Schedule, Scores and Standings
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Daily Game Recaps Posted on USYouthSoccer.org
WESTFIELD, Ind. (July 13, 2018) – The 2018 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup continued in Westfield, Ind., with the 48 13U through 18U Boys and Girls teams taking the field for the second day of play at Grand Park Sports Complex.
The tournament, which features US Youth Soccer teams from 20 different State Associations, will continue with preliminary games through Saturday, July 14. Championship and third place matches will take place on Sunday, July 15.
On the second day of preliminary games, the teams are tested to see who can keep the work rate up. In the 13U Girls age group, DASC 2005 (SD) picked up its second set of three points with a 2-1 win over Sting Dallas 05 Roach (TX-N). Head coach Brandon Barkus noted that when it comes to group play, it’s important to see what combination of players are clicking and how the team is working as a unit, and he believes there is one factor that sets the DASC team apart in this competition.
“I think really what it boils down to is intelligence – your decision-making, what you do off the ball,” Barkus said. “I think those are the kinds of things that are separating us right now. We’re a very blue collar hard working team. I think we’re a very smart team. We’re also trying to raise our soccer IQ.”
It’s not typical to see a team from South Dakota competing at National Presidents Cup, but Barkus is excited and positive about the experience as the team has received a lot of support from its club and community.
“I think us being here really is great for our club. Dakota Alliance Soccer Club has really invested a lot in trying to improve as an organization in hiring additional staff and increasing facilities,” Barkus said. “Our city and community, Sioux Falls, had a couple TV stations come out the weeks after we won regional Presidents Cup and on our way here to this event. Our state has also been great, broadcasting our results and showcasing some individual player stories.”
For more information on the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup, visit www.usyouthsoccer.org/presidents-cup.
A few highlights from Friday’s matches:
13U Boys
A Roberto Morales hat trick provided all the offense FC Dallas RGV 05 Red (TX-S) needed, as the South Texas side hung on for a 3-2 win against Sporting Wichita (KS). Morales opened the scoring in the 13th minute, and he doubled the FC Dallas advantage in the 22nd minute. Irwin Macias pulled Sporting within a goal before the break, and Vitor Geromel found the back of the net in the 38th minute to level the score at 2-2. However, Morales completed his hat trick later in the second half, as he scored the game-winner to give FC Dallas a key three points in the standings.
13U Girls
DASC 2005 (SD) overcame a tough battle to defeat Sting Dallas 05 Roach (TX-N), 2-1. While Sting started out with the possession, one chance for DASC came as a through ball down the side led to the ball being played across the goal for Elsie Odney to finish in the ninth minute. Sting did not allow the goal to affect its play as it worked hard to tie up the match thanks to a 29th-minute goal from Dawson Marrs, but DASC stole the lead right back when Hailee Christensen put the ball in the back of the net. The second half was a scramble for Sting to earn the equalizer once again, while DASC maintained a strong defensive line, and it was DASC who ended up on top.
14U Boys
Shadow Premier FC (IL) and CFA Dalton 04 Elite (GA) each earned one point for the day as the two teams played to a scoreless draw. The match produced opportunities on both ends of the field with long balls and races to goal occurring often. Shadow came extremely close to earning a goal when Anthony Genchi sprinted onto a diagonal ball that was lofted over the defense, but his shot went wide. CFA started to break Shadow down near the end of the second half, quickly beating defenders and getting into the 18-yard box, but nothing came of the chances. One of the last looks at goal for Shadow came from a long free kick at midfield, where the ball bounced around in the 18-yard box. A Shadow player headed the ball towards the goal, but it flew just over the crossbar. The two teams had to settle for the 0-0 tie.
14U Girls
LVSA 04 White (NV) took advantage of its opportunities in a 2-0 win against PA Rush 04 (PA-E) on Friday. In the early going, Allison Hewish drew a foul in the LVSA box, but Nevada keeper Madisen Berg saved the penalty kick attempt to keep the game scoreless. In the 25th minute, Sofia Velasquez hit a shot from 25 yards out that dipped under the bar to give LVSA a 1-0 lead. The Eastern Pennsylvania side created a good chance late in the half, but Berg scrambled to the back post to save a well-hit volley. PA Rush had plenty of possession in the attacking half, but the Nevada side secured an insurance goal when Audree Morter finished at the back post — capping the 2-0 victory.
15U Boys
An entertaining match between Heat FC 03 AS (NV) and Den of Lions Gunners (NJ) ended with the teams splitting the points, as they played to a 2-2 draw. Heat FC grabbed a lead in the 11th minute, as Alan Lopez ran down a long diagonal ball, rounded the keeper and finished into an open net. The Gunners replied from the penalty spot, where Joao Bernabe sent the keeper the wrong way and leveled the score. The New Jersey side took the lead shortly after halftime, as Liborio Goncalves found the back of the net in the 48th minute. However, Heat FC replied in the 63rd when Omar Coronel followed up the initial attempt from a dangerous free kick and hit home the rebound. Neither side managed to create a tie-breaking goal in the final minutes, as the teams finished level at 2-2.
