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Youth Soccer National Championships


College coaches scout youth soccer tournament in Rock Hill

By Shawn Cetrone — scetrone@heraldonline.com

Sweating in humid, 100-degree weather, Spencer Smith stood, pen and paper in hand, at the edge of soccer field three at Manchester Meadows watching players.

It was third day of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series in Rock Hill. He watched the under-16 girls’ match between Mountain View Los Angeles Lightning and BRYC 95 Elite from Fairfax, Va.. Both teams were strong enough to have already a secured a spot against each other in Sunday’s championship game.

A Lightning attacker charged toward her opponents and stole the ball. She failed to set up a scoring play, but the coach scribbled quickly.

“She had an aggressive mindset,” said Smith, head coach of the Winthrop University women’s soccer team. “She showed some speed and pace. I like attacking players.”

By the championship series’ end on Sunday, Smith and the cadre of college scouts who visited the 70-acre soccer complex this week will have a stack of notes about prospects – potential stars who one day may lead a college or university to national acclaim.

On top of the financial boost and thrilling match play the tournament brought to town, the series offered a glimpse into the well-oiled machine that is youth soccer.

It’s a system in which development academies and thousands of soccer clubs across the country form a pipeline for college and professional leagues.

Some elite players attend one of 78 development academies. But soccer clubs – the ones that made up the field at this week’s Rock Hill tournament – also feature elite level talent.

“Some of our top players are nonacademy kids,” said Doug Allison, head coach of Furman University men’s soccer team.

Big futures

Paul Caligiuri, a former professional soccer player who emerged from U.S. Youth Soccer leagues to start in every match for the U.S. in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, predicts that players in town this week will move on to greatness.

“There are players in this room that will be on the covers of magazines someday,” he told participants during the tournament opening luncheon.

Although coaches occasionally travel to high school games to see a stellar athlete play, many prefer to scout regional and championship tournaments that draw the top soccer clubs.

Through state and regional tournaments, some 10,000 club teams with players ages 14 to 19 were whittled to the 60 teams competing through Sunday in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships at Manchester Meadows.

More than 30 colleges from around the country sent scouts. The roster of schools includes Wake Forest, Marquette, Harvard, Georgetown, Furman, Clemson and South Carolina.

Many planned to follow up on emails from teenagers asking the coaches to come see them play. Winthrop’s men’s coach Rich Posipanko said that in the weeks leading to the tournament, he received eight to 20 emails a day from players.

For Winthrop coaches, the tournament is a rare chance to scout a national pool of top talent in their own backyard.

“This is a first, actually, to have the quality of play and players and number of teams this good so close,” Smith said.

Coaches said they had several objectives this week:

• Get a look at players who emailed asking coaches to watch them play.

• Follow up on players they’ve been watching for years.

• Keep an eye out for undiscovered talent.

“You want to see how some kids developed since last year,” Allison said. “We’re confirming a couple of kids and maybe finding one or two we didn’t know about.”

With preseason practice for college teams starting next week, scouts are looking to the future.

Coaches mostly are watching matches between teams in the under-15, U16 and U17 brackets. Most of the U19 players already play for colleges, and U18 players are typically committed to a schools already.

“You’re always a year to two years ahead in recruiting,” Posipanko said. “If not, you’re going to be lost.”

For teens on the field, the stakes can be high.

High expectations

With college coaches watching and with scholarships up for grabs, pressure mounts.

“You’re nervous because everyone expects so much,” said Hannah Reed, 16, an MVLA Lightning captain.

“Everyone focuses on being a hero,” Lightning captain Caitlyn Wong, 16, said.

But that’s part of it, the teens agree.

Lightning players, most of whom have been together since they were 7, said they manage to rise above that and play as a unit. Smith praised their cohesive play as he watched the team – ranked third nationally – take a 4-0 lead over BRYC 95 Elite.

Though NCAA rules bar college coaches from contacting teens before their junior year of high school, players as young as 16 make “verbal commitments” to universities.

Blake Steele, a 19-year-old center back for West Coast FC from Laguna Hills, Calif., said he often emailed college coaches when he was playing on a U17 team asking them to come see him play.

