BOISE, Idaho (June 18, 2006) - Today Boise welcomes over more 5,000 players, coaches, teams and tournament officials to the US Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Championships. Over 500 games will be played during the eight-day competition.

 

The six Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls teams have been training in Boise since Wednesday. They are joined by Alli Tsuchida, a former Honolulu SC Bulls player, and a junior on the Boise State University team. She is now an assistant coach for the Girls Under-18 team.

 

"A lot of the teams have come over from a tournament in Las Vegas, so they are used to the time difference," said Tsuchida. "Our close-knit teams are prepared and confident. We have great spirit and support each other. Watch during the semifinals and you will see all the players cheer on the advancing teams. The girls under-18 team gets started tomorrow with our first game at 8 a.m. against the San Diego Surf."

 

More than 248 top boys and girls US Youth Soccer teams from 14 state associations are competing for the Regional title, June 18?June 25 in the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships at the Simplot Sports Complex in Boise, Idaho. Daily reports and complete results from the tournament will be available on www.USYouthSoccer.org or http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org.

 

The US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships feature top teams in the Under-12 through Under-19 age groups. Preliminary play begins tomorrow and runs through Thursday, June 22. The teams then have a day off to rest after the end of round robin play. Semifinal matches will be played on Saturday, June 24, with the US Youth Soccer Region IV Champions being crowned following final games on Sunday, June 25.

 

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2006 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 25-30, in Des Moines, Iowa, at the James W. Cownie Soccer Park.

 

2006 marks the 30^th anniversary of the under-16 boys D.J. Niotis Cup and 15^th 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 71^th anniversary of the storied cup.