Champions named at 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships

Champions were named on Tuesday at the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships at the Classics Park in Lancaster, Pa.

Winners in the Under-14 through Under-19 age divisions advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships July 23-29 at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hills, S.C.

Maryland club Bethesda SC was the only club to claim more than one championship, winning the Under-13 and Under-14 Boys, while the Under-19 Girls were finalists. Of the eight returning champions, only three, Under-18 Girls FC Pennsylvania Strikers (E-PA), Under-14 Boys Bethesda Lions (MD) and Under-17 Boys Beadling SC 94/95 (PA-W), accomplished back-to-back regional championships.

2012 US Youth Soccer Region I Champions

Under-12 8v8 Girls: ASC Premier 99 (VA)
Under-12 Girls: OMM/World Class 99 Patino (E-NY)
Under-13 Girls: YMS Xplosion 98 (E-PA)

Under-14 Girls: MSC Coyotes Green (MD)

Under-15 Girls: CRUSA/FC Bucks Fury (E-PA)

Under-16 Girls: BRYC 95 Elite (VA)

Under-17 Girls: VSA Heat Blue (VA)

Under-18 Girls: FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E)

Under-19 Girls: Scorpions Elite (MA)

Under-12 8v8 Boys: Arlington Eagles Red (VA)
Under-12 Boys: PDA Rooney (NJ)
Under-13 Boys: Bethesda Blue (MD)
Under-14 Boys: Bethesda Lions (MD)
Under-15 Boys: Manhattan SC Paris Saint-Germain 96 (E-NY)
Under-16 Boys: Lehigh Valley United 95 (E-PA)
Under-17 Boys: Beadling SC 94/95 (PA-W)
Under-18 Boys: Marlton Lightning Red (NJ)
Under-19 Boys: Empire United SA Syracuse (NY-W)

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.

Highlights from the final games…

U-12 Girls 8v8

The championship was an all Virginia affair as ASC Premier 99 claimed the title 4-2 after falling behind by two goals early to VYS Patriots Black. Sofia Devin scored for Patriots just a minute into the game and Natalie Farrell made it a two goal lead less than five minutes in. But ASC responded with four unanswered goals, started by Karen Lohrmann’s strike in the 14^th to make it a one goal game at the break. Navleen Sohi leveled the game in the second half and Jessica Arens and Savannah Conner each struck to lead ASC to victory.

U-12 Girls

OMM/World Class 99 Patino (E-NY) won their fifth straight game in their fourth shutout to claim the Region I title 2-0 over Buckingham United Wave (E-PA). Sarah Jordan led OMM/World class to the championship, scoring both goals to finish the tournament tied for the scoring lead with teammate Rebecca Jarrett.

U-13 Girls

The YMS Xplosion 98 (E-PA) Girls completed an impressive regional showing by taking home the trophy with five wins and no goals allowed after they defeated PDA O’Reilly (NJ) 1-0 in overtime. After the two defenses held firm through regulation, Andrea Amaro scored the winning goal in the second overtime period to give her the scoring title and YMS the championship.

U-14 Girls

A solid defense was the theme of champions today and it propelled MSC Coyotes Green (MD) to the crown as they defeated NJ Crush FC Dynamite in penalties after a 0-0 draw. NJ Crush conceded just two goals in their five games, but MSC allowed none en route to the title and a ticket to the National Championships.

U-15 Girls

CRUSA/FC Bucks Fury (E-PA) defeated PSC Baltimore (MD) 3-1. Fury took the lead just two minutes into the match, but Youth National Team member Bridgette Andrzejewski leveled for PSC in the 20^th as the teams entered halftime at 1-1. Fury took over the game to start the second half on goals from Dakota Mills and Taylor Troutman and the defense held on for the regional title and a trip to South Carolina.

U-16 Girls

The U-16 Girls title was decided between two National League teams who played to a 0-0 draw back in December. Today, BRYC 95 Elite (VA) got the better of Match Fit Chelsea Beat (NJ) by a 2-0 score. Match Fit had let in just one goal on the week, but second half goals from Kahla Seymour and Katherine Bukovsky propelled BRYC to the championship and a spot in next month’s National Championships and deny Match Fit a return trip.

U-17 Girls

VSA Heat Blue (VA) didn’t lose a game through National League or Region I Premier League play, and they extended that streak by defeating Seacoast United (NH) 2-1 in overtime. Seacoast took the lead in the second half from a Carly Gould penalty kick, but West Virginia commit Daniela Neves leveled to send the game to overtime and then struck the game winner to not only send VSA to South Carolina, but also grab a share of the scoring lead for the tournament.