He received several offers, he said, and chose to attend the University of California-Davis.

Steele doesn’t think the scouting process hurts play.

“You play soccer,” he said. “If you change what you do (for scouts), you’re not going to play as well.”

Throughout the year, coaches winnow their lists of prospects to the players they want to contact either directly or through club and academy coaches.

They’re not allowed to approach players at tournaments.

The Winthrop Eagles men’s team maintains a database of 2,500 to 3,000 prospects – mostly players who have contacted coaches there and players whom scouts found remarkable.

That list is trimmed each year to about 200 or 300 names the school intends to pursue.

Posipanko said he wants players who can compete at the college level, maintain good grades and keep a positive attitude.

A lot of that requires extensive research, which can start by standing on the sidelines under a scorching sun.

ROCK HILL, S.C. (July 27, 2012) - Large crowds, dreams and expectations filled the air as the US Youth Soccer National Championships, presented by the National Guard, round robin play completed today to determine the championship finals schedule.

The National Guard's partnership with US Youth Soccer is focused on enriching the soccer experience by positively influencing players and coaches in areas of leadership and character development while adding a strong presence of American pride.

National champions will be crowned over the weekend in the Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups beginning on Saturday evening with the Under-14 and Under-15 Boys and Girls. The remaining age groups will play Sunday morning at Manchester Meadows, in Rock Hill, S.C.

Today marked the final day of group play and teams realized their destiny for this weekend’s championship finals in Rock Hill, S.C. For those not advancing, it has been a great season full of accomplishment. For those moving on, dreams are to be realized this weekend.

Stories, photos and videos are available following games. Real time scoring is available at http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org.

A few highlights from today’s matches…

U-15 Boys

Challenger Crew Jrs. Black (OH-N) held off 2011 finalist Chicago Magic 2-1 to advance to the Under-15 Boys championship game. Justin Nadzan put Challenger in the lead just before halftime and Trevor Colazzo added a second just after the break for a 2-0 lead. Magic pulled one back to make it a frantic finish from Daniel Giraldo in the 73rd, but it wasn’t enough as Challenger will have a chance to avenge and opening day loss to defending champs Fullerton Rangers in the final.

U-16 Boys

Michigan Jaguars 96 Green are back in the title game for the second straight year after defeating National League foe Scottsdale 96 Blackhawks (AZ) 3-2. Jason Carmack put Jags on the board in the 14th minute and Luai Fakhoury made it a two goal lead before the break. The Blackhawks responded just after halftime through Adam Mosharrafa to cut the lead, but Travis Hamers restored the two goal lead for Jags in the 62nd. Blackhawks wouldn’t let down as the cut the lead again from Sam Gleadle in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough as Michigan Jaguars finish 3-0 en route to the final.

CESA 95 Premier (SC) overcame a two goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Lehigh Valley United 95 (E-PA) and will move on to play for the National Championship as the rest of the results fell in their favor to move them into second place in the group. Colby Thomas scored in the 1st and 27th minutes for LVU as it looked like they might move on, but Austin Rackley pulled one back in the 62nd and Esteban Alvarado equalized two minutes later for CESA to send them into Sunday’s final.

GSA 96 Phoenix Red (GA) was playing for a spot in the final, but couldn’t complete a great start to the game as they fell to Arsenal FC Lucey (CA-S) 3-2. Brahan Gamarra struck just three minutes in for GSA, but Arsenal responded to take the lead before halftime with two goals in two minutes, starting with Jose Nuno in the 27rd and then Eduardo Martinez in the 29th. GSA equalized in the 54th from Ricardo Gomez, but Alejandro Gomez struck the winner for Arsenal in the 79th for Arsenal.

U-17 Boys

National League runner-up Raiders FC Premier (IL) were in control of their own destiny and they came through with a 3-0 victory over Solar Chelsea 95 (N-TX) to play for the National Championship. Raiders wasted no time showing their desire to play for the championship as Alexic Monteon netted just nine minutes after the opening whistle and Jose Jaboy doubled the lead in the 16th. The Raiders defense held strong the remainder of the match and Ryan Schwarz capped off the scoring in the 85th to move on to the final.

