Champions Crowned at 2007 US Youth Soccer National Championships

Under-19 Boys: Dallas Texans 88 Red become third boys’ team to with three consecutive titles (2005, 2006, 2007)
Under-17 Boys: Andromeda 90 (N-TX) wins in PKs (4-2)
Under-15 Boys: Michigan Wolves
Under-19 Girls: Carmel United Cyclones (IN)
Under-17 Girls: Eagles SC (CA-S) earn second national title (2004 Under-14)
Under-15 Girls: So Cal Blues

FRISCO, Texas (July 29, 2007) – The remaining 2007 US Youth Soccer National Champions were crowned today at Pizza Hut Park where the top four teams in each age group in the country met to conclude the final leg of the 2007 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. After this week's three rounds of preliminary play, only the top two teams in the country remained today, Under-15, Under-17 and the Under-19 age groups, to play for their respective national title.

An estimated 10,000, were again in attendance today to see the nation’s finest play at one of the country’s top facilities. The event drew more than 40,000 in attendance for the week.

In addition to great fan support, the officiating of the tournament was highly praised.

“This is the first time, that I’m aware of, that not a single red card was warranted during any of the 84 games,” said Bob Wertz, US Youth Soccer Referee Chairman. “There were a number of factors including the cooperation of the players and selection process. It was a job well done.”

Just as the top teams earn their place at the national championships, so do the referees. Advancing from state and regional competitions, each region sends 12 referees to the tournament. These 48 represent the top youth referees of a pool of over 155,000.

On the level of officiating and the first event with no red cards in recent memory, Brian Hall, referee instructor from U.S. Soccer said, “This was a fantastic example of what a group of referees who come together and use personality to manage a game. It showed the quality of youth referees that we have today, in that they were able to manage the games without any violent tackles and deal with it in such a way that the games were entertaining for the players and spectators and safety for all was never in question.”

Hall was the first U.S.-born official ever selected to referee the FIFA World Cup and advanced to work the national championships as a youth. “It’s come full circle for me as I worked in this event. To be out here and help these young referees live there dreams like I was able to live mine is a great thing. It was a benefit. It was another stepping stone to my becoming a national then a professional referee and ultimately having the opportunity to referee in the World Cup. It is a dream to be selected amongst the top referees in the country and when you are selected it just give you that much more impetus to keep pushing yourself to excel in the future.”

Brief highlights of championship finals are below…

Under-15 Girls
PDA Fire (NJ) 1 vs. So Cal Blues (CA-S) 1 (3-5 PKS)
It would take more than overtime to determine the top Under-15 team in the nation. The only two goals of the match were courtesy of penalty kicks from Gillian Hogan in the 57th for the Blues and Kristen Niederhaus in the 66th for PDA. After the overtime period the So Cal Blues would take the title on kicks 3-5.

Blues player Christina Hart explained how the game played out, "The game was just great, those girls (PDA) are amazing, and it was a really good battle." At the end of the PKs, when the Blues realized that they had won the national championship, Hart said that she "had never felt any emotions quite so great." All of the girls fell to the ground in exhaustion and excitement of their win.

Blues coach Tad Bobak expressed his excitement about the national championships and what it is truly all about, "They learn to become better human beings, and this is the ultimate picture here in youth sports." The So Cal Blues were awarded four awards on the awards stage with the Kristine Lilly Cup, Fair Play Award and individual player honors for Kim Cushing winning the adidas Golden Glove and Gabriella Zarnegar winning the adidas Golden Boot.

Under-15 Boys
PDA Larsson (NJ) 0 vs. Michigan Wolves 92 Black (MI) 3
The Michigan Wolves 92 Black placed third in last year's US Youth Soccer National Championships. The experience proved very helpful and the team made it their goal to come back to nationals and have another run at the title.

"We picked a good day to play our best game," said Lars Richters, head coach for the Michigan Wolves. "Today was a really strong team performance. It was very much a team victory." This is the seventh national championship title for the relatively new Michigan Wolves/Hawks club.

Three different Wolves would score in the match, including Hassan "Soony" Saad, a member of the U.S. Soccer National Team, who earned the adidas Golden Boot as outstanding player for the tournament. "We used our previous experience to help us this year and win the whole thing. Maybe that was what gave us the edge today against PDA, was our experience here," Saad said.

"It is pretty crazy. I've been through a lot with this team and it is my first year and first time here" said Adam Grinwis, adidas Golden Glove award winner who shutout PDA. "This week was a lot more than my expectations. I didn't know the teams were going to be so great. We played our best and that's why we came out on top."

Under-17 Girls
Dallas Texans 90 Red (N-TX) 2 vs. Eagles SC (CA-S) 3
The 2004 national champion Eagles were looking to add another title while the Texans sought their first in today’s final. The Eagles would take flight early with a goal from Emily Cressy in the 15th. Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year, Melissa Henderson would score in the 33rd off a pass that was just behind her. Cressy would add a second in the 45th beating the Texan defense down the field and beating the keeper one-on-one.

Amanda Lisberger took at shot that Courtney Smith, Texan keeper, made a play on but Nicole Sweetman collected the rebound and scored in the 57th to give the Eagles to give the Eagles the 3-1 advantage.

