USL News Release

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

TAMPA – The 10th Annual USL Super Y-League North American Finals began today and will continue through Championship Tuesday, November 25 at Ed Radice Sports Complex in Northwest Tampa and Land O’Lakes Recreation Center in Land O’Lakes Florida. The 136 youth teams competing at the U13-U17 age level from across the United States and Canada will arrive in Tampa Thursday evening.

The 2008 North American Finals will, for the third consecuative season, integrate the Tampa Bay community with a Five-A-Side Frenzy soccer tournament held in conjunction with the North American Finals. The Five-A-Side Frenzy will draw roughly 50 teams from the greater Tampa Bay area. The addition of these teams required the construction of additional fields, seating and various other extensions to the Players Village at Ed Radice Sports Complex.

Further adding to the excitement of the event, USL’s Annual General Meeting, being held in downtown Tampa in conjunction with the North American Finals is a gathering of soccer executives from the league’s two professional systems, the USL First and Second Division. Representatives from USL’s two amateur leagues, the Premier Development League and W-League also attend the AGM.

“We are excited to welcome the participants of the North American Finals and team representatives from our senior teams to our Annual General Meeting,” said USL President and Founder Francisco Marcos. “Including the local community will only add to the energy of an already spectacular celebration of soccer.”

The North American Finals and AGM will combine on Saturday evening at Ed Radice Sports Complex for the Saturday Night Soccer Celebration. The highlight of the event will be a 7:00PM Showcase Match between the U17 Northern Virgina Royals and the Reading Rage, two clubs who compete each year in the Mid Atlantic Division of USL’s Premier Development League. The second match of the group play stage of the U17 boys competition, both sides won their respective divisions during the Super Y-League regular season.

About the Super Y-League North American Finals
The USL Super Y-League North American Finals is an annual competition in which the best youth soccer clubs around the United States and Canada qualify for through the Super Y-League regular season competition within the various geographic divisions.

With 136 teams scheduled to participate in more than 300 matches, the competition has developed every year since six teams competed in the inaugural Super Y-League North American Finals in 1999. The event has become a proving ground for players, with more than 100 college, national team and professional scouts attending the event.

During the North American Finals, USLSoccer.com will provide coverage of the event including select match summaries and photos. Coverage will begin following the first day of competition. Match scores will be updated throughout the finals.