Capital Fall Classic to feature over 460 teams from 10 states
Boys Weekend: November 14-15
Girls Weekend: November 21-22
Glen Allen, Va. (Via Richmond Strikers) – The 2015 Capital Fall Classic will once again feature more than 460 teams over the course of two weekends this November.
Clubs representing 10 U.S. states – Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and host state Virginia – will be sending teams to Richmond.
The event begins with the Boys Weekend from November 14-15, and continues November 21-22 with the Girls Weekend. Both the boys and the girls sides include age groups ranging from U-9 to U-18.
For younger age groups, the Capital Fall Classic is one of the most competitive end-of-season events on the East Coast. Teams in the college showcase age groups have the opportunity to face off with other top teams from around the country, in front of coaches from all levels of collegiate soccer.
Along with premier divisions for top teams, age groups feature as many as five brackets with superior and classic levels as well. With a comprehensive range of available competition levels, many clubs elect to send multiple teams within an age group.
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Among the most highly represented age groups is the U-12 girls bracket, which will have more than 50 teams competing across multiple Premier, Superior and Classic Divisions. The boys U-12 bracket features 40 teams, while the U-11 and U-13 levels have well over 30 each.
“The Capital Fall Classic is a fast-growing event, both in terms of quality and geographic reach,” said Richmond Strikers Tournament Director John Faircloth. “Clubs know their teams are going to be challenged against unfamiliar opponents close to their skill level on top notch playing surfaces.”
A wide range of renowned US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer sanctioned national and regional leagues will be represented throughout the Premier, Superior and Classic Divisions at the Capital Fall Classic. Members of the Region I Champions League, Club Champions League (CCL), Virginia National Premier League (NPL), Eastern Development Program (EDP), Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS), National Capital Soccer League (NCSL), Virginia Soccer League (VSL) and New England Premiership (NEP) among others.
Once again, the Capital Fall Classic will be held at some of the premier natural grass and turf facilities in the greater Richmond, Virginia area. Games will be played at Striker Park, West Creek, Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, Capital Park, Dorey Park, Longdale Fields, Mary B. Stratton Park and River City Sportsplex, which will again serve as a central location for the U-16 to U-18 showcase divisions.
Top division champions earn guaranteed spots in the Jefferson Cup, one of the nation’s most exclusive showcase tournaments. Last year, Capital Fall Classic qualifiers fared extremely well in March at the Jefferson Cup.
The West Virginia Chaos U-17 girls went on to win the Jefferson Cup Platinum Black Division, beating out 11 other teams. SYC Stampede placed third in the U-16 Platinum Black Division, and Richmond Kickers Elite finished as semifinalists in the 7v7 Championship Division at the U-10 level.
Over 140 total teams will be playing for 20 guaranteed spots in the 2016 Jefferson Cup during this year’s Capital Fall Classic.
Returning champions from the 2014 event and other tournaments and leagues around the country will compete in the Superior and Classic Divisions as well, which make up about 75 percent of the brackets.
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On the boys side, FC Richmond Magic 02 will look to repeat as champions, having won the U-12 title in 2014 in addition to the 2015 March Madness Shootout and Virginia Cup Labor Day Tournament.
Vista United 99 captured the U-15 Boys Superior Black Division in 2014, and like several other returning champs, including Beach FC 98 Black and Virginia Rush U-16 among others, get the chance to move up a division as they defend their championships.
West Virginia’s TCSC Revolution won the U-13 Girls Superior Black Division in 2014, and advances to the Superior Orange Division as U-14s to compete against a strong group of teams from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.
Another team to watch on the girls side will be PWSI Courage 01 White, which has the opportunity to repeat as champions of the Classic Division, this time at the U-14 level.
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See below for a full list of participating clubs:
Kentucky: FC Kentucky
Maryland: A3 Soccer, Bowie Soccer, Freedom SC, La Plata Youth Soccer Association, Locomotive FC, Montgomery Soccer, Old Line FC, Olney Boys & Girls Club, St. Mary’s Soccer
Massachusetts: FC Massachusetts, NOVA Premier SC
New Jersey: South Jersey Academy FC
New York: DMS Soccer
North Carolina: CASL, Wake Forest United, AC Sandhills, , Liberty Soccer Academy, OBX Storm, Wake Futbol Club
Ohio: Soccer Vision Academy
Pennsylvania: Arsenal FC, Deep Run Valley, FC Bucks, Foothills SC, Vincent United F.C. Crush
Virginia: Arlington Soccer Association, Barca FC, Baystars FC, Beach FC, Broadway SC, Burke Athletic Club, Capital Futbol Club, Central Virginia United, Chantilly Youth Association (CYA), Chesterfield United FC, Commonwealth FC, Culpeper Comets, Fauquier County SC, FC Richmond, FC United, FC Virginia, FCV Ashburn, First Touch Soccer, Fredericksburg FC, Greene Futbol Club, Gunston SC, Herndon Youth Soccer, International FC, Lee Mount Vernon SC, Loudoun SC, McLean Youth Soccer, Monticello United SC, New River United, Newport News FC, Old Dominion FC, Old Dominion SC, Powhatan Soccer Association, Premier AC, Prince William Soccer, Reston Soccer, Richmond Kickers, Richmond Strikers, Salem Sabres FC, Shenandoah Valley United, Southwestern Youth Association (SYA), Springfield South-County Youth Club (SYC), Stafford Soccer, Sterling FC, Valley AFC, Vienna Youth Soccer, VIP United FC, Virginia Legacy, Virginia Rush, Virginia Soccer Association (VSA), VISTA, Warrenton Youth Sports Club, Washington SC, Western Branch SC, Winchester United, Yorktown FC
West Virginia: Epic SC, Mountaineer United SC, Tri County SC