It would be Henderson again for the Texans in the 59th on a shot that beat the keeper to the far right post to get the Texans within one at 3-2. The Eagles defense would hold and capture their second national title.

"This is the match we have been looking forward to since U14, the one we have trained for,” said Eagles coach Vince Thomas, "These are the two best teams in the country, and I can’t describe it.”

“I just wanted to win for the team. I didn’t really think about myself. I just wanted us to win as a team and be the number one team in the nation,” said Emily Cressy, who in addition to winning her second national title took home her second adidas Golden Boot award.

Under-17 Boys
FC Milwaukee (WI) 2 vs. Andromeda 90 (N-TX) 2 (2-4) PKS
The biggest crowd of the day gather to watch the Under-17 Boys final that featured returning national qualifier, FC Milwaukee and relative newcomer Andromeda from Texas.

Jochen Graf tipped in a ball that was delivered for Andromeda from the sixth yard line in the 59th and the goal would hold until Milwaukee’s Alexander Frenz scored in the 88th off a direct kick that was inches from the box. Frenz bent the ball around the wall and beat the keeper.

Ethan Finlay had a chance on a counter for Milwaukee but Andromeda was up to the challenge and stopped the play. There would be a number of chances during the final minutes of regulation but the match would need overtime to decide the champion.

Zachary Funk, who hit a post late in the second half, scored for Andromeda in the 92nd and the Texas-based crowd erupted as it looked like their side would hang on to the win.

With time winding down Ethan Finlay would have another chance and score in the 105th to tie the score for a second time. Penalty kicks would be needed to determine the winner of the Don Greer Cup. In kicks, Andromeda’s Mark Essary would come up big stopping two of the four shots on goal to take the win 4-2 in PKs.

“We knew it was going to be hard to beat that team twice,” said Oscar Borgarello, Andromeda coach. “They play very well as a unit and I thought the game was in hand and the game just went back and forth. To be here as a player (1986) and now as a coach and to win as a coach is amazing.”

Under-19 Girls
Carmel Cyclones (IN) 2, PWSI Cardinals (VA) 0
After a challenging week of play, the Carmel United Cyclones faced off against PWSI Cardinals to determine the title. They tied their first match after a contested ruling only for both to continue to this morning's final.

Carmel United Cyclones head coach Gene Lindley said, "Today's game was a hard fought effort from both teams. Both had quality teams and a bounce here and there is what it comes down to at this level. It feels fantastic. To represent our state and our club is an honor."

All of the Carmel United players play for Division I schools, including Indiana, UConn, Florida, Kansas and the Navel Academy just to name a few. They have made it to regionals for the past seven years, but this is their first opportunity at nationals. The past few years they have lost against the Eclipse, who went on to win Nationals.

"It is a dream that came though. It is something that we have been working for all these years. Since we were little we have been working towards this," said Jessica Boots of the Carmel United Cyclones and the adidas Golden Boot winner. "This didn't seem real at first. But after we got here we realized all that we had accomplished and all that we had left to accomplish. We got prepared and came mentally focused and were able to get the job done."

In today's game, Boots scored both goals for the win (12:00) (90:00).
Molly Casey, PWSI Cardinal's goalie and adidas Golden Glove winner, said, "I was looking at the history before we came here and usually it goes to the winning team so I wasn't expected it at all. It is a huge honor. I have great pride in my team for sticking it out and really trying hard."

Under-19 Boys
Chicago Magic (IL) vs. Dallas Texans Red 88 (N-TX) 1
The Dallas Texans and Chicago Magic have met on several occasions, last year it took PKs for the Texans to earn their second title. Today, the Magic were looking to knock the Texans off in their quest for a third straight national title.
The stakes couldn’t be higher as Under-19s, this would be the last match for the teams as youth players. To the winner would go the storied James P. McGuire Cup, established in 1935, the oldest youth sports trophy in the country.

Andre Akpan made it back from the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada just in time as his goal in the 62nd would be the difference maker for the Texans as they would again claim the national title for a third straight year.

"It just feels fantastic. I think winning their last game as a team was more important than winning their first one. This is a winning group of kids and for them to finish this way is fabulous. I told them to feel like they did before their first game three years ago and it should feel exactly the same today," said David Hudgell, Dallas Texans Red 88 head coach.

The Texans were very familiar with their opponent and we knew it was going to be a very difficult game today.

“We knew it was going to come down to a special situation and a special player scoring the winning goal and that's how it turned out. It was a tough game, the Magic are a very well organized, good team and whenever we play them we find it very hard to break them down. We had a few chances that we didn't make the most of and it seemed like ever loose ball in the first half dropped to them and before second half they had two very good chances. It was hard, but we found if we worked hard and made them chase it we could break them down and ultimately that's what happened.”

"It felt very heavy! Last year we saw the team (Javanon) that won the McGuire Cup after our presentation and the boys wanted that. We want to finish lifting that massive thing up and that's what they did," Hudgell said.