National League champion Galaxy 94/95 Blue (IL) also controlled their own destiny and they made an emphatic statement, eliminating fellow National League side Beadling SC 94/95 (PA-W) and advancing to the final with a 3-0 victory. Patrick Flynn scored the game winner in the 16th minute before Colin Donnally doubled the lead two minutes later. The lead stood until the 88th when Howard Beatty struck for a third to set up and all-National League, all-Illinois final in the U-17 Boys.

Eastside FC 94 (WA) did all they could with a 3-0 win over Sereno 95 White (AZ), but the National League Red division champion didn’t get the help they needed as they finish third in the group and just outside the National final for a second straight year. Stanford commit Jordan Morris opened the scoring in the 24th minute and Jordan Thompson recorded a brace with 28th and 83rd minute goals as Eastside fall just short of the title game.

U-14 Girls

The youngest age group at the National Championships entered play on day three with every team still in contention for the title game. Needing to do the most work to advance to the final, MSC Coyotes (MD) Julia Abbott put her team on the board with a goal in the 12th minute against Ambassadors FC (OH-N). In the 62nd minute, Clare Severe doubled the lead and Paula Germino-Watnick sealed the win in the 70th. The three points put MSC and Ambassadors even on points, but Coyotes advanced on the head-to-head tie breaker.

TNFC (TN) entered Friday’s game needing only a tie to advance to the final, while Beach FC 97 (CA-S) needed a win to move on. Beach FC certainly played the more attacking role on the day, leaving four players up top towards the end of the game seeking a goal. That goal would never come, and TNFC advanced to the national final on the 0-0 draw.

U-15 Girls

Needing a win and some help to advance, MVLA Mercury Black (CA-N) did its part with a 3-2 win over CRUSA/FC Buck Fury (E-PA). Erica Higgs struck first for MVLA in just the 3rd minute, but the lead didn’t last long as Fury leveled on a strike by Dakota Mills in the 15th. Michelle Maemone put MVLA back on top in the 24th. Coming out of halftime up 2-1, Marissa Hing added an insurance goal for MVLA in the 43nd minute. That goal proved vital as Fury’s Michaela Finneyfrock would find the net just four minutes later. MVLA secured the 3-2 win, but didn’t receive the help it needed to advance to the title game.

National League division champ Legends FC (CA-S) earned a 1-0 win over Internationals 96 Red (OH-N) today. Coming into Friday matches, either team could advance to the title game with a win, and Legends FC’s Angela Mitchell was the difference on the day, as her 56th minute goal secured the victory. Legends FC will have two chances to raise a trophy, as the U-17 team also advanced to the final.

Fellow National League representative Kings Soccer Academy (OH-S) fell behind early to Sting 97 (N-TX) and needed late heroics to win and advance to Saturday. Kathleen Summers put Sting ahead in just the third minute of the game. That lead held until Lauren Nemeroff leveled for KSA in the 51st minute. Desperate to net another, Nemeroff again proved dangerous down the wing, beating the keeper, but had her chance tackled away at the last second by a recovering Sting defender. That tackle fell directly to Bayley Feist who calmly knocked it in for KSA and sent her team to the championship game.

U-17 Girls

Team Chicago Academy Botafogo (IL) entered Friday’s game against Legends Breakaway (CA-S) with a chance to advance to the final with a win. Breakaway looked to spoil that chance with a Kylie Sincox (San Diego) goal in the 53rd minute. Just five minutes Zoey Goralski (UCLA) leveled for Team Chicago. With less than five minutes to play, Breakaway Karsten Sigband lifted Breakaway to its first win of the week with a strike in the 86th minute for the 2-1 victory.

VSA Heat Blue (VA) earned its third win in as many days with a 3-0 victory over CESA 94 Premier (SC). VSA started the scoring in the 51st minute with a Caitlin Hite (East Carolina) goal. Vanessa Kovar (South Carolina) extended the lead in the 73rd and Christina Corbin (Coastal Carolina) added another in stoppage time. Just as impressive as the eight goals VSA has scored this week; the squad has yet to concede a goal—recording three shutouts.

