USL News Release
Tuesday, November 17, 2008
TAMPA – The boys U14 tournament kicks off Friday, November 21 in a pair of 9:00AM matches between the defending ’94 champions, Weston SC and the New Hampshire Phantoms and a second between the Northern Virginia Royals and Players Development Academy (PDA). The Cal Odyssey (10-0-0) is the only perfect side coming into the 10th Annual North American Finals, but PDA (11-0-2), Black Watch SC (12-0-2) and Weston (11-0-2) are not far off their pace.
Mid Atlantic Division
In the 20-team Mid Atlantic Division, FC Westchester had the most dominant team in Group A, which consisted of the Westchester Flames, Long Island Rough Riders, New York Rough Riders and Brooklyn Knights. Against those clubs, FC Westchester went 7-2-0. In the five out-of-group matches this summer, FC Westchester went 5-0-0 against their Group C opponents. Their two losses on the season were a 2-0 loss to the Westchester Flames on Wednesday, July 2 and a 2-1 loss to the Long Island Rough Riders on Saturday, June 14. The team has outscored their opponents 48-10 this season.
“PDA strives to play an attractive style of soccer,” said PDA Technical Director Gerry McKeown. “We are a very offensive minded team with good ball control and fast pace transition. PDA has a mix of national, regional and ODP players. Their accomplishments include: State Cup Finalists, Bethesda Thanksgiving Champions, Jefferson Cup semi-finalists, Region I finalists and Super Y-League Mid Atlantic Division Champions. Several players competed in the prestigious Manchester United Cup and placed fifth.”
Match Fit Academy U14 boys are a team consisting of players from various areas of New Jersey. The majority of the players have been together as a group for over two years. The group was State Cup Semi-Finalists at U12 and Finalists at U13. The team’s head coach and trainer is the highly respected Martyn Rushmore.
The South Jersey Barons U14 boys qualified for the North American Finals by winning Group D of the highly-competitive Mid Atlantic Division. They finished the season 8-2-3 (18GF, 13GA) which is a marked improvement on last season’s 4-9-1 (15GF, 39GA) record. The team worked hard on their defensive responsibilities and the improvement in goals against was the main reason for their qualification. This will be their first trip to Super Y-League North American Finals and look forward to the experience.
Midwest Division
The U14 Kalamazoo boys are coached by Chris Karwoski. They are returning to the North American Finals for the second year in a row. After a disappointing 2-1 loss to the LA Slammers in the semifinals last year, they came out strong to start this season with a nine game winning streak. They finished their season 9-2-1 and are looking forward to returning for some great games and hopefully a better outcome.
The Chicago Magic kicked off a successful 2008 season by winning the Best of the Midwest tournament and playing in their way into the quarterfinals round of Dallas Cup, earning a spot to compete in the 2009 Dallas Cup games. The Magic were runners-up in the Eclipse Select Spring Classic. They ranked third in the MWRL Premiere League and ended the year as Illinois State Champions in the Illinois State Cup tournament. The Magic finished second to the Kalamazoo Kingdom in the Super Y-League’s Midwest Division with a record of 9-3-0. In their head-to-head matches with the Kingdom, the Magic lost 4-1 in their third game of the season before winning a 3-1 decision late in the season.
New England Division
Black Watch SC advanced to the North American Finals based on the play of their brick wall defense. This New England Champion allowed just two more goals than the Cal Odyssey in the opposite corner of the nation – they also played four more matches than the Californians. Either way, when these two teams meet during group play at the North American Finals – it should be a low scoring affair. Black Watch pitched shutouts in 11 of their 14 matches including their two draws on the season: 0-0 with MPS Boston on Sunday, July 27 and three days later by the same score to Nordic.
The Midlothian side stems from the Capital Region of New York and finished their Super Y-League season with a record of 12-0-2, scoring 31 goals. Their balanced units in the midfield and attacking-third led to their effective scoring. Coached by Jeff Rockmore and Dave MacVane, this team came together this year with high hopes which they have fulfilled beyond expectations. The players’ work ethic and tireless training have seen the side grow into one of the most respected teams in the region, garnering many tournament wins and strong premier league play.
No one in the region could keep pace with Black Watch SC, but the New Hampshire Phantoms fared the best against the remainder of the competition and won an opportunity to play in the North American Finals, where they won’t face Black Watch SC again unless the two sides make the final an All-New England affair. Placed in Group A at the North American Finals, New Hampshire will open group play against Weston SC. Coached by Mehdi Katane and Rich Powlowsky, New Hampshire will lean on their first-rate offense to carry them into the knockout phase of the tournament. The Phantoms scored the most goals in the region, netting on average 2.71 per match.
Northwest Division
The U14 Boys Mountain WFC team commenced play in the Pacific Northwest Division with the goal to qualify for the Finals in Florida, having missed a spot by a single point in 2007. From the outset the players wanted to make a difference in the league and remained focused and prepared themselves daily in the weeks leading up to each game. They realized their goal and secured first place in the Pacific Northwest division with a record 14-1-1. In that period the side scored 35 goals and allowed six against. The success of the team was a result of hard work, dedication, ambition and a positive group dynamic, which contributed to overcome difficult situations. Going to Florida, the team is excited to compete with the best North American Clubs and the players are determined to make a difference to the success of the club.
