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SALT LAKE CITY (June 14, 2018) – Thursday brought an end to  exciting preliminary games at the 2018 US Youth Soccer Far West Presidents Cup at the Salt Lake City Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah. The chase for the Regional and National Presidents Cup titles continues for the 112 teams who have qualified to move on to Friday’s quarterfinals.

The 12U Boys and Girls competiting in the National Championships Series also have games that are taking place alongside the Far West Presidents Cup. The 12U journey ends at Regionals and so every team in competiting for the highest honor in the 12U age group.

Notes from a few of today’s games:

13U Boys
Blitzz FC Gold (MT) and Excel Soccer Academy (AZ) played to a 0-0 draw on the final day of preliminary play. Each team had chances to take a lead including a deep stinging show from Absalon Hernandez Carreto but the shot was equally matched by the Blitzz keeper. The Excel keeper came out to the top of the box to stop a breakaway chance that looked like it would give Blitzz the lead. Excel had a great chance late but a beautiful chip by Angel Soto had just too much weight on it and went over the bar. With the result, Excel advances as the group winner while Blitzz advances as the runner-up.
 
15U Boys
Blast 03 (UT) fought back to earn a, 2-2, tie against Pittsburg 03 (CA-N). Ben Horwarth put Blast ahead after he brought down a ball that bounced away from goal. Horwarth settled the ball and blasted a shot for a 1-0 lead. Blast almost double their advantage but had a pass that went across the face of goal saved off the line by a Pittsburg defender. Pittsburg equalized in the 28th minute as Valentin Amaral drew a penalty kick. Julian Rodriguez stepped up and finished in the bottom left to bring the score to 1-1. Pittsburg kept the pressure on and forced a goal just two minutes later. Alejandro Hernandez broke down the right side and clipped a ball in that deflected off the back of a defender and beyond the keeper for the 2-1 lead. Blast fought back early in the second half and leveled the score on a Tim Sorensen goal. The game finished 2-2 and both teams earned a crucial point that put them both into the quarterfinals.

18U Boys
In a back and forth game, Barcelona AZ 00 (AZ) defeated Missoula Strikers Red (MT), 3-2, to earn a spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinal matches. Missoula looked the better team early providing great pressure and almost scored one but saw an early shot hit the outside net of the goal. The Montana side gained the lead in the 29th minute on a beautifully execute set piece. Jakob Larson slid his freekick in behind the line and Cole Hage beat everyone to the ball to score. Barcelona battled back and got its equalizer when Alberto Castaneda Bobadilla got a foot to the ball before the onrushing Missoula keeper. The chasing defender was not able to clear the line and the score leveled at 1-1. Barcelona used that momentum to strike again quickly as a ball was played through to Jesus Valenzuela on the left side and Valenzuela made no mistake slotting his chance to the back post. Missoula equalized in the second half on a hard low struck free kick by Jakob Larson but Barcelona took the air of the Montana side’s celebration drawing a penalty just two minutes later. Valenzuela stepped up finished his opportunity with what was the game’s final goal bringing the final to 3-2.  
 
14U Girls
FC Nova 04 Elite (ID) got the result they needed, with a 3-0 victory over LVPSA 04 White (NV) to ensure itself a spot in the quarterfinals. Idaho’s Logan Smith was too much for LVPSA to overcome as she worked hard to notch a hattrick. The three goals bring Smith’s tournament total to six where she sits on the top of the scorer table in the 14U Girls age group. Despite the result, LVPSA also advances to the quarterfinals but as Group C runners-up.

15U Girls
Utah Surf Davis 03 MD (UT) used its two-goal cushion in the first half to hold off Storm South Select 03 (CO) and advance to the quarterfinals. Utah’s Kaitlyn De Los Reyes and Brooklyn Wersland scored two goals in the first half to give their team a two-goal cushion heading into halftime. Storm pressed hard early in the second half but it could not connect the necessary passes in the final third to get a good chance on net. Colorado almost pulled one back but a long effort went just wide of the left post. Storm finally got its goal in the 78th minute when Lauren Creighton hit a shot that went into the upper left corner. Utah Surf held off until the final whistle and earned the necessary points to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
 
17U Girls
Pride Predators 01 (CO) needed a win to ensure the top spot of Group C and it did just that. The Colorado side earned a big 6-0 victory over Pacific SC Ladera Ranch 01 (CA-S) and now advance to the quarterfinals. Caroline Monberg and Marissa Dowlin both notched first half goals for the Colorado side giving them a 2-0 lead heading into half. Pride did not take its foot off the gas and added four more goals thanks to Trinity Harvey, Monberg scoring her second, Grace McReynolds and Greer Garacher. The victory pushes Pride to the quarterfinals while Pacific needed a result in order to advance.
 
Notes from 12U National Championships Series:
 
12U Boys
Total Futbol Academy (CA-S) and Tuzos Academy 06 (AZ) are the last two unbeaten teams in the 12U Boys age group. Group D saw some crazy drama as the results from the day saw three teams tied at six points apiece in the standings. LVSA 06 White (NV) snuck through thanks to a goal differential of just one goal higher than the next team. In Group B, Pateadores PYL 20006 White (CA-S) did what it need in order to advance by defeating Sparta 06 SP (UT), 3-0.

12U Girls
Group D’s LA Galaxy Southbay (CA-S) and Utah Glory Black NO (UT) were tied with six points heading into today. LA Galaxy earned a, 1-0, victory to remain perfect and to qualify for the quarterfinals as the Group D winner. In Group A, SC Del Sol 06 1(AZ) snuck through on goal differential in part to a big win today over Avalanche 06 Black RK (UT). The other three teams winning their groups were Group C’s Albion 06 EB (NV), Group B’s San Diego Surf Select 2006 (CA-S) and Group A’s Legends FC 06 (CA-S).

For complete event results for the Far West 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.