2022 National Presidents Cup: Day 1 Recap
Thursday kicked off US Youth Soccer’s 14th annual National Presidents Cup at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C.
13U Boys: FC LEGENDS UTD 09B_RED (NTX) 1 – Anaheim FC B2009 Aguirre (CA-S) 0
FC Legends started off today’s group stage with multiple early chances but struggled to find the back of the net. Anaheim FC evened out the match with some success on counterattacks, where Giovani Munoz was extremely difficult to mark.
Kabili Yuoh, FC Legends’ captain, put in a total effort during the first half, playing all over the pitch and often displaying a fantastic burst of acceleration throughout. He was a one-man fast break, carrying the ball 50 yards up the pitch just before half, but the Anaheim FC defense tracked back in time to see the match go into the break scoreless.
FC Legends opened the scoring early in the second half, with Kaifa Yuoh breaking the tie in the 39th minute. Anaheim FC dialed up the pressure right after and were knocking on the door the entire half. The North Texas side’s defense was up to the task, with multiple last-second clearances and saves. Zaid Rivera had the best chance for Anaheim late, using a perfectly executed turn to get by the last defender. He was in on goal with just the keeper to beat, but North Texas’ Luke Baker made one final save to preserve both the shutout and win.
16U Girls: North Union United 06F Wave (PA-E) 0 – KC Athletics Napoli 06G (MO) 0
The opening ten minutes were evenly contested with North Union having the better chances. KC Athletics Napoli had their own chance off a corner kick in the winding seconds of the first half, as Samantha Larkins put in a ball that North Union’s goalkeeper, Karsyn Cox, struggled to gain possession of. There was a resulting frenzy in the box, but no harm came of it.
The teams entered the break scoreless but not without chances. North Union’s Larissa Evans had multiple shots on target early in the second half and KC Athletics Napoli countered once more, with Ava Jacobi firing a shot that went just wide.
Minutes after that chance, KC Athletics Napoli’s Annabelle Totta was in on goal with just the keeper to beat, but couldn’t finish the opportunity, which saw the match finish as a scoreless tie.
14U Girls: Villareal NTX 08G (NTX) 2 – Select G08 (NV) 4
Select opened the scoring early, with Francesa Androvandi finishing a chance in the 2nd minute, and then Elliot Lujan adding a second seven minutes later.
Even though it seemed as if the game was getting away from Villareal, they clawed back to level the game. Aaliyah Roberts had both goals for the North Texas side, which were just seven minutes apart, the second a shot from outside of the box that made its way into the top corner.
Select regained the lead before half, however, as Cristal Lara added the team’s third.
The second half had chances for both teams to score, but the defenses were up to the task and kept the score as is for most of the half. Select’s Ella Claggett put the finishing touches on the goal, though, with a nice finish in the 62nd minute.
15U Boys: Pennsylvania Rush 2007 Rush (PA-E) 3 – Minnesota Rush (MN) 3
The two ‘Rush’ sides, from Eastern Pennsylvania and Minnesota, put forth one of the best matches of the opening day.
Minnesota’s Owen Spaeth opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a great finish. The Eastern Pennsylvania side applied some pressure after the opener, with Harry Bates creating multiple chances on the right side of the field. Pennsylvania Rush was able to level the game in the 25th minute, with Sardor Kurbanov the goalscorer.
Minnesota Rush regained the lead nine minutes later, courtesy of a goal by Cadel Wolf, but Pennsylvania Rush soon leveled via a Harry Bates equalizer in stoppage time.
The Eastern Pennsylvania side continued the second half how the first ended, with Andriy Popelnytskiy opening the period’s scoring in the 41st minute. It took until the 79th minute, but Ethan Mueller once again leveled for Minnesota, capping off a fantastic game.
13U Girls: 09 CSA North/Hville Roma G (NC) 0 – Heat FC G10 (NV) 1
Heat FC opened the scoring in the seventh minute from a Chloe Mashore goal.
Both sides were able to create strong build-up play throughout the first half, but the goal remained the difference heading into the break.
Heat FC’s Isabella Leyva was the hero for the Nevada side, though, saving a penalty kick from CSA North’s Paige Carr in the final seconds of the match to preserve the 1-0 win.
16U Boys: Barcelona (NJ) 1 – CHICAGO KICS FC 2006 CITY MWC (IL) 1
CHICAGO KICS’ Roman Marsh started things off in this match, firing home the first goal in the 18th minute. It was an extremely level first half, with the score remaining as so for the rest of it.
Barcelona ramped up the pressure in the second half and finally found an equalizer from an Anthony Fitch goal in the 61st minute.
Both teams had chances late, but none could find the winner. No chance was closer than Barcelona’s Felipe Matar Grandi hitting the crossbar on a shot with just a few minutes remaining.
