US Youth Soccer Region IV

Make or break at the 2010 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships

Semifinals complete

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (June 26, 2010) – Teams have earned berths in the final matches at the 2010 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships in Bernalillo, N.M. The winners of tomorrow's games in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups qualify for the US Youth Soccer National Championships July 20-25 at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.

Three defending Region IV Champions have the opportunity to win back-to-back titles tomorrow, and two teams have the chance to advance to the National Championships and capture back-to-back National Championships. Here's how the defending champions looked in the quarterfinals…

2009 Region IV Champions
U-17 G Real So Cal White v *So Cal Blues (CA-S), 2-0
U-16 B *Sereno 94 White (AZ) v Rush Nike Argonauts (NM), 1-0
U-19 B *WSM Internationals (OR) v Colorado Rush Nike, 5-3 OT

2009 Region IV and National Champion
U-17 G *De Anza Force 92G Blue (CA-N) v Pride Predators, 3-0

2009 National Champion
U-15 G *Mustang Blast (CA-N) v FWU Reign 94 Purple (WA), 4-0

*Defending champion.

A few highlights from today's matches…

Two California teams went head-to-head with only one able to advance to the finals - from the south, Arsenal FC 95 and from the north, Foothill MVLA Lightening. Neither was able to find the back of the net until the 55^th minute when Celeste Kaashoek hit one for Foothill. The sole goal of the game advances Foothill to compete for the Under-14 Girls championship title and possible advancement to the National Championships.

Neusport 96 Green of Nevada netted a 30^th minute Dominique Romero goal for the 1-0 lead over Mustang Fury of Cal North. Allessandra Dutto found Fury's scoring opportunity in the 58^th minute, tying the game. After battling through double overtime, the game went to penalty kicks where Fury came out on top, 3-1 for advancement to the finals where they will face fellow Cal North team, Foothill MVLA Lightening.

The Under-16 Girls age group closed out semifinals with 1-0 scores in both games. The first came between Cal South's Surf White and Colorado Rush Nike. Lindsey Horan netted the 44^th minute goal to send Rush to the finals round.

Two Cal South Under-16 Girls teams met in the semifinals – Legends FC and Slammers FC. The teams were evenly matched until Legends' Kodi Lavrusky got one past the Slammers keeper in the 56^th minute. Legends is set to face Colorado Rush Nike in the finals match at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Cal North's Mt. Hamilton PAC Tigers Under-15 Boys opened with a first minute Cesar Garcia goal for the lead over Eastside FC 94 Red of Washington. In the second half, Eastside gained momentum with Alexander Shane and Jason Twaddle completing 52^nd and 61^st minute goals for the 2-1 Eastside lead. For the lead, the win and advancement to the finals, Mt. Hamilton hit two of their own thanks to Lorenzo Vazquez and Andoni Trejo in the 65^th and 87^th minutes.

Logan Tooley posted a 32^nd minute goal for Idaho's Boise Nationals Barcelona Under-15 Boys to take the lead over Neusport 95 Green of Nevada. In the 56^th minute, Saul Aquirre knotted the score at 1-1 for Neusport. As the clock ran down, it looked as though the game was headed for overtime, but Boise's Jacob Szuch netted an 80^th minute goal to secure Boise's spot in the finals where they will play Mt. Hamilton PAC Tigers. Both teams are undefeated in the Region IV Championships thus far.

ESUFC 91 Liverpool Red Under-18 Boys of Oregon and Snohomish United Black of Washington were looking to put one on the board before the half. Ricardo Carrillo hit the first-half ESUFC goal in the 30^th minute. Connor Valenter gave ESUFC the 2-0 advantage in the 78^th minute, and Slammers' Michael Harris countered in the 83^rd minute, but it wasn't enough and ESUFC marked the win and right to advance to the finals.

Playing in their home state of New Mexico, RVFC 92 Huff was looking to post a win against Inter FC 93 Premier of Utah and move onto the finals, but it was Inter FC that took the lead with an Ian Ramos goal in the 33^rd minute. RVFC was unable to finish, advancing Inter FC to the finals where they will play Oregon's ESUFC for the Under-18 Boys championship title.