VSA’s opponent on Sunday will be Legends FC 94 (CA-S) who advanced thanks to a 0-0 draw with Central Valley Chilipeppers (CA-N). Needing a positive result to advance, Legends FC played a sound tactical game and accomplished what was needed to compete for the national title. The game Sunday will be a rematch of the 0-0 draw between VSA and Legends FC in the US Youth Soccer National League season.


Preliminary Results – Friday, July 27 – 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships

Girls Under-14
Beach FC 97 CA-S 0, TNFC 98 Azzurri TN 0

Ambassadors FC OH-N 0, MSC Coyotes Green MD 3
MSC: Julia Abbott (12:00), Clare Severe (62:00), Paula Germino-Watnick (70:00)
Girls Under-15
MVLA Mercury Black CA-N 3, CRUSA/FC Bucks Fury PA-E 2
MVLA: Erica Higa (3:00), Michelle Maemone (24:00), Marissa Hing (42:00)
FURY: Dakota Mills (15:00), Michaela Finneyfrock (46:00)

Legends FC CA-S 1, Internationals 96 Red OH-N 0
Legends: Angela Mitchell (56:00)

Sting 97 TX-N 1, Kings Soccer Academy OH-S 2
Sting: Kathleen Summers (3:00)
Kings: Lauren Nemeroff (51:00), Bayley Feist (80:00)

Girls Under-16
MVLA Lightning CA-N 4, BRYC 95 Elite VA 0
MVLA: Fatmata Kamara (2:00), Gabriella Kaplan (33:00), Gabriella Kaplan (40:00), Sarah Robinson (48:00)

KCFC/Futura Academy MO 0, CESA 95 Premier SC 5
CESA: Savannah McCaskill (9:00), Taylor Levato (12:00), Taylor Levato (18:00), Abby Demare (38:00), Savannah McCaskill (58:00)

Cleveland United White OH-N 3, Legends 95 CA-S 0
Cleveland: Alexis Manoa (44:00), Seyla Perez (51:00), Kelly Novak (80:00)

Girls Under-17
VSA Heat Blue VA 3, CESA 94 Premier SC 0
VSA: Caitlin Hite (51:00), Vanessa Kovar (73:00), Christina Corbin (90:00)
Legends Breakaway CA-S 2, Team Chicago Academy Botafogo IL 1
Legends: Kylie Sincox (53:00), Karsten Sigband (86:00)
Chicago: Zoey Goralski (58:00)

Central Valley Chilipeppers CA-N 0, Legends FC 94 CA-S 0

Girls Under-18
FC Penn Strikers PA-E 0, Brentwood 94 Premier TN 0

Cincinnati Soccer Alliance Elite OH-S 3, LaRoca PT UT 2
Cincinnati: Laura Rose (11:00), Kiersten Johnson (70:00), Kiersten Johnson (73:00)
LaRoca: Mackenzie Harrison (15:00), Kelsi Tatton (60:00)

Girls Under-19
CCSC SOL FL 2, So Cal Blues Dodge CA-S 1
CCSC: Kaili Torres (33:00), Jessica Haley (57:00)
So Cal: Kathleen Gallanes (67:00)

Scorpions Elite MA 3, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Green – Moser MO 2
Scorpions: Mc Kenzie Meehan (10:00) (12:00) (71:00)
St. Louis: Abbey Stock (5:00) (20:00)

Boys Under-14
Santa Barbara SC White CA-S 1, Sunrise Elite 97\98 FL 2
Santa: Brandon Sanchez (5:00)
Sunrise: John Skahan (35:00), Nikolas Gomez (55:00)

Bethesda Lions MD 2, Vardar 98 MI 1
Bethesda: Juan Ramirez (35:00), Daniel Tshiani (67:00)
Vardar: AJ Shaw (69:00)

Boys Under-15
Manhattan SC PSG 96 NY-E 1, SAA Real Madrid Miami FL 0

CUP Crew Jrs Gold 96/97 OH-S 0, Fullerton Rangers 96 White CA-S 2
Rangers: Andres Lemus (30:00), Amirgy Pineda (41:00)

