Teams
Earn a Place Among Nation's Finest to Compete at National
Championships
2004 US Youth Soccer
National Championships set for July 20-25 at Disney’s Wide
World of Sports® Complex |
RICHARDSON, TEXAS (July 6, 2004) – The winners of the Under-14
through Under-19 age groups from each of the four US Youth
Soccer Regional Championships advance to compete at the 2004 US
Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 20-25 at
Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
Region I – New Jersey’s PDA Wildcats
(Under-16 Girls) and Maryland’s Casa Mia Bays (Under-16 Boys)
showed dominance as both came one step closer to defending their
2003 US Youth Soccer National Championship title.
Consistency was also key as neither returning champion allowed a
goal on the tournament. The Wildcats downed the Bethesda
Eclipse (MD) 2-0 in the Championship match, while the Casa Mia
Bays defeated the South Shore United Blazers (MA) 2-0 to take
the gold.
The HBC Fury (ENY) shutout the Pride of Prince William (VA) 3-0
in the Under-19 Girls championship match, and now hope that the
third time is a charm. The Fury, who boast a 16-deep
squad, have won two previous Regional titles, but have yet to
bring home The National Championship of youth soccer. For
the next two weeks, the Fury will be training almost everyday to
make the most of their final US Youth Soccer player experiences.
The Hockessin Blizzard gave Delaware its first ever US Youth
Soccer Regional Championship, defeating FC Delco Downingtown
(EPA) 2-1 in overtime in the Under-14 Boys final match.
New Jersey and Maryland Youth Soccer Associations
lead the charge in their region with four teams competing in
Florida.
Region II – Teams representing Illinois Youth
Soccer Association earned six berths to the crown jewel of youth
soccer with Michigan and Missouri Youth Soccer Associations not
far behind with three each. Of all the teams traveling
from the Midwest to Florida, none are defending a 2004 regional
or national championship.
The Cinderella story of the tournament was the
Rockford Raptors Under-14 Boys, who didn’t expect to play in
the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championship game, let
alone win it. The only local team in the tournament, found
itself tied, 1-1, at the end of regulation with Polonia SC
(Wisconsin). Polonia’s last attempt sailed over the crossbar
and the Raptor fans rushed the field.
Joining the Raptors from Illinois are the
Under-15 Boys Chicago Magic, Under-16 Boys Chicago Magic,
Under-16 Girls Eclipse Select, Under-17 Girls Windy City Pride
and Under-19 Girls Eclipse Select.
The Under-14 Girls Michigan Hawks, Under-15 Girls
Michigan Hawks and Under-18 Girls Michigan Hawks represent
Michigan while Missouri sends the Scott Gallagher Under-17 Boys,
Scott Gallagher Under-19 Boys and the Under-18 Boys Busch SC.
Region III – The Southern Region saw record amounts of
rainfall throughout the tournament as teams battled the
competition and an equal challenge from Mother Nature. As was
the case in the Midwest, no returning regional or national
champions from the Southern Region will look to defend at the
2004 US Youth Soccer National Championships.
Host Texas saw eight teams advance to the finals
with three teams from North Texas State Youth Soccer Association
(Solar 89 – Under-15 Boys, Dallas Texans 89 Red – Under-15
Girls, and Dallas Texans 87 Red – Under-17 Girls) and two from
South Texas Youth Soccer Association (Texans 87/88 – Under-16
Boys and Texans 85/86 – Under-18 Boys) moving on to the US
Youth Soccer National Championships.
The Under-16 Girls Renegades from Florida State Youth Soccer
Association met Challenge 88 from South Texas. At the end
of regulation it was tied at one each. Kicks from the mark
soon followed and Florida capitalized with their second
consecutive win on kicks 4:3. The Renegades will be the
first female representatives of the Southern Region from Florida
at The National Championships in over five years.
Georgia Youth Soccer Association’s United Quest
Red 85 and GSA 85 Phoenix Red will compete for the Under-18 and
Under-19 Girls National Championships respectively.
In the Under-19 Boys final 84 CASL Elite (NC) and
Nationals 85 (OK) squared off in a grudge match. A
member of the U.S. Under-20 Men, Steve Curfman drilled a hard
driven ball to the opposite post from 20 yards out to give CASL
the early advantage. It was back and forth until late in
the second half when Russell Bienias found room and punched it
home to give CASL the 2:0 win. The defending regional
champions played a hard match but in the end CASL will advance
to play for the National Championship.
Region IV – The California-South state
association dominated championship play, winning nine regional
crowns at the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships.
California-North won three championships, while host Washington
State and Arizona each bring a team to the National
Championships.
Hawaii Youth Soccer Association took home its first-ever US
Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championship. Hawaii’s
Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club battled California-South’s ISC
Strikers through two overtime periods. Hundreds of anxious
fans watched as the Under-19 Boys Regional Championship was
decided in kicks from the mark.
The California-South state association may have dominated the
day, but only one California-South club returns with more than
one Regional Championship. The San Diego Surf will return
with two Regional crowns, in the Under-13 and Under-18 Girls
divisions. The other winning teams are: Valley United
Blast (Under-12 Boys), Celtic Harps (Under-14 Boys), Eagles
(Under-14 Girls), Arsenal FC (Under-15 Boys), Slammers FC
(Under-16 Girls), ISC Strikers (Under-17 Boys) and So Cal United
(Under-17 Girls).
The Regional Champions from California-North include the El
Dorado United Crew (Under-13 Boys), Mustang Blast (Under-15
Girls), and the Pleasanton Rage (Under-19 Girls) who beat
California-South’s Samba 2-0 in an all California final.
2004 US YOUTH SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Who? US Youth Soccer Regional Champions (48 teams in
the U-14 through U-19 age groups)
What? 2004 US Youth Soccer National
Championships
When? July 20-25, 2004
Where? Disney’s Wide World of Sports
Complex – Orlando, Florida
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