Schedules, Scores and Standings
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BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (June 16, 2018) – The 2018 US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup is now underway in Barboursville, W.Va. The three-day event, which takes place June 16-18, kicked off Saturday with 12U through 18U Boys and Girls teams starting the action at the Barboursville Soccer Complex and Huntington YMCA - Scott Orthopedic Soccer Complex.
The event features more than 110 US Youth Soccer boys and girls teams competing for a regional title and a chance to advance to the 2018 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup, which will take place July 11-15 in Westfield, Ind., and feature the 13U through 18U age groups.
Semifinal matches will take place on Sunday, June 17, and regional champions will be crowned following final matches on Monday, June 18.
“We won the PA West tournament, but actually coming to the Eastern Presidents Cup and then producing and playing the way were are, the girls are just beside themselves,” said coach Bob McCurdy, whose Victory Express (PA-W) side is 2-0.
“It’s been an awesome event. We’re going to take it one game at a time. It would be honor to [advance to the National Presidents Cup]. Right now, we’ve got our work cut out for us. We have some tough games tomorrow. Anything can happen on any day.”
The tournament features teams from nine East Region State Associations, including host West Virginia. The other state associations represented include Connecticut, Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania West and Virginia.
The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup offers teams the challenge of experiencing different types of play by competing from state to regional to national levels. The Presidents Cup provides teams with a progressive, competitive experience that highlights competition, camaraderie and community.
Preliminary Round Recaps:
12U Girls
After two games, the standings are tight in Group A, with FC Bucks Cyclones (PA-E) in first with four points. However, Victory Express (PA-W) and SCOR Black (CT) are close behind after each tied both of its games. Meanwhile, GPS NJ Central 06 Red (NJ) is in first in Group B after picking up victories over each of the second-place sides.
13U Boys
In Group B, Stafford Revolution 05 Blue (VA) got off to a strong start with a 3-1 win over FC Tenancingo (DE) in its first game of the day. It took just nine minutes for Michael White to give Stafford the lead, and that goal stood as the difference in the first half. Rusty Croce and Kaiden Rash each found the back of the net for the Virginia side midway through the second half, as Stafford grabbed a 3-0 advantage. Alexis Salgado pulled a goal back for the Delaware side, but Stafford held on for the 3-1 win.
14U Girls
In its second match in Group B action, Victory Express (PA-W) earned a 3-1 win against Keystone FC Premier (PA-E) to put it at six points in the standings. Express grabbed a 1-0 lead after a chipped shot hit off the bar and Emma Blickenderfer raced in to put home the loose ball. Katie Burke doubled the Express advantage in the 44th minute, as she lofted a ball from just outside the box that got over the keeper and found the back of the net. Eva Scoulos added a late goal to extend the lead before Mallory Brown pulled a goal back for Keystone. The 3-1 win puts Victory Express in a good position entering its final group play match.
15U Boys
Despite falling behind in the second half, Den of Lions Gunners (NJ) roared back to seal a 5-1 win over Baltimore Union SC Elite (MD). The teams exchanged spells of possession with no breakthroughs in the first half. That continued after halftime until Anthony Schlee ran onto a free kick from Brandon Holy and hit a diving header inside the left post to give Baltimore a 53rd-minute lead. The Gunners replied quickly, as Grant Shevrin bodied off a defender and struck a bouncing ball into the far corner. In the 72nd minute, Joao Miranda got behind the Baltimore defense and slid a shot past the onrushing keeper to give the Gunners the lead. With the Maryland side pushing forward, Miranda managed to get two more breakaways and produced a couple of cool finishes to push the Gunners’ advantage to 4-1. Alexis Valdez capped the scoring in stoppage time, as the New Jersey side pulled away for its second win in Group B action.
16U Girls
Montgomery United 2002 (PA-E) used swift set piece execution to kick off its weekend with a 4-1 win against Victory Express (PA-W). In the 27th minute, a Montgomery short corner caught Victory off guard, allowing Olivia Walker to hit a shot that dipped under the bar to open the scoring. Just four minutes later, Kelsey Maley turned another corner kick into a second Montgomery goal to give the Eastern PA side a 2-0 advantage. Victory pulled one back just after halftime, as Sophia Grando found the back of the net. However, Kloey Carminati immediately replied for Montgomery to push the lead back to two goals and Leighann Kafel later added an insurance goal in the 4-1 victory.
17U Boys
After facing a halftime deficit in its opening match, SCS 2001 Premier Black (PA-W) fought back to earn a 2-1 win over Virginia Legacy Wizards Green (VA) to open Group A play. The Virginia side grabbed some momentum just before the break when Brandon Kaminer put the Wizards in front with a 41st-minute strike. It didn’t take long for SCS to bounce back, as Ben Francis equalized in the 51st minute. After an SCS player was brought down in the box five minutes later, Francis stepped up to the spot and buried his attempt to put the PA West side in front. That proved to be the difference as SCS came away with the three points.
18U Girls
Stafford Soccer Revolution (VA) held off a strong push from local side Charleston FC 00 (WV) to earn a 3-2 win — its second of the day in Group A. The Virginia side took a third-minute lead behind Morgan Dugan’s goal, but Carly Smithson immediately responded for Charleston to level the score at 1-1. Later, in the 24th minute, Smithson added her second to give Charleston a 2-1 advantage. The roller coaster of momentum continued, as it took Stafford’s Meghan Lewton less than 10 minutes to pull her team level. The Virginia side immediately followed up the equalizer with the go-ahead goal when Aramis Dominguez found the back of the net in the 33rd minute. Neither side managed to break through in the second half, and Dominguez’s goal turned out to be the game-winner.
For complete event results for the Eastern Presidents Cup, click here. For more information on all US Youth Soccer Regional and National Presidents Cup events, visit the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Homepage at www.usyouthsoccer.org/presidents-cup.
Note: The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is a separate series of events from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.