Press Releases
| Several Champions Crowned at 2007 US Youth Soccer National Championships |
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Under-18 Boys: Terryville Fire ends
Arsenal’s hopes of a four-peat FRISCO, Texas (July 28, 2007) – Half of the 2007 US Youth Soccer National Champions were crowned today at Pizza Hut Park where the top four teams in each age group in the country met to conclude the final leg of the 2007 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. After this week's three rounds of preliminary play, only the top two teams in the country remained today, Under-14, Under-16 and the Under-18 age groups, to play for their respective national title. The crowds would again come out by the masses to see the nation’s finest play at one of the country’s top facilities. Two teams entered the tournament poised to write their names into the history books of youth soccer in Arsenal (CA-S) Under-18 Boys, going for a fourth consecutive title, and Real So Cal (CA-S) Under-16 Boys, going for a third. Brief highlights of championship finals are below… Under-14 Girls These two teams faced off on the first day of games and the
Slammers won a 3-0 shutout. Coach Mary Howard said that
probably the only people who believed that they could win were
in the team meeting last night. But today, that’s all that
mattered because they got the job done. Under-14 Boys “This is the first year for us to be here. Before you sit at home watching the Internet scores of the older teams, and you think how it would feel if you won it. Now that I am here it feels like a dream come true,” said Timothy Peitsch, the adidas Golden Glove winner. “Dan Louisignau (2006 Under-16 Golden Glove winner from an older Bays team) and I train usually on Saturdays. He talked to me before I came and just told me to play well.” “It was a great game and they are a good side. We prepared the same way we prepare any other team. We try to play our strengths and hide our weaknesses,” said Bays coach Steve Nichols. “We have an exceptionally strong front, especially Jonathan Guzman our golden boot winner, also, our two center backs and there are a lot of good guys in between. These kids have a strong future and they are going to be here a lot of years to come.” Under-16 Girls Kimberley Castleberry struck first for the Texans in the 30th but the Freedom’s Jenna Richmond cancelled the advantage in the 42nd. At the end of regulation the match was knotted at one. In overtime Caroline Miller would serve as the difference maker netting goals in the 86th and 95th respectively. Still seeking to draw even, Lauren LaGro got the Texans within one goal off a nice ball in the 109th but at the end of overtime the Freedom were victorious, 3-2. McLean Freedom’s head coach Clyde Watson said, “Dallas is a quality team. At this level and this situation you have to play well and you have to be a little lucky and the two have to come together at the same time, and for us that happen today. Despite that this is our first time, we knew that this was one of our goals, but we weren’t crazy enough to think that it would actually happen. But we figured that we would have a heck of a time trying to make it happen.”
Zach Zerrenner put Real on the scoreboard in the 4th minute of play on a counter attack. One of Michigan’s best chances to tie came in the second thanks to a ball from Hamoody Saad to Shane Lyons whose header hit the cross bar. Saad would again create an opportunity with three minutes remaining but the Real defense would again hold form and ultimately claim their third title in three years. Two-time adidas Golden Boot winner, awarded to most outstanding player, Evan Rayner stated, “I think it’s miraculous, I never thought when I was younger that this could happen. This was the hardest but the most rewarding national championship that we’ve won. We scored in the fourth and had to hold them (Wolves) off for the entire game. I’m really proud of everyone.” When asked about making it back next year for a chance at four, Rayner said, “I’m not going to jinx us but we are obviously going to keep playing and see what happens.” Under-18 Girls The base of the team has been together since Under-7 and Under-8. Several players drive for two hours to train. Today their commitment paid off. The game went to PKs after both teams scored in the last 11 minutes. Slammers FC’s Christen Press got the first goal in the 79th. Bloomfield Force’s Amanda Bowery responded in the 90th to tie. The game went into overtime and eventually to kicks from the mark where Bloomfield prevailed, 6-5. Bloomfield’s Jill Fleistra doesn’t shy away from penalty kicks. In fact, she enjoys them. “I like going to PKs. I perform well under pressure. I try to intimidate the kicker and when I can get a save its great,” said Fleistra who earned the adidas Golden Boot today for her outstanding play this week. Andy Wagstaff, Bloomfield’s head coach, said, “They are one of the most amazing teams we’ve played against. We played the Slammers earlier this week and they came back after we were up 2-0. We scored very late to equalize. To go on to win it, even in PKs, is amazing.” Under-18 Boys The first half was an evenly contested battle with minimal chances. At the half, the Fire made some minor adjustments and discussed cutting behind the Arsenal defense in search of a one-on-one chance. A few minutes into the half, Conor O’Brien, from about 35 yards out passed to a cutting Matthew Picolli, who slipped through three defenders and beat the keeper for the 1-0 lead. As the game wore on it would be Tom “Tommy” Booth that would have to come up big as the Arsenal attack was at full power and numerous chances would begin to pepper the Fire keeper. With six minutes remaining in the match Davis Paul played a ball that looked to be a sure goal but Booth was up to the challenge. With three minutes on the clock, Booth would make another diving save. An emotional Booth, who lost his mother on the fields of a state cup match a few years earlier, said, “I dedicate this to my mom. I love my mom, I miss her very much, she passed away a few years ago, and this is for her.” “It was exactly what you would expect from the top two teams in the country. No one would have expected this match-up but that’s the great thing about youth soccer and this event, it is an open championship and anyone has a chance to win it,” Doug Paul, Arsenal communications. “We are all extremely proud of our boys’ efforts and congratulate the Fire on a great year.” Tomorrow the Under-15, 17 and 19 championship matches will take place at Pizza Hut Park with games scheduled for 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. For the Under-19 Girls, Carmel United and PWSI Cardinals completed their match from last night this morning and Carmel’s Monica Dolinsky scored on a penalty kick in the 42nd to tie the match at three each. The second half closed with the score knotted and tomorrow both teams will face off again to determine the Under-19 champion at 7:30 a.m. on field 5. Complete tournament results, including video, stories and more are available at http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org. The 2007 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. On Tuesday, August 7th, the US Youth Soccer National Championships Highlight Show, presented by adidas will air on the Fox Soccer Channel, US Youth Soccer's official television partner, at 8:00 PM ET. The two-hour show will highlight the national championships providing feature stories, interviews, game highlights and much, much more.
Under-14 Boys Under-16 Boys 2007 US Youth Soccer National Champions adidas Golden Glove and Boot Winners (Most
outstanding player and keeper) Under-16 Girls Under-18 Girls US Youth Soccer Fair Play Award Winners |
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