GREENVILLE, S.C. (June 20, 2012) – <The Under-14 through Under-18 age finals are set with 20 teams playing their way into the final matches for the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships. Florida Rush Nike (FL) is the lone defending US Youth Soccer Region III Champion team who has the opportunity to win back-to-back titles Thursday. They will face a rematch of last year’s final game as they face off with TSCH 94 Earle (OK) on Thursday.
Highlights from today’s games:
In the U-14 Girls group, semifinal day marked the end of the journey at regionals for Ponte Vedra Storm (FL), as they lost to TNFC 98 Azurri (TN). Callie McKinney and Karlie Paschall gave Tennessee a 2-0 halftime lead, and a double by Meredith Slessman secure their spot in the finals.
In a hard fought game, Liverpool 98 Elite (TX-N) eeked out a 1-0 win over Blitz United 98 Attack (OK). Rachel Palet scored the lone goal on the day in the 45th minute to send her team to the championship game.
In the U-15 Girls group, Louisiana Fire Blue (LA) took an early lead over US Youth Soccer National League team AHFC 97 (TX-S) with an Alexandra Thomas goal, her eighth of the tournament. That lead held until the waning minutes of regulation, as AHFC’s Christiana Sullivan leveled the score in the 77th. AHFC would strike in the overtime period with Junique Rodriguez netting her third goal on the week to claim the 2-1 victory and a spot in the finals.
Their finals day opponent will be Sting 97 (TX-N) who also advanced with a 2-1 victory over 97 FC Alliance Black (TN). Karina Boyea nodded home a corner to give Sting a 1-0 lead. Delaney Griffin equalized for FC Alliance in the 54th minute, her third goal in the tournament. Cassandra Conarty would answer for Sting just five minutes later and send her team to the title game.
In U-17 Boys action, Solar Chelsea (TX-N) had to bounce back from a 1-0 deficit against AHFC 95 (TX-S). After committing an own goal to fall behind, Solar leveled off a Casey Eaton goal in the 73rd minute. DeShawon Nembhard would prove the hero as he found the net in the 90th minute to send Solar to the finals.
Solar will face Jacksonville United (FL), who beat Steamers 95 Black (AL) in today’s semifinal. After failing to score through 90 minutes, Jacksonville broke the stalemate with two goals in overtime. Adam Demetree struck in the 105th and Riley Perrin doubled the lead just a minute later for a 2-0 victory.
Wednesday Semifinal Scores:
Group Rep Away Score Rep Home Score
GIRLS
Under-14 Girls FL Ponte Vedra SC 97/98 Storm Gold 0 TN TNFC 98 Azzurri 4
Goal Scorers: TN - Callie McKinney (7:00) Karlie Paschall (37:00) Meredith Slessman (52:00, 77:00)
Under-14 Girls TX-N Liverpool 98 Elite 1 OK Blitz United 98 Attack 0
Goal Scorer: TX-N - Rachel Palet (45:00)
Under-15 Girls TN 97 FC Alliance Black 1 TX-N Sting 97 2
Goal Scorers: TN - Delaney Griffin (54:00)
TX-N - Karina Boyea (29:00), Cassandra Conarty (60:00)
Under-15 Girls LA 97 Louisiana Fire Blue 1 TX-S AHFC 97 2
Goal Scorers: LA - Alexandra Thomas (46:00)
TX-S - Christiana Sullivan (77:00), Junique Rodriguez (105:00)
Under-16 Girls OK OFC 96 1 NC 95 NCSF Elite 0
Goal Scorer: OK - Rachael Thun (108:00)
Under-16 Girls SC CESA 95 Premier 1 TX-S AHFC 96 0
Goal Scorer: SC - Sarah Renfro (25:00)
Under-17 Girls NC 94 NC Fusion Elite 2 SC CESA 94 Premier 3
Goal Scorers: NC - PAIGE TRENT (42:00), CAROLINE SHERWOOD (80:00)
SC - Layla Joudeh (14:00), Madeleine Brock (55:00), Chelsea Drennan (76:00)
Under-17 Girls TX-N Sting 95 0 FL Brandon FC Flames 1
Goal Scorer: FL - Delaney Riggins (105:00)
Under-18 Girls TX-S AHFC 94 2 GA NASA 12 Elite II 1
Goal Scorers: TX-S - Kaitlyn Bourgeois (49:00), Jillian Lutz (69:00)
GA - Emily Sonnett (10:00)
Under-18 Girls TN Brentwood 94 Premier 2 OK OFC 94 1
Goal Scorers: TN - Chesney White (32:00), Chesney White (38:00)
OK - Courtney Dike (17:00)
BOYS
Under-14 Boys SC SCU/MP 97 Elite 0 FL Sunrise Elite 97\98 2
Goal Scorers: FL - John Skahan (20:00) Frederick Gil (70:00)
Under-14 Boys TX-N FC Dallas 98 Premier 4 TX-S Texas Rush 97/98 Premier 0
Goal Scorers: TX-N - Delfino Garcia (11:00, 23:00) Luis ZuaZua (42:00) Adam Garcia (52:00)
Under-15 Boys GA GSA Phoenix 97 Red 6 TX-S Lonestars 97 Red SAN 0
Goal Scorers: GA - Daniel Kierath (6:00), Jonathan Borja (18:00), Alfredo Rivera (39:00), Josiah Baker (49:00), Shadrack Nsukami (54:00), Josiah Baker (78:00)
Under-15 Boys FL SAA Real Madrid Miami 2 OK OFC 97 0
Goal Scorers: FL - Sebastian Herran (7:00), Gonzalo Marquez (37:00)
Under-16 Boys GA GSA 96 Phoenix Red 2 GA Concorde Fire Elite 1
Goal Scorers: GSA - Roman Brockman (15:00)
Concorde - Christian Duncan (59:00)
Under-16 Boys OK OK Texans 1 SC CESA 95 Premier 5
Goal Scorers: OK - MICHAEL MITRIK (24:00)
SC - Ryan Bertling (11:00), Glennon Donohue (19:00), Joshua Bertelsman (38:00), Haddad Khouri (60:00), Tyler Rider (65:00)
Under-17 Boys AL Steamers 95 Black 0 FL Jacksonville United 94/95 2
Goal Scorers: FL - ADAM DEMETREE (105:00), RILEY PERRIN (106:00)
Under-17 Boys TX-N Solar Chelsea 95 2 TX-S AHFC 95 1
Goal Scorers: TX-N - Casey Eaton (73:00), DeShawon Nembhard (90:00)
TX-S - Solar OG
Under-18 Boys NC 93 CUFC Charlotte United Gold 1 FL Florida Rush Nike 2
Goal Scorers: NC - JACOB KENNEDY (87:00)
FL - Bryce Ciambella (69:00)
Under-18 Boys OK TSCH 94 Earle 3 TX-N AYSES Gold 2
Goal Scorers: OK - Harrison Kane (22:00), Harrison Kane (63:00), Anesuishe Raranje (72:00)
TX-N - Jordan Rubel (44:00), Joshua Dillon (65:00)