Challenger Crew Jrs. Black OH-N 2, Chicago Magic IL 1
Challenger: Justin Nadzan (37:00), Trevor Colazzo (46:00)
Chicago: Daniel Giraldo (73:00)

Boys Under-16
Lehigh Valley United 95 PA-E 2, CESA 95 Premier SC 2
Lehigh: Colby Thomas (1:00) (27:00)
CESA: Austin Rackley (62:00), Esteban Alvarado (64:00)

GSA 96 Phoenix Red GA 2, Arsenal FC Lucey CA-S 3
GSA: Brahan Gamarra (2:00), Ricardo Gomez (54:00)
Arsenal: Jose Nuno (23:00), Eduardo Martinez (25:00), Alejandro Gomez (79:00)

Michigan Jaguars 96 Green MI 3, Scottsdale 96 Blackhawks AZ 2
Michigan: Jason Carmack (14:00), Luai Fakhoury (39:00), Travis Hamers (62:00)
Scottsdale: Adam Mosharrafa (50:00), Samuel Gleadle (80:00)

Boys Under-17
Raiders FC Premier IL 3, Solar Chelsea 95 TX-N 0
Raiders: Alexis Monteon (9:00), Jose Laboy (16:00), Ryan Schwarz (85:00)
Galaxy 94/95 Blue IL 3, Beadling SC 94/95 PA-W 0
Galaxy: Patrick Flynn (16:00), Colin Donnally (18:00), Howard Beatty (88:00)
Sereno 95 White AZ 0, Eastside FC 94 Red WA 3
Eastside: Jordan Morris (24:00), Jordan Thompson (28:00) (83:00)
Boys Under-18
Florida Rush Nike FL 1, Grand Rapids Crew Jrs MI 1
Florida: Andrew Spragg (84:00)
Crew: Joe Sweet (86:00)

Players SC 94 NV 5, Marlton Lightning Red NJ 2
Players: Rodrigo Fuentes (11:00) (68:00), Edgar Nava (18:00) (58:00), Ricardo Acero (72:00)
Marlton: Gregory Biggiani (22:00), Michael Ryan (87:00)

Boys Under-19
Empire United SA Syracuse NY-W 0, West Coast FC CA-S 5
West Coast: Mitchell Alvarez (1:00), Juan Gutierrez (4:00) (24:00), Cameron Iwasa (11:00) (90:00)

Crew Juniors OH-S 1, GSA 93 Phoenix Red GA 2
Crew: William Walker (16:00)
GSA: Dominic Bonilla (70:00), Ehiosasele Aburime (82:00)

u16 boys lost 0-2.
SC had several chances to tie after going down one but a late goal in the 79th minute put it away for the team from Michigan. Plenty of support for the home team!

Congrats to CESA 95 Premier that represented SC in Nationals coming in 2nd in front of a huge hometown crowd.

Congrats to the team and the entire state they hail from.
Coach Pearse Tormey, Greenville
Tyler Rider, JL Mann, Greenville
Brennan Koslow, St Joseph's, Greenville
Austin Rackley, Christ Church Episcopal, Belton
Ryuta Amano, Christ Church Episcopal, now in Japan
Jackson Karolcyzk, Wando, Mt Pleasant
Patrick Khouri, Bishop England, Charleston
Max Jackwhich, Pinewood Prep, Summerville
Esteban Alvarado, Spartanburg High, Spartanburg
Christopher Heijjr St Joseph's, Greer
Josh Bertlesman, St Joseph's, Simpsonville
Ryan Bertling, St Joseph's, Simpsonville
Ravon Ashy, JL Mann, Simpsonville
Grayson Raynor, Riverside, Greer
Connor Donohue, Eastside High, Taylors
Alex Bettencourt, Greenville Tech, Greenville
Ryan Standridge, Mauldin High, Mauldin
Eric Bykowsky, Irmo High, Irmo

These athletes were also members of all region, all state High School teams, winning both 1A and 4A Championships and runners up for their respective schools. A great group of athletes and young men.

Great game to see-boys made their home state proud-they never gave up and battled the entire game.
Remember the names that cleatcollector posted you will see many of them again at the next level-

Congratulations to CESA 95 Premier, Pierce and parents. Well done!