Semifinal matches set at Region II Championships in Wisconsin

FOX CITIES, Wis. (Via US Youth Soccer) – After three days of preliminary play, semifinal matches are set for the 2015 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships at USA Youth Sports Complex and Southwest Park in Fox Cities, Wisc. The field narrows down from 214 Boys and Girls teams to 56 semifinalists in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups who will continue on their pursuit to become a US Youth Soccer National Champion.

The nearly 4,000 players participating in the tournament – from 14 US Youth Soccer State Associations – not only get the opportunity to play competitive soccer against top teams in the Midwest, but also get the chance to expose their talents in front of more than 160 college coaches in attendance.

“It’s been great. The talent’s been good,” said Steve Golas, assistant coach of women’s soccer at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.  “Obviously, getting out to see some of the best players in the region is always fun. It’s great to see kids working hard, especially the younger ages to see them develop. You want to see players with a high skill set and high work rate. It’s multifaceted. Athleticism is the key to success. Those are the big ones I think all of us here are trying to evaluate.”

Six returning champions are still in the running – Under-15 Girls Cleveland FC (OH-N), Under-16 Girls Alliance Academy 99 Black (MI), Under-19 Girls Cleveland United White (OH-N), Under-15 Boys Sporting KC Academy (KS), Under-17 Boys Chicago Magic PSG Preacademy (IL) and Under-18 Boys Chicago Fire Raiders Elite (IL). Fourteen teams will get to advance to Nationals following finals on Wednesday, June 24.

Match Highlights:

PSG MI Gators 02 Orange (MI) completed preliminary play in the Under-13 Girls age group with a perfect 3-0-0 record. They concluded their last round robin match by getting a 2-1 win against Cleveland FC 01-02 Royal (OH-N). Olivia Sampson gave PSG a 1-0 lead at the half with her 27^th minute goal. Blythe Gaspar scored for Cleveland FC in the 38^th minute but Madison Medalle’s second half goal was ultimately the game winner.

Under-14 Boys PSG MI Nova 01 Black (MI) will face Cincinnati United CUP Gold (OH-S) in tomorrow’s semifinal. PSG tied Omaha FC Elite (NE) 1-1 today. Ty Cerget scored PSG’s goal in the 31^st minute, and nearly 10 minutes later Ethan Goldner evened the match for Omaha FC.

Three straight wins sends Futura Pink Panthers Elite (MO) to compete in the Under-15 Girls semifinal against SC Waukesha Blue (WI). Today’s 4-1 win versus LFC 00 White (KY) saw lots of Futura possession. Alexis Mutzbauer and MaKenzie Bilings put Futura up 2-0 at halftime. Kassidy Newsom and Hallie Klanke continued the scoring with goals in the second half. Sophia Mitchell closed the scoring with an LFC goal in the 71^st minute.

After three shutouts, FC United (IL) will move on to the Under-16 Boys semifinal. Their match today resulted in a 1-0 win versus Chicago Fire Raiders Elite (IL). An Alexander Alfaro goal near the end of the match in the 71^st minute was the game winner.

Ambassadors FC (OH-N) came back from a 2-0 deficit and defeated FWSC 98 Force Academy (IN) 7-2 to earn their way to the Under-17 Girls semifinal round. Michelle Adgalanis and Kaylan Williams scored for FWSC in the 14^th and 23^rd minutes respectively. The shortfall didn’t distress Ambassadors FC and within seconds Alexandra Wright put them on the board. Sydney Leckie closed the half with the equalizer in the 41^st minute. The momentum continued for Ambassadors FC in the second half with goals by Lindsay Sands and Olivia Sency, and forward Alexandra Wright shined with a hat trick.

Under-18 Boys Kansas Rush Academy Blue 96/97 (KS) will advance to the knockout rounds after defeating Lexington FC 97 White (KY) in a comeback 3-2 win. LFC got a 2-0 advantage after goals by Thomas Ueland and Alex Lewis within the first 15 minutes of play. Kansas Rush upheld their undefeated streak, by tying before the half with Blake Goodale and Emery May goals, and winning with Anthony Varela’s late game heroics.

Under-19 Boys Chicago Fire (IL) move on to semifinals after defeating MapleBrook Blast (MN) 3-0 today. Grant Lilliard got a brace with goals in the 8^th and 82^nd minutes. Abel Guzman scored a goal between Lilliard’s in the 40^thminute. Chicago Fire goes into tomorrow’s match versus Michigan Wolves 96 (MI) undefeated with 9 points.

Semifinal Matches:

Regional winners will earn a berth to the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships, July 21-26, at the Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Okla. The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups, as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 96 teams.