Ian Knight, the Head Coach of Abbotsford’s U14 boys also served as the coach of the Chilliwack Soccer Association. He was formerly the Head Coach of the Youth Training System at Grimsby Town of the English Championship League. He played for Sheffield Wednesday in the English First Division and played for England Under-23’s, before injury curtailed his career. Knight’s experience has led this Abbotsford side to a repeat appearance in the Super Y-League North American Finals. After being bounced from the group play stage of last season’s U13 North American Finals, the Mariners held fast to the fact that they drew even with the 2007 U13 North American Championship side, Weston SC, 0-0 on the first day of group play. Since returning to the Northwest, the side has improved their winning percentage from .500 in 2007 to .812 this season.
The third Northwest team in the U14 North American Finals is Surrey WFC. This side ended the Northwest season in third place behind Mountain WFC and the Abbotsford Mariners. Should this Surrey WFC team advance to the knockout phase of the competition, they may have to face one of those two clubs again after falling to both teams during the regular season. In those four matches Surrey was outscored 9-4 including a 2-2 draw with Abbotsford on Sunday, May 25. The team’s strength is their balance, as they were the third best offensive and defensive team in the Northwest through their first 16 matches.
Northern California Division
The lone Northern California Division side competing in the North American Finals is the California Odyssey. The team, who netted 45 goals during the 2007 season, solidified their defense during the offseason and is headed to the North American Finals as a result. In 12 matches last season at the U13 level this same team allowed 11 goals. In 2008, the side allowed just one. Their potent offense didn’t slow too much as a result of their defense-first policy. They found the back of the net 36 times this season. Cal’s toughest two-game stretch this season came in a pair of 1-0 wins over Bayside Soccer Academy and San Ramon Soccer Club on Sunday, June 29 and Tuesday, July 8.
South Atlantic Division
Alpharetta United Championed the South Atlantic Group A bracket, finishing the Super Y-League regular season with a record of 10-1-1. Their only loss came at the hands of the Atlanta Silverbacks Juniors, who finished the South Atlantic season in second place, six points off the pace of Alpharetta.
Having split the season series with Alpharetta, the Silverbacks looked to have a leg up in the North American Finals qualification race until a weekend in Richmond produced the clubs second and third losses of the season, 4-3 to the Richmond Strikers on Saturday, July 26 and 3-2 to the Richmond Kickers on Sunday, July 27. Alpharetta prevailed in their match with the Strikers, another shootout that ended 4-3 and topped the Kickers 3-1 on Friday, July 25.
The Northern Virginia Royals U14 Super Y-League team downed the Richmond Kickers 3-1 to claim the South Atlantic Group B Division title and the automatic berth into the United Soccer Leagues Youth North American Finals. Joining Northern Virginia in the Super Y-League Finals is Group A winner Alpharetta United, whom the Royals fittingly tied 1-1 during the regular season.
It was a sweltering day as the boys took to the field against the upstart Kickers, who had won five of their last six games to be in contention for the division title. Both teams knowing that this game was a make or break for either side, the winner advancing into the post-season while the other settling for an impressive second place in the group standings.
The Royals wasted little time exerting their desire to be in the finals, rattling off three unanswered goals in the first half. Newcomer Isael Diaz struck twice for the early advantage and Tyler Guerra provided fireworks in the closing minute on a net screeching score from an unchallenged header assist by Tyler Kent to seal the end of a dominating Northern Virginia first half.
Southeast Division
RSL Florida won Group A of the Southeast Division with a record of 11-1-1. Their offense ranked second in the Southeast only to the defending ’94 champion, Weston SC. Head-to-head with Weston, RSL dropped their only meeting 1-0 at Pine Island Park Field on Saturday, August 2. The team’s defense was the third-best unit in the ten-team division, allowing on average 0.69 goals per game. Coached by Maurice Loregnard, Eddie Oyakhilome and Joseph Wolf, RSL holds the advantage of being familiar with the Tampa setting of the North American Finals. The side opens group play against the Chicago Magic, faces match Fit Academy on Saturday, November 22 and finishes up with Mountain WFC on Sunday, November 23.
Last season it was Weston SC who represented the Southeast Division in the championship match. After handling their competition to the tune of a 2-0-1 record in three group play matches, Weston SC advanced to the semifinals and dispatched a one-loss New Jersey Junior Stallions side via a 2-0 win. In the finals Weston SC’s defense carried the match into penalties following a 0-0 stalemate with Southern California representative, Slammers FC. Weston’s U13’s then dramatically edged the Southern Californians 5-4 in penalties to win the club’s first North American Championship. That team, coached by Alvin James, has not disappointed in 2008. This season the defending ’94 champions have an 11-0-2 record.
