212 teams take the field for 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships

The best of the Midwest took the fields in the first day of the 2012 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships at Saginaw Township Soccer Complex in Saginaw, Mich. Teams from 14 states have converged to determine who will represent the Midwest at the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships this July in Rock Hill, S.C.

The Region II Championships will feature top teams in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups. Round robin games take place today through Monday, June 25, with semifinal matches Tuesday, June 26. The regional champions will be crowned following final games on Wednesday, June 27.

In U-16 Girls’ day one action, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Premier (MO) faced International 95 (OH-N) in a battle of US Youth Soccer National League teams. After a scoreless first half, Emily Ogle put Internationals ahead with a strike in the 44^th minute. That goal would hold as the game winner and earned Internationals three points on the day.

Lake Country United (WI) and Lexington FC 96 Premier (KY) exploded for a combined six goals on Saturday. Lexington’s Brittany Cline scored twice within the first 10 minutes of the second half to claim a 2-0 lead. Lake Country United would rattle off three goals in six minutes, including two by Aubrey Krahn, to take a 3-2 lead. Cline would score just two minutes from time for Lexington to complete her hat trick and the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

Four different players found the back of the net for KC Fusion Academy 95/96 (KS) to lift the team over Hammer FC (OH-S). Allison Smith started the scoring in the 12^th minute, and Vanessa Mann, Mikala Modiri and Emily Franchett added second half goals to secure the 4-0 victory.

Rushmore 16 Gold (SD) struck first against National League team Zionsville 96 Select (IN) as Jennifer Qualm scored in the 25^th minute. Zionsville would score three unanswered goals in the second half to comeback for a 3-1 win. Katherine Ratz scored in the 44^th and again in the 68^th and Madison McGinn added an insurance goal in the 72^nd. The result will prove important for Zionsville, as they take on fellow National League teams Internationals and St. Louis Scott Gallagher in the next two games.

In U-17 Boys play, United 1996 FC 95 International (KY) claimed a critical day one victory 2-0 over St. Louis Scott Gallagher 94/95 (MO). In just the 5^th minute of the game, Abdirahman Aden ran onto a through ball and slotted it into side netting to claim a 1-0 lead for United. Setho Moshoeshoe doubled the lead for United in the 59^th.

SC Waukesha Pumas (WI) started the weekend off with a bang as they beat DASC Black (SD). Robert Holschuh and Chris Guzman led the scoring with two goals each. Evan Lamberg and Casey John joined in on the scoring as well. Daulton Keiser scored the lone goal on the day for DASC.

Raytown SC BGFC 94/95 (MO) claimed an exciting victory on day one over St. Croix Juventus (MN). Ethan Delaney started the scoring in the 4^th minute for Raytown, with Michael Panarisi and Brody Bouillon also adding goals before halftime. St Croix would answer with goals by Maxwell Green in the 54^th and Mitchell Leonard in the 67^th to pull within one. Raytown’s Andrew Douglas put the game out of reach with a goal in the 78^th to secure a 4-2 victory.

Omaha FC 94/95 (NE) notched three points with a convincing win over Waza FC West 95 Black (MI). Alex Prusa struck first in the 18^th minute for Omaha and completed his double in the 59^th minute. Ali Sodal and Mark Wallace would add goals within five minutes to give Omaha FC a 4-0 lead. Waza would break through in the 88^th, but it was too late and Omaha won 4-1.

US Youth Soccer State Champions and select wildcards in the U-13 through U-19 Boys and Girls age groups from 14 state associations, including host Wisconsin State Soccer Association, are participating in the event. The other state associations represented are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio North, Ohio South and South Dakota.

Saturday Scores:

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 25-29, at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-17 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 60 teams.