FRISCO, Texas (May 14, 2018) — Following an exciting weekend of action at the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional League Elite Division Playoffs, several teams have secured a berth to the 2018 US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships, to be played June 29-July 3 at the Publix Virginia Soccer Training Center and Embrey Mill Complex in Spotsylvania, Va.

The Eastern Regional League qualifiers will join US Youth Soccer State Cup champions and select wild card teams, as more than 225 top boys and girls sides from the 15 US Youth Soccer State Associations compete for the regional title. Daily reports and complete results from the tournament will be available on http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org/East.

Maryland led the way with five ERL champions, and Eastern Pennsylvania had four teams claim titles. New Jersey had three winners, while New York West and Virginia each had one champion.

The ERL provides an opportunity for the most competitive teams in the region to play each other on a scheduled basis while also competing for placement in the prestigious US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, as well as the highly-competitive US Youth Soccer National League. ERL play offers college coaches a chance to see the top players in the region compete in meaningful games on a consistent basis with berths to the Regional Championships and National League on the line.

“Our ultimate goal is to develop players. I think playing in the Eastern Regional League, which has been very competitive, is a great way to do that,” said Franco Pastore, coach of 13U Baltimore Celtic Elite (MD). “Obviously, the prestige of winning it — getting into Regionals — is fantastic.  It gives the boys a lot of confidence, knowing they’ve played at this level. You’re seeing some really good teams, so hopefully that’s a springboard of confidence going into Regionals and, hopefully, Nationals.”

The teams who have qualified for the Eastern Regional Championships help make up the 42 ERL sides who also earn their place into the US Youth Soccer National League for the 2018-19 season. For both boys and girls sides, the top four finishers in the 13U through 17U ERL Elite Division Playoffs, along with the top team in the 18U ERL Elite Division Playoffs, automatically qualify for next year’s National League. A complete list of National League qualifiers can be found here.

2018 US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships | ERL Representatives*  

*Any ERL champion who also wins its US Youth Soccer State Cup will advance to the Eastern Regional Championships as the State Cup representative. The ERL qualifying spot will be given to next highest ERL finisher who has not won its State Cup.

Click here to view all results from the ERL season.

The Eastern Regional Championships feature top teams in the 12U through 19U age groups and begin Friday, June 29, with preliminary games running through July 1. Semifinals take place July 2, and regional champions will be crowned following final matches on July 3. Games will be played at the Publix Virginia Soccer Training Center and Embrey Mill Complex in Spotsylvania, Va.

Regional winners of the 13U through 19U age groups earn a berth to the 2018 US Youth Soccer National Championships, July 23-29, at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas. One of the 14 national crowns awarded is the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sports, dating back to 1935 with the inaugural youth championships.