LANCASTER, Calif. (June 16, 2009) – The US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships continued today at Lancaster National Soccer Center in Lancaster, Calif. Teams have competed in more than 240 games and tomorrow's action will decide the 128 teams earning berths in quarterfinal brackets (Friday). Tomorrow's matches begin at 8 a.m. (PST) and continue throughout the day with the final matches beginning at 4 p.m.

In their first year at the Region IV Championships the Under-12 Girls CISC Velocity (AK) is building their reputation. Today's 3-2 win over Pride Predators (CO) added another mark in the win column for Velocity. In the 18^th minute, Abigail Stahl put Velocity on the board, but Colorado's Tanner Haughn countered in the 21^st minute to even the score. Stahl came back with a 41^st minute shot for Velocity to take the lead, but once again, the Predators' found their equalizer from Matteson Cutt's 48^th minute goal. Ashtyn Evans found the back of the net in stoppage time to solidify Velocity's win.

The Under-12  Girls LOSC Defeeters (OR) and Ballistic SO (NV) entered today's game after coming off first day losses. Within minutes of the whistle blowing, Sarah Garoutte had back-to-back Defeeters goals in the 3^rd and 5^th minutes. Krystal De Ramos put Ballistic on the board in 10^th, but Mackenzie Maier's 19^th minute goal gave Defeeters the 3-1 lead. After the half, Alexa Riley and Niccole Mullins had consecutive goals in the 56^th and 57^th minutes to tie the game 3-3.
 

The Under-12 Boys Neusport FC (NV) won by a landslide on day one, but broke even in today's game against Sereno 97 White (AZ). Neusport exploded with a first minute goal from Miles McRae, and then in the 15^th, Daniel Higgins netted one for Sereno. McRae completed a hat trick with goals in the 58^th and 65^th minutes, with Sereno's Tanner Faggioni finding the back of the net in the 63^rd. Izsak Fierro's 70^th minute goal tied the game 3-3 for the final score.

In the Under-13 Boys age group, Boise Nationals Celtic (ID) had a 2-0 win over Magic City (MT) today. Peyton Harris (42:00) and Cole Thortnon (49:00) were the two goal scorers for Boise. Tomorrow, Boise plays Neusport Green (NV). Neusport is undefeated through the first two days of preliminary games.

Looking for their first win of the Region IV Championships, Under-17 Boys Real Rush Nike (HI) didn't hesitate to take control of today's game against LV Premier (NV). Raydan Bala shot two past the keeper in the 6^th and 17^th minutes, with teammate Robert Uemoto chipping in a 14^th minute goal to give Real Rush the early 3-0 lead. Sheldon Carganilla extended the lead to 4-0 in the 27^th minute, and Taylor Van Etten pushed it one more to 5-0 in the 62^nd minute. LV Premier had a lone goal in the 65^th for a 5-1 final score.
 

Eastside FC Red-Lee (WA) and CO Storm North Red (CO) played a game of back and forth scoring in today's match up. Eastside FC's Lucas De Morais knocked one in during the 14^th minute, followed by Storm's Tesho Akindele's goal in the 16^th minute. Eastside FC regained the lead thanks to a Liam Kelly's goal in the 19^th minute, but again, Storm followed with a 25^th minute shot from Ricardo Rodriguez. Both teams had a second half goal, Scott Geffre got one past the keeper in the 63^rd for Eastside and Akindele scored his second of the game in the 75^th minute for Storm. Eastside FC won 4-3.

The top 248 boys and girls US Youth Soccer teams from 14 State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region IV compete for the regional title.

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played in Lancaster, Mass., July 21-26, at Citizens Bank Fields at Progin Park.