US Youth National League wraps up, Germantown next stop for 40 teams

FRISCO, Texas — US Youth Soccer National League teams in the Under-14, Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 Boys and Girls divisions have qualified to compete in the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 21-27 in Germantown, Md.

By way of their success in the 2013-14 US Youth Soccer National League, the top two finishers in each division have earned a direct path to the final leg of the nation’s most elite and prestigious competition, providing the opportunity for additional exposure to collegiate and national staff scouts and the chance to capture the National Championship title in their respective age group.

2013-2014 National League representatives for the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championships

Girls Under-14
Blue Champion: Tophat 18 Gold (GA)*
Blue Runner-up: Legends FC 99 (CA-S)*#
Red Champion: Carlsbad Elite 99 (CA-S)*
Red Runner-up: Ponte Vedra SC JFC STORM 99/00 (FL)*

Girls Under-15
Blue Champion: Eastside FC 98 Red (WA)*#
Blue Runner-up: Futura Academy Forte (MO)
Red Champion: Pride Predators 99 (CO)*
Red Runner-up: YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (E-PA)*

Girls Under-16
Blue Champion: Eclipse Elite Black 97/98 (IL)#
Blue Runner-up: MRM Coyotes (MD)*
Red Champion: Carlsbad Elite 97/98 (CA-S)*
Red Runner-up: Tampa Bay United 97 Premier (FL)*

Girls Under-17
Blue Champion: DMCV Sharks Elite (CA-S)*#
Blue Runner-up: NSA Jaguars (IL)*
Red Champion: Carlsbad Elite (CA-S)*
Red Runner-up: Kings Hammer Academy (OH-S)*

Girls Under-18
Blue Champion: Beach FC Ingrassia (CA-S)*
Blue Runner-up: Cleveland United White (OH-N)*#
Red Champion: BRYC 95 Elite (VA)
Red Runner-up: Match Fit Beat (NJ)*

Boys Under-14
Blue Champion: Raiders FC (IL)*
Blue Runner-up: CSA 00 Lobos Rush Premier (TN)*
Red Champion: United FA 00 Elite (GA)*
Red Runner-up: Scorpions SC – Boston (MA)*

Boys Under-15
Blue Champion: Loudoun 98 Red (VA)
Blue Runner-up: United FC Gold 98 (CA-S)*
Red Champion: Albion SC (CA-S)*
Red Runner-up: 99 Lobos Rush Premier (TN)*

Boys Under-16
Blue Champion: OP Eagles Dublin G1 (OH-S)*
Blue Runner-up: Sunrise Elite 97\98 (FL)
Red Champion: Dix Hills Elite (E-NY)
Red Runner-up: FC Golden State Platinum (CA-S)*

Boys Under-17
Blue Champion: FC Golden State White (CA-S)*
Blue Runner-up: Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S)*
Red Champion: Smithtown Arsenal (E-NY)#
Red Runner-up: CUP Gold 96/97 (OH-S)

Boys Under-18
Blue Champion: West Coast FC (CA-S)*#
Blue Runner-up: Scottsdale 96 Blackhawks Burke (AZ)*
Red Champion: CUP Gold 95/96 (OH-S)
Red Runner-up: Santa Clara Sporting 95 (CA-N)*

*Qualified during final weekend in Las Vegas
# Defending National Champion

Seven teams will be returning to the National Championships with a chance to defend their titles — two on the boys’ side and all five possible girls squads. There are also three former National Champions who earned a chance to reclaim their titles in Germantown after qualifying through the National League.

National League Girls Results:

Legends FC 99 (CA-S) is heading back to Nationals after securing a second-place finish in the Under-14 Blue Division during its first National League campaign. The defending National Champions completed their season one point behind Tophat 18 Gold (GA), which won the division by going 5-0-2. In the Red Division, Carlsbad Elite 99 (CA-S) recorded six wins and a tie to claim the title.

Defending National Champion Eastside FC 98 Red (WA) dropped just one game in its first National League season to post a 6-1-0 record and take the Under-15 Blue Division championship. The team that Eastside beat for the National title, YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (E-PA), is also heading to Germantown after finishing as the runner-up to Pride Predators 99 (CO) in the Red Division.

With the only blemish of its National League season coming in its final game, Eclipse Elite Black 97/98 (IL) earned a chance to defend its National title by winning the Under-16 Blue Division. Meanwhile, 2012 National Champions MRM Coyotes (MD) finished second in the division and will have a chance to return to the top this July. In the Red Division, Carlsbad Elite 97/98 (CA-S) finished its season strong in Las Vegas to claim the title and will look to carry that momentum into the National Championships.

A win on the season’s final day helped 2013 National Champions DMCV Sharks Elite (CA-S) win the Under-17 Blue Division crown. They’ll have to contend with Red Division winner Carlsbad Elite (CA-S), which posted a perfect 7-0-0 record while conceding just one goal in the National League this season.

Cleveland United White (OH-N) will have a chance to defend its National title after finishing second in the Under-18 Blue Division. The group winner, Beach FC Ingrassia (CA-S), posted a record-tying 26 goals en route to a 7-0-0 record and should be a very tough team to contend with in Germantown. Meanwhile, 2012 National Champion BRYC 95 Elite (VA) finished first in the Red Division while also posting 26 goals.

National League Boys Results:

After going 0-2-1 at Nationals last year as the Region II Champion, Raiders FC (IL) will get a chance to improve on that performance after winning the Under-14 Blue Division title. United FA 00 Elite (GA) will also be making its second trip to the National Championships, as it went 6-1-0 to capture the Red Division title.

Loudoun 98 Red (VA) put on a historic defensive display, as it did not concede a single goal en route to winning the Under-15 Blue Division title. While Loudoun clinched a spot in Nationals in December, Red Division winner Albion SC (CA-S) used a late winner in its final game of the season to claim the title and punch its ticket to Germantown.

A November victory against 2012 National finalist Sunrise Elite 97/98 (FL) helped OP Eagles Dublin G1 (OH-S) edge the Florida side for the Under-16 Blue Division title. OP Eagles and Sunrise will be joined in Germantown by 2013 National runner-up Dix Hills Elite (E-NY), which went 6-0-1 without conceding a goal in its National League campaign.

Under-17 Blue Division winner FC Golden State White (CA-S) is heading to Nationals, along with two former National title winners. The defending National Champion, Smithtown Arsenal (E-NY) is looking to repeat after winning the Red Division. Making it two titles in a row won’t be easy for Smithtown, as two-time National Champions Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S) finished as the Blue Division runners-up and are eager to win a third crown.

Both teams that played in last year’s National Championship final claimed division titles in the 2013-14 National League Under-18 age group. Defending Champion West Coast FC (CA-S) went 4-0-3 to claim the Blue Division title, while 2013 National runner-up CUP Gold 95/96 (OH-S) cruised to the Red Division title.

The 40 Boys and Girls teams that qualified for the National Championships through the National League will be joined by 56 US Youth Soccer Regional Champions to complete the field of 96 teams this summer in Germantown, Md.

On to Germantown

The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions that comprise the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. Boys and girls teams in multiple age groups earn their way by competing against the top teams in their state and region. US Youth Soccer State Champions and selected wildcard teams are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups from each regional event will converge in the finals with the National League teams. Click here for the dates and locations of the Regional Championships.