SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP More than 3,600 US Youth Soccer players descend on Edmond, Okla.

EDMOND, Okla. (June 20, 2013) � Teams, paarents, referees, tournament officials and volunteers gathered at Wantland Stadium Thursday for the opening ceremony, which kicked off the 2013 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships, presented by the National Guard. Preliminary games begin tomorrow at 8 a.m. at the ESC Complex in Edmond, Okla.

Edmond’s assistant city manager, Steve Commons, was in attendance at the opening ceremony, and he said the city is excited to host many talented players who will be competing in the Region III Championships for the next week.

“On behalf of the mayor and the city council of Edmond, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our community,” Commons said. “The mayor and the council plan to visit the teams while they’re in action at the fields. Edmond, Oklahoma City and the Central Oklahoma Region are very proud to be able to host this event.”

Returning to regional competition this year are four defending US Youth Soccer Region III Champions: Sunrise Elite 97/98 (FL), Tennessee SC 16 (TN), Sting 97 (TX-N)and CESA 95 Premier (SC).

2012 US Youth Soccer Region III Champions (Age groups from last year)
*Returning 2012 Champions

Girls
Under-13 NASA 17 Elite (GA)
Under-14 TNFC 98 Azzurri (TN)*
Under-15 Sting 97 (TX-N)*
Under-16 CESA 95 Premier (SC)
Under-17 CESA 94 Premier (SC)
Under-18 Brentwood 94 Premier (TN)
Under-19 CCSC SOL (FL)

Boys
Under-13 Dallas Texans (TX-N)
Under-14 Sunrise Elite 97/98 (FL)*
Under-15 SAA Real Madrid Miami (FL)
Under-16 CESA 95 Premier (SC)*
Under-17 Solar Chelsea 95 (TX-N)
Under-18 Florida Rush Nike (FL)
Under-19 GSA 93 Phoenix Red (GA)

Nearly 200 of the top US Youth Soccer boys and girls teams from the 12 State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region III will compete for the 2013 regional title. Preliminary games will be held June 21-23 with quarterfinals, semifinals and finals June 24-27. All games will be played at the ESC Soccer Complex in Edmond, Okla.

Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships, which will be played July 22-28 at Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups, as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 88 teams.