U-18 Girls

FC Pennsylvania Strikers (E-PA) will play for the treble in South Carolina as they hold the 2011-2012 National League title and now the 2012 Region I crown as they pursue their first National title, taking down Oakwood SC (CT) 4-1. South Carolina commit Stevi Parker set the tone for Strikers with a 4^th minute goal and Gabriella Carbone (LaSalle) and Daija Griffin (South Carolina) scored back-to-back goals midway through the first half for a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. Cassandra Pecht (Duke) finished the scoring for Strikers in the second half before Kristen McAdams pulled a goal back for Oakwood.

U-19 Girls

Scorpions Elite (MA) will have one more chance to claim a national crown after defeating Bethesda SC Dragons (MD) 2-1. Scorpions failed to make the title game in 2008, their only other trip to the national stage. Melissa Gavin led Scorpions with a first half double and the breathing room paid off as Bethesda grabbed 2^nd half goal from Campbell Millar, but the Scorps defense held on for the championship.

U-12 Boys 8v8

Arlington Eagles Red (VA) and NHPSA Predator Navy (NH) met in the preliminary round with Arlington winning 2-1. Today, Arlington confirmed the original outcome and claimed the Region I title 3-1 in a rematch. Arlington took the lead just eight minutes in from Martin Hockey III, but NHPSA drew level in the 29^th on an Oliver Thomas goal. Arlington took over in the second half as Edison Giron scored the go-ahead goal five minutes after the break and Carlos Farias topped it off three minutes later for the 3-1 win.

U-12 Boys

The U-12 Boys final was also a rematch from pool play, but this time PDA avenged their loss to take down FSA FC Navy (CT) 3-1. FSA took the first meeting 4-2, but PDA was able to make adjustments to claim the final. Ryan Santos put PDA ahead in the 8^th minute and Zachary Riviere made it 2-0 in the 12^th. Ivan Ruiz finished off the scoring for PDA six minutes into the second half.

U-13 Boys

West Chester United Predators 98 (E-PA) looked like they would run away with the U-13 Boys final versus Bethesda Blue 98 (MD) after rolling out two goals in the first 12 minutes from Aiden McFadden and Frank DeRosa. But Bethesda responded with four unanswered from Daniel Hart, David Eijbergen, Thomas Hansan and John McCune to take a late 4-2 lead. Quinn Dudek pulled West Chester back into the game with a 69^th minute goal to make it 4-3, but that was all the scoring as Bethesda claimed the championship.

U-14 Boys

Bethesda Lions (MD) defeated FSA FC Navy (CT) 2-0 to earn their second straight regional crown and book their trip to South Carolina for a shot at the national championship. Daniel Tshiani put Bethesda ahead just seven minutes into the game and the Lions’ defense stayed firm all day as Phillip Grossman added a second half insurance goal to send Bethesda on their way.

U-15 Boys

Manhattan SC Paris Saint-Germain 96 (E-NY) avenged their loss in last year’s final by defeating Century V (PA-W) 4-1 in overtime. After a scoreless first half, Ousmane Dia put Manhattan PSG up 1-0, but Century battled back with a goal from Doug Hapeman in the 68^th. In overtime, Amara Sesay struck a beautiful turning half-volley for the game winner in the 96^th to extend his tournament best scoring total. Dia and Jeremy Barovick guaranteed victory as they each struck at the end of overtime to send PSG to the national finals.

U-16 Boys

National League side Lehigh Valley United 95 (E-PA) claimed their second regional championship in three years to move on to the National Championships for another chance at the ultimate crown, defeating DUSC White (E-NY) 2-0. Colby Thomas led the way for LVU with both goals, coming in the 50^th and 63^rd minutes, as the LVU defense held on for their second straight shutout.

U-17 Boys

A third place finish in this year’s National League meant Beadling SC 94/95 (PA-W) needed to win the Region I Championship for the second year in a row to make it back to Nationals. Beadling showed they were up for the challenge as they struck twice in the first seven minutes from Michael Pcholinsky and Nathan Dearth en route to a 2-1 win over NEFC Eagles (MA). Jozef Jennings pulled a goal back for NEFC in the 17^th, but neither team would break through again as Beadling head to South Carolina.

