YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E), 2-0. As YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E) already qualified for the U17 Girls semifinals, EGA Maroon 98 (NE) looked to end their National Championships campaign on a positive note. Rebecca Rossett earned the first goal when she stepped up to take a corner kick, sending the ball to bend over the defenders and goalkeeper. Julia Simkus made it a 2-0 game as she created a wall pass and took the open shot for an easy pass into the goal. YMS advances to the semifinals after finishing 2-1-0 in group play and placing first in their bracket.

U18 Girls: Beach FC Academy 97 Joyner (CA-S) 0-1 KHA Red (OH-S)
A battle for a spot in Saturday’s U18 Girls semifinals between Beach FC Academy 97 Joyner (CA-S) and KHA Red (OH-S) resulted in a 1-0 final score in favor of KHA Red (OH-S). The match was well on its way to end in a 0-0 draw, but Haley Moses’ penalty kick goal in stoppage time earned KHA Red the victory. KHA Red finished group play with two wins and one loss, matching with Tennessee SC 16 (TN) in the same amount of points but will take the second seed due to their loss against Tennessee.

U19 Girls: McLean 96 Green (VA) 1-0 Red Stars (IL)
After defeating Red Stars (IL) 1-0 in the final day of the group stage, McLean 96 Green (VA) advances to the U19 Girls Ross Stewart Cup final on Saturday. A late goal in the 82nd minute from Sara Grace DeGooyer was all McLean needed to make it through to the finals. McLean finishes the preliminary round with a 2-1-0 record and will face So Cal Blues Dodge (CA-S) on Saturday. The game will be a rematch of the 1-0 Tuesday preliminary game, which ended in So Cal Blues’ favor.

U13 Boys: Strikers FC Chingirian (CA-S) 2-0 02 CASL Academy Juniors (NC)
In a preview of the U13 Boys Saturday’s final, Strikers FC Chinigrian (CA-S) defeated 02 CASL Academy Juniors (NC) 2-0. A brace by Striker’s Sean Foster was the deciding factor between the two sides as Foster scored in the 37th and 51st minutes of play. Foster is now tied with CASL’s Ian Holdaway for the top scorer spot in the age group, both having scored three goals so far. CASL will look to turn around its fortunes in Saturday’s final, and will look for Holdaway and teammate Adam Armour to provide the scoring in the replay.

U14 Boys: LVSA 02 Red (NV) 2-1 SLA Nomads 01 (CA-S)
LVSA 02 Red (NV) scored a big win over SLA Nomads 01 (CA-S) in a closely played U14 Boys match on the final day of group play. LVSA came into day three just one point ahead in a tight group with Nomads and West Pines United Carrillo (FL) only one point behind. SLA got off to a golden start when Diego Botello raced beyond the LVSA defense and scored in the 19th minute of play. LVSA stormed back with two unanswered goals when Lincoln Aquino found the back of the net as he chested the ball and side volleyed a beauty beyond the Nomads keeper. Teammate Antino Lopez scored within the next 60 seconds when he tapped in a rebound off a saved shot. With the win, LVSA tops Group A with seven points and advances to Saturday’s semifinals where they will face Valparaiso United FC 02 JZ (AZ). The other semifinal will be Raiders City (IL) who topped Group B against defending champions Baltimore Darby 01/02 (MD) who just slid into the semifinals with a 2-1 victory over West Pines United Carrillo.

U15 Boys: McLean 00 Green (VA) 2-1 LMSC Sabertooth Rats
McLean 00 Green (VA) sent itself into the U15 Boys semifinals with a 2-1 win against LMSC Sabertooth Rats. McLean’s Yassine Elkahloun scored in the 26th minute and Jett Bisset gave the Virginia side a 2-0 cushion just seven minutes later. LMSC searched for a goal, but was only able to score their consolation goal from Evan Tracy in the 80th minute. The loss knocks LMSC out of the tournament and vaults McLean into the semifinals.

U16 Boys: Loudoun Red (VA) 1-1 United FA Premier (GA)
Loudoun Red (VA) got a point from its tie against United FA Premier (GA) and some help from the other game in its group to advance to the semifinals. With the tie Loudoun moves on as second in Group A with United FA advancing as the top seed. Loudoun looked to be in trouble early when Alonzo Millsap scored in the 19th minute for United FA, but kept its composure and scored just six minutes later to equalize. Christopher Little’s goal for Loudoun was huge as neither team could score the rest of the game and ended with both teams getting a point. With Strikers FC North (CA-S) defeating La Roca South CS 99/00 Premier (UT) Loudoun slid into the playoffs by a single point. Loudoun will face Group B winner OP Green (OH-S) while United FA will face-off against Dix Hills Hurricanes from (NY-E) to decide the final.

U17 Boys: Challenger Crew Jrs Gold 98 (OH-N) 1-0 Baltimore Celtic 98/99 (MD)
Justin Libertowski scored the only goal of the game as Challenger Crew Jrs Gold 98 (OH-N) defeated defending National Champions Baltimore Celtic 98/99 (MD) 1-0 on the final day of play. Libertowski scored on a header goal early in the first half and then Challenger’s defense did the rest to hold off for the victory. Challenger gained three points from the match to tie both Celtic and Loudoun 98 Red (VA) with six points after three games. With the tiebreakers, Challenger just misses out on the semifinals as Loudoun and Baltimore advance from the group. Pipeline Black (MD) and Seattle United 98 Copa (WA) advance out of Group A with Pipeline facing Celtic in a matchup of Maryland teams and Loudoun facing Seattle.

U18 Boys: South San Jose PAC Indios (CA-N) 0-1 Arlington Impact Red (VA)
Arlington Impact Red (VA) is back in the National Championships semifinals after an intense game against South San Jose PAC Indios (CA-N) finished 1-0. Both goalkeepers made great point blank saves throughout the first half. After gaining a man advantage, Arlington still couldn’t find the back of the net again, denied by the PAC Indios keeper in the second half, and then being denied on the crossbar when Robert Bynum got on the end of a cross. Arlington began pushing with the advantage in players but PAC Indios’ keeper kept playing hero denying Arlington’s Charles Taylor and then tipping a shot over the bar. Arlington finally broke through in the 89th minute when a ball got slipped through to Joseph Faddoul who made no mistakes in finishing his chance. Arlington advances to face FC Golden State Platinum (CA-S) who won Group A, and Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E) will play Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S) in the other U18 Boys semifinal.

U19 Boys: FC Golden State (CA-S) 3-1 FC Florida 96/97 Elite (FL)
With the James P. McGuire Cup final already set after two days of play, FC Golden State and FC Florida played in a preview of the U19 Boys final. Robert Garcia put the defending champions ahead 1-0 in the 24th minute and Erik Da Silva Santos added to the advantage just nine minutes later. Kevin Aguilar made it 3-0 for Golden State early in the second half but the Cal South side couldn’t keep the clean sheet as Cristian Perez scored for FC Florida midway through the second half. The two teams will meet again on Saturday, where the result of the game will determine who walks away as winners of the U19 Boys James P. McGuire Cup.

For complete statistics, including goal scorers, please visit the schedule, standings and scores website.

Live broadcasts of more than 80 games, daily highlight videos, photos, reports and complete results from the tournament are available here.

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Source/Photo Credit: US Youth Soccer