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Evening Matches Conclude at 2006 US Youth Soccer National Championships |
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National Crowns Arsenal FC and Solar 89 SC play to a 1:1 draw as Arsenal looks for the streak DES MOINES, Iowa (July 26, 2006) – The evening matches of the 2006 US Youth Soccer National Championships concluded today with preliminary round play in the Under-17 boys and Under-14 girls divisions at James W. Cownie Soccer Park. Hershey (E-PA) Attacked today against the Under-14 Girls Michigan Hawks who hadn’t allowed a goal through the US Youth Soccer State or Regional competition. In the 60th minute Alyssa “Skeeter” Grell scored off a shot to the top left-hand corner to end the Hawks streak. Victoria Bailey, the right-footed midfielder from the Michigan Hawks, made a powerful shot with her left foot in the 67th that hit the poll. Bailey has been in the US Youth Soccer Eastern Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program for two years. Last year she made the regional and national US Youth Soccer ODP for the Under-15. Bailey is captain of the Under-14 Michigan Hawks, a team that she has been a member of since she was 7 years old. The Michigan Hawks sent another ball screaming to the net that was saved by Hershey Attack goalie Sabrina Temple, who dove high to her left and made an great save for the win. Coach Michael McHugh has been coaching the Attack since they were Under-9. They are two-time US Youth Soccer Region I Champions, but this is their first time to nationals as Under-14. In the other Under-14 Girls game, the Dallas Texans 92 (N-TX) faced ISC Strikers (CA-S). The Strikers, a two-time regional champion, like the Hershey Attack, make their first appearance to the national championships. Striking first, Holly Hein (CA-S) of the ISC Strikers scored in the 20th. In the 45th Dallas Texan Alyssa Diggs found the back of the net to tie the score. In the end the game concluded at 1:1. Looking for their historic third national title in a row, the Arsenal FC (CA-S) boys met Solar 89 SC (N-TX) in the Under-17 Boys age group. Both sides are very familiar with the other as they have met to determine the last two national champions. “They play nice, continuous football,” said Arsenal head coach Steve Lucey. “They’re a creative group.” When asked about the chance at history Lucey said, “Going for the 3-peat is like carrying a sack of potatoes on your shoulders.” Arsenal struck first with a goal in the 15th by Rafael Garcia. “This is our third time at nationals,” said Solar head coach Kevin Smith. “It’s wonderful and we want to win. Our players have improved throughout the year. We could have crumbled when we went to ten men against the defending national champions but we didn’t.” U.S. Soccer Under-18 National Team member Corben Bone (N-TX) knotted the score for Solar 89 SC at one, with a goal in the 48th. “I can’t describe how important it (nationals) is,” said Smith. “It’s the best and why we do it. This is why these kids give up so much.” The battle for the Under-17 crown continued in the other boys Under-17 match between Scott Gallagher (MO), making their first national championship appearance and Bethesda United (MD) who qualified in 2004. Gallagher tallied the first goal in the 8th by Matthew Leinauer. After the half, Bethesda’s Jesse Rodriguez scored in the 57th to tie the score at one. Playing a man down, Gallagher made the most of an opportunity and Michael Roach scored the go-ahead in the 76th. The 2006 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing over 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer’s 55 state associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions for boys and girls teams in multiple age groups as teams earn their way from the top team in their state to the regional championship tournaments. State Cup champions and selected wildcard teams in most age groups are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the under-14 through under-19 age group from each regional event converge to enjoy the nation’s top competition. 2006 marks the 30th anniversary of the under-16 boys D.J. Niotis Cup and 15th Anniversary of the under-17 girls Laura Moynihan Cup. The James P. McGuire Cup is the oldest trophy in youth sport dating back to 1935 with the inaugural youth championships. The under-19 boys age group as the National Champion will hoist the McGuire Cup. This is the 71st anniversary of the storied cup. Annually the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation’s top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. In 2005, over 500 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships including the majority of the top 25 men’s and women’s programs based on the final 2005 NSCAA/adidas National Rankings for NCAA Division I schools. Play resumes tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. Updated game results are available throughout the day at http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org and www.usyouthsoccer.org. US Youth Soccer National Championships Day 1 Evening Session Results – Preliminary Matches | 7 pm CDT Under-14 Girls Under-17 Boys Bethesda United (MD) 1, Scott Gallagher (MO)
2 Day 1 Morning Session Results – Preliminary Matches | 8:30, 10:30 and 12:30am CDT Under-14 Boys Under-15 Boys Tulsa Soccer Club (Oklahoma) 1, FC DELCO
Hammerheads (Eastern Pennsylvania) 2 Under-15 Girls PDA Pride (New Jersey) 0, Crossfire Premier 90 Lombard (Washington) 0 Under-16 Boys Under-16 Girls Internationals (Ohio-North) 0, FC Greater
Boston Bolts (Massachusetts) 1 Under-17 Girls Under-18 Boys Classic FC Bandoleros (New Mexico) 2, FC
DELCO Crunch (Eastern Pennsylvania) 2 Under-18 Girls Under-19 Boys Under-19 Girls |
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