Youth Soccer News: Trophies raised at the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup 

2012 National Presidents Cup Champions

Championship matches | Game recaps
Little separated Under-14 Girls NC Boca (CA-S) and JASA Coastal Surge (NC) on day one as that game ended in a 0-0 draw. Finals day was much the same as regulation ended at 0-0 and it took overtime to name a champion. In the just first minute of overtime, Katelynn Traver broke the stalemate and netted the game and tournament winner for NC Boca.

On the boys side of the draw was much the same. Metuchen Rover Juniors (NJ) had to beat their finals-day opponent Georgia Mountain YMCA (GA) Saturday to advance and did so convincingly. The championship was a much closer match. Defensive stops repeatedly thwarted offensive strikes at both ends of the field and the game entered overtime knotted at 0-0. Jake Longo played the hero as he struck in the 79^th minute to claim the trophy for Metuchen.

It was another close game between Dallas Texans 97 (N-TX) and GUSA Navy (NC) as they met for the third time in a month, this time to decide the U-15 Presidents Cup champion. Despite being reduced to 10 players for much of the game, GUSA struck first on a Eynde Frazier goal in the 47^th minute. Just three minutes later, the teams were back level thanks to Dallas Texans Connor MacKenzie. In overtime, Allexis Taylor netted her fourth and most important goal of the week to lift GUSA to victory. For her performance, Taylor was also named the Most Outstanding Player for the tournament.

In U-15 Boys Play, FC Golden State White (CA-S) avenged a day two loss to Rage Gunners 96 (E-PA) with a 3-0 victory in the final. After a scoreless first hour of play, Javier Jasso struck first for FC Golden State. With Rage Gunners pushing for an equalizer late in the game, FC Golden State scored twice more just before the final whistle on goals by Yezid Lopez and Edgar Esquivel.

Platinum FC Cleary (CA-S) came up with a championship performance when it counted in the U-16 Girls final. After falling to Houston Express 96 (S-TX) on the opening day of play, Platinum FC was victorious on Sunday. Just minutes after the whistle to begin the second half, tournament Most Outstanding Player Stacie Moran struck for Cal South, her fifth goal of the tournament. That goal was the difference on the day and earned Platinum FC the gold medals.

The U-16 Boys age group was closely fought all week and finals day was no different. LA Premier FC Black (CA-S) got an early lead over United Strikers (N-TX) as Nicholas Pereira struck in just the 8^th minute. Pereira would double that lead just before the halftime whistle. United Strikers rallied back on a great individual effort by Oscar Gudiel in the 61^st minute. Just three minutes later, his teammate Alfredo Molina struck a swerving free kick and leveled the game at 2. It took penalties to decide a winner, and United Strikers converted all its spot kicks to claim the title.

The U-17 Girls championship match pitted undefeated Crusaders (MA) and Arsenal Colorado Royal (CO). Arsenal made some tactical changes in hopes of reversing its 2-1 loss to Crusaders on day two and the changes paid off on Sunday. Alex Klema scored the lone goal on the day for Arsenal and the tournament’s Most Outstanding Keeper, Grace Ramsden led a strong defensive effort to ensure the shutout and the victory.

Emotions ran high between Brasil Coachella (CA-S) and Indiana Invaders Black (IN) as they met to decide the U-17 Boys National Presidents Cup title. Cal South Hugo Vinales was feared all week for his striking ability, and he proved the difference on the day for Brasil. Ten minutes into the second half, Vinales collected the ball in the final third, created space and bent the ball into the far post to claim the trophy for his team. Vinales also was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is designed for those teams seeking additional challenges to play against teams of similar abilities for a national title. The cup provides a progressive, competitive experience to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie and community from the state to regional to national levels of US Youth Soccer.

Recaps from today’s games:

Under-14 Boys
With a chance in the final determined by its result Saturday, Metuchen Rover Juniors (NJ) came from behind twice to beat group leader Georgia Mountain YMCA (GA), 3-2. After Fabian Abarca gave Georgia Mountain a lead in the 11^th minute, Oluwatobi Oluwalana leveled for Metuchen just two minutes later. Abraca would strike again just after half to put Georgia Mountain back on top, but goals by Julian Korduba and Jason Kramer booked Metuchen a trip to the championship game and a rematch with Georgia Mountain. In the group’s other game, River City Soccer Club (WA) earned its first points on the week with a convincing 4-1 victory over Elkhart Flames Dynamite (IN). Austin Garitone led River City with two goals; Tyler Smith and Alex Faust also joined in on the scoring. Javier Vera scored the lone goal for Elkhart.