15U Girls
HFC Ready 03 (PA-E) earned its second win with a 3-1 victory over Real Henderson FC 03 Select JA (NV). It only took five minutes for HFC to open up the scoring as Carissa Fallon took an initial shot, which was blocked, and Raina Adelman followed it up. Four minutes later, Real’s Marisela Trejo sent a driven shot from inside the 18-yard box for the equalizer. The go-ahead goal for HFC came from Taylor Yoder near the end of the first half. The lead propelled HFC to take control of the ball and create more chances, eventually gaining a third goal in the 55th minute thanks to Rianne Moll.
16U Boys
FC United 2002 Select Black (IL) and Music City FC Premier (TN) played to a 1-1 draw. The game began with Music City getting shots off, especially with Julio Alfaro taking on multiple defenders and blasting the ball at the goal. Meanwhile, FC United earned a few opportunities off of set pieces in the first half, but the ball only dangled in front of the goal rather than going in. In the second half, FC United came out with more energy and started to consistently attack the goal. However, it was Music City who struck first as a combination play led to Leo Velasquez sending a left-footed shot from a tight angle to the far post. FC United came right back in the 10 minutes later as Luis Garduno netted a goal, and despite having 20 minutes left to play, neither team could attain the go-ahead goal.
16U Girls
After a narrow defeat on the first day of play, Mutiny FC 02 White (TX-N) picked up a 4-0 win over local side Indy Premier SC 02 Elite Victory (IN). Avery Jennings’ 23rd-minute goal provided the lone difference in the opening 40 minutes, as Mutiny took a 1-0 lead to the second half. Hayley Wolfe and Reece Wildt netted goals in quick succession to push the North Texas side’s lead to 3-0, and Evelyn Slaughter capped the victory with a 57th-minute strike. The win keeps Mutiny in the thick of the 16U Girls group standings.
17U Boys
In its second tight, momentum-swinging game of the week, 7 Elite Academy 01 South (UT) picked up a 3-2 win against Mainland United South Jersey Futbol Club (NJ). Elite Academy went ahead in the 13th minute on a Kirk Brown goal, and Ben Simister doubled the advantage early in the second half. The New Jersey side fought back, beginning with a strike from Hunter Paone in the 70th minute. Julian Cruz quickly followed that up with a goal of his own to pull Mainland level. It appeared the teams were heading for a draw, but Simister netted a game-winner in the 89th minute to give the Utah side the 3-2 victory.
17U Girls
Rage United Comets (PA-E) took a 2-1 victory over Broomfield Blast SC Magista (CO). All three goals were packed into the last five minutes of the first half. Rage United’s Ella Hart scored first, but Broomfield’s Keigan Rand responded immediately with a goal. Rage United continued the back-and-forth scoring as a corner kick found Ella Hart at the back post for her to thigh trap and volley the ball into the net. Broomfield pushed hard in the second half, and one of its final chances involved a 1-v-1 play with Rage United’s keeper. The initial shot as well as two follow-up shots were blocked by the keeper and other defenders, who dropped back in time, so Rage United safely walked away with the win.
18U Boys
A fast start fueled Iowa Rush (IA) to a big win over Tampa Dynamo Red (FL) to keep the Iowa side firmly atop the standings. Nicholas Ashton put Rush in front in the first minute when he gained control of the ball before darting into the box, opening up his body and sliding home a right-footed shot. Iowa doubled its lead shortly after, as Riley Wood rose up to head a corner kick inside the back post. Tampa keeper Christopher Quijanos made some acrobatic saves to keep the score close, but Jaeger Erickson received a diagonal ball in the 21st minute and placed his shot around Quijanos to push the Iowa advantage to 3-0. Cole Vincent added two more for Iowa before halftime to put his side in control. Rush increased its lead with strikes from Kolby Raineri and William Overberg before Ricardo Melendez found the back of the net for Tampa. Ben Frazee capped the Iowa scoring, while Brad Gutierrez added another for Tampa as Rush came away with its second dominant win of the week.
18U Girls
Sting Timbers 00/01 (ID) pulled a late 2-1 win against Vereinigung Erzgebirge – VE United (PA-E). Sting scored first with a goal from Megan Drake in the 10th minute. Late in the first half, the ball slipped through the Sting defenders and VE United’s Olivia Miller outran them to place the ball past the goalkeeper as she came off her line. In the second half, the ball came close to crossing the goal line on both ends. Sting’s Madyson Smith continuously beat the defenders down the right flank to serve the ball in dangerous areas, but a goal did not occur from her plays until she drove a shot at the net and was brought down in the 18-yard box. Chloe Teets stepped up to the spot to finish the penalty kick, giving Sting the win.
To view all of Friday's results, check out the schedule, standings and scores website.
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.
Note: The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is a separate series of events from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.