U-18 Boys

Marlton Lightning Red (NJ) will make their first trip to the National Championships after defeating Vista RFC 93 (VA) 2-0. Division scoring leader Michael Ryan racked up an impressive 13 goals through the first four games, but it was Sonimi Halliday and Ryan Schroy who stepped up today to deliver a goal each and the Region I title for Marlton.

U-19 Boys

Empire United SA Syracuse (NY-W) will contend for the storied McGuire Cup as Region I champions, having knocked off Baltimore Bays Chelsea (MD) 1-0. Zachary MacNabb played the hero with his 78^th minute goal to move him into a tie for the scoring lead, but the real secret to Empire’s run was the defense, led by keeper Dan Debottis, which shutout all five opponents to book a trip to South Carolina.

Today’s scores…

Girls
Under-12 8v8
VYS Patriots Black	VA	2	ASC Premier 99	VA	4
ASC: Karen Lohrmann (14:00), Navleen Sohi (39:00), Jessica Arens (47:00), Savannah Conner (59:00)
VYS: Sofia Devin (1:00), Natalie Farrell (5:00)
Under-12
Buckingham United Wave	PA-E	0	OMM/World Class 99 Patino	NY-E	2
OMM: Sarah Jordan (30:00) (50:00)
Under-13
YMS Xplosion 98	PA-E	1	PDA O’Reilly	NJ	0
YMS: Andrea Amaro (74:00)
Under-14
NJ Crush FC Dynamite	NJ	0	MSC Coyotes Green	MD	1 (4-2 PK’s)
Under-15
PSC Baltimore	MD	1	CRUSA/FC Bucks Fury	PA-E	3
BUCK: Paige Bergman (2:00), Dakota Mills (45:00), Taylor Troutman (54:00)
PSC: Bridgette Andrzejewski (20:00)
Under-16
BRYC 95 Elite	VA	2	Match Fit Chelsea Beat	NJ	0
BRYC: Kahla Seymour (62:00), Katherine Bukovsky (72:00)
Under-17
Seacoast United	NH	1	VSA Heat Blue	VA	2
VSA: Daniela Neves (72:00) (110:00)
SEA: Carly Gould (52:00)
Under-18
FC Penn Strikers	PA-E	4	Oakwood SC	CT	1
FCP: Stevi Parker (4:00), Gabriella Carbone (24:00), Daija Griffin (33:00), Cassandra Pecht (57:00)
OAK: Kristen McAdams (69:00)
Under-19
Bethesda SC Dragons	MD	1	Scorpions Elite	MA	2
SCOR: Melissa Gavin (11:00) (30:00)
BET: Campbell Millar (59:00)
Boys
Under-12 8v8
NHPSA Predator Navy	NH	1	Arlington Eagles Red	VA	3
AER: Martin Hockey III (8:00), Edison Giron (35:00), Carlos Farias (38:00)
NHP: Oliver Thomas (29:00)
Under-12
W. Htfd FSA FC Navy	CT	1	PDA Rooney	NJ	3
PDA: Ryan Santos (8:00), Zachary Riviere (12:00), Ivan Ruiz (36:00)
Under-13
Bethesda Blue 98	MD	4	West Chester United Predators 98	PA-E	3
BET: Daniel Hart (25:00), David Eijbergen (45:00), Thomas Hansan (55:00), John McCune (66:00)
WCUP: Aiden McFadden (3:00), Frank DeRosa (12:00), Quinn Dudek (69:00)
Under-14
FSA FC Navy	CT	0	Bethesda Lions	MD	2
BETH: Daniel Tshiani (7:00), Phillip Grossman (61:00)
Under-15
Century V	PA-W	1	Manhattan SC PSG	NY-E	4
MSC: Ousmane Dia (43:00) (101:00), Amara Sesay (96:00), Jeremy Barovick (110:00)
CV: Doug Hapeman (68:00)
Under-16
Lehigh Valley United 95	PA-E	2	DUSC White	NY-E	0
LVU: Colby Thomas (50:00) (63:00)
Under-17
Beadling SC 94/95	PA-W	2	NEFC Eagles	MA	1
BEAD: Michael Pcholinsky (2:00), Nathan Dearth (7:00)
NE: Jozef Jennings (17:00)
Under-18
Vista RFC 93	VA	0	Marlton Lightning Red	NJ	2
ML: Sonimi Halliday(13:00), Ryan Schroy(74:00)
Under-19
Baltimore Bays Chelsea	MD	0	Empire United SA Syracuse	NY-W	1
EUSA: Zachary MacNabb (78:00)