Under-14 Girls
NC Boca (CA-S) ended the week without a loss, as they beat St. Louis Scott Gallagher (MO), 2-0. First half goals by Amanda Oldham and Lexi Garcia led the way for NC Boca. NC Boca’s opponent on finals day will be JASA Coastal Surge (NC), who played to a 1-1 draw with LVU United 97 (E-PA). LVU took the lead in the 24^th minute off a goal by Paige Jones. JASA Coastal Surge leveled in the 59^th on an Isabella Nunu strike.

Under-15 Boys
FC Golden State White (CA-S) played its way into the championship match with a 2-1 victory over Kansas City SC Gold 96/97 (KS). Javier Jasso opened the scoring for FC Golden State in the 11^th minute and Robert Hernandez doubled the lead in the 24^th. Before half, Yaniv Gershom pulled one back for Kansas City SC. That score line held through the second stanza. TUFC Los Geurreros (S-TX) finished pool play on a positive note as they beat Rage Gunners 96 (E-PA) 4-0. Four different players for TUFC found the net, including Selvin Medrano, Alan Torres, Edgar Rodriguez and Carlos Pacas.

Under-15 Girls
Wildcard team Dallas Texans 97 (N-TX) beat Colorado United White (CO), 2-1 to advance to the championship game. After entering halftime down 1-0, Macy Brown and Macy Golman scored for Dallas Texans in the final ten minutes of the game for a dramatic victory. The National Presidents Cup championship match in this age group will be a rematch of the Region III final, as GUSA Navy (NC) advanced via a tie with FPYC Wildcats Blue (VA). GUSA goals by Morgan Sardinski and Allexis Taylor bookended a double by Jillian Barnard of FPYC.

Under-16 Boys
Both games Saturday in the U-16 Boys group ended in a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless first half between FC Porto of Kansas (KS) and LA Premier FC Black (CA-S), Christian Der Gregorian broke the stalemate in the 58^th minute to give LA Premier the lead. Just before the final whistle, Thomas Anjard equalized for FC Porto of Kansas. For the third time in as many games, Crusaders United (MA) scored first, this time with Steven Kilday finding the net in the 36^th minute. That lead would hold until the waning moments of the game, when United Strikers’ Oscar Gudiel would level the game and send his team to the final.

Under-16 Girls
Playing from the top of the pool standings, Houston Express 96 (S-TX) secured a spot in the championship game early in its game against Capital United Blue Fusion (E-NY). Two minutes after the opening whistle, Ellie Valega found the net for Houston Express. Their championship opponent will be Platinum FC Cleary (CA-S) who will be coming off a 2-2 draw with Central FC Select Strikers (WI). A double by Darian Molter for Central FC bookended goals by Stacie Moran and Peyton Nocciolo for Platinum FC.

Under-17 Boys
With a spot secured in the championship game, Brasil Coachella (CA-S) played to a 1-1 draw with Indiana Invaders Black (IN). After neither team scored in the first half, Jimmie Villalobos scored for Brasil in the 57^thminute to claim the lead. With less than five minutes to play, David Giloth equalized for Invaders. The two teams will play again in the championship game. In the group’s other game, Texas United Westside (S-TX) beat FC Frederick 94 Royal (MD) 3-0. Hudson Hernando added a goal to David Carey’s double.

Under-17 Girls
Crusaders (MA) completed group play with three wins, as they took care of business against Miami Lakes SC (FL). Goals by Laura Nee and Madison Finlay led Crusaders to a 2-0 victory. Libertyville Premier Orange (IL) and Arsenal Colorado Royal (CO) met on Saturday to determine Crusader’s opponent in the championship game. Arsenal made the most of the opportunity as they won 3-0 on goals by Kait Eden, Jojo Poulson and Ashley Kulick.

Championship and consolation matches begin at 8 a.m. Sunday to cap off the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup.

The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is designed for those teams seeking additional challenges to play against teams of similar abilities for a national title. The cup provides a progressive, competitive experience to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie and community from the state to regional to national levels of US Youth Soccer.

About US Club Soccer: US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs and players in the United States. A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer maximizes flexibility and offers youth and adult player and staff registration, integrated competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, as well as a variety of other programming, including the Olympic Development Program-sanctioned id² Program and Player Development Programs. Unique to US Club Soccer is the ability of member clubs to unite youth and adult programs within one organization, creating a “members for life” culture within each club.

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