Andre Akpan said, "It feels amazing. It is something we have been working towards for the last couple years and it is great to finish out on top. We knew today would be tough, we haven't scored on them for a while. And last year we played them in the final and beat them in PKs. We couldn't score on them two days ago. We knew we had scoring chances against them; we just haven't been able to finish them. Finally today we were able to finish one."

"You play against the top level of competition each year at regionals and nationals. As you can see all the success that all of our players have had in college. A lot of these guys have been rookies of the year in their conferences. It has helped very much in the transition to college," said Akpan.

Complete tournament results, including video, stories and more are available at http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org.

The 2007 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing over 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer’s 55 state associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.

On Tuesday, August 7th, the US Youth Soccer National Championships Highlight Show, presented by adidas will air on the Fox Soccer Channel, US Youth Soccer's official television partner, at 8:00 PM ET. The two-hour show will highlight the national championships providing feature stories, interviews, game highlights and much, much more.

US Youth Soccer National Championship Final Results
Day 5 Results – Championship Matches
Under-15 Girls
PDA Fire (NJ) 1, So Cal Blues (CA-S) 1 (3-5 PKS)
Goal Scorers: PDA Fire- Kristen Niederhaus (66:00)
So Cal Blues- Gillian Hogan (57:00)

Under-15 Boys
PDA Larsson (NJ) 0, Michigan Wolves 92 Black (MI) 3
Goal Scorers: Michigan Wolves 92 Black- Hassan "Soony" Saad (35:00), Joshua Gait (43:00), Jordan Tyler (57:00)

Under-17 Girls
Dallas Texans 90 Red (TX-N) 2, Eagles (CA-S) 3
Goal Scorers: Dallas Texans 90 Red- Melissa Henderson (33:00) (59:00)
Eagles- Emily Cressy (15:00) (45:00), Nicole Sweetman (57:00)

Under-17 Boys
FC Milwaukee (WI) 2, Andromeda 90 (TX-N) 2 (2-4 PKS)
Goal Scorers: FC Milwaukee- Alexander Frenz (88:00), Ethan Finlay (105:00)
Andromeda 90- Jochen Graf (59:00), Zachary Funk (92:00)

Under-19 Girls
Carmel Cyclones (IN) 2, PWSI Cardinals (VA) 0
Goal Scorers: Carmel Cyclones- Jessica Boots (12:00) (90:00)

Under-19 Boys
Chicago Magic 87/88 (IL) 0, Dallas Texans Red 88 (TX-N) 1
Goal Scorers: Dallas Texans Red 88- Andre Akpan (62:00)

2007 US Youth Soccer National Champions
Under-14 Girls
Elmer Ehlers Cup
Sting Royal Dallas 93

Under-14 Boys
William J. "Billy" Goaziou Cup
Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD)

Under-15 Girls
Kristine Lilly Cup
So Cal Blues (CA-S)

Under-15 Boys
adidas Cup
Michigan Wolves 92 Black (MI)

Under-16 Girls
Patricia L. Masotto Cup
McLean Freedom (VA)

Under-16 Boys
D.J. Niotis
Real So Cal (CA-S)

Under-17 Girls
Laura Moynihan Cup
Eagles SC (CA-S)

Under-17 Boys
Don Greer Cup
Andromeda 90 (N-TX)

Under-18 Girls
Francis J. "Frank" Kelly Cup
Bloomfield Force (MI)

Under-18 Boys
Andy Stone Cup
Terryville Fire (E-NY)

Under-19 Girls
Ross Stewart Cup
Carmel United Cyclones (IN)

Under-19 Boys
James P. McGuire Cup
Dallas Texans 88 Red (N-TX)

adidas Golden Glove and Boot Winners (Most outstanding player and keeper)
Under-14 Girls
Glove- Nicole Cipriano (N-TX)
Boot- Jessica Howard (N-TX)

Under-14 Boys
Glove- Timothy Peitsch (MD)
Boot- Jonathan Guzman (MD)

Under-15 Girls
Golden Glove: Kim Cushing (CA-S)
Golden Boot: Gabriella Zarnegar (CA-S)

Under-15 Boys
Golden Glove: Adam Grinwis (MI)
Golden Boot: Hassan Sand (MI)

Under-16 Girls
Glove- Brittany Jagger (N-TX)
Boot- Jenna Richmond (VA)

Under-16 Boys
Glove- Rick Pflasterer (MI)
Boot- Evan Raynr (CA-S)

Under-17 Girls
Golden Glove: Courtney Smith (TX-N)
Golden Boot: Emily Cressy (CA-S)

Under-17 Boys
Golden Glove: Mark Essary (TX-N)
Golden Boot: Stewart Brown (TX-N)

Under-18 Girls
Glove- Jill Fliestra (MI)
Boot- Laura Heyboor (MI)

Under-18 Boys
Glove- Tom Booth (E-NY)
Boot- Gerson Mayen (CA-S)

Under-19 Girls
Golden Glove: Mary Casey (VA)
Golden Boot: Jessica Boots (IN)

Under-19 Boys
Golden Glove: Pat Rickman (IL)
Golden Boot: Andre Akpan (TX-N)

US Youth Soccer Fair Play Award Winners
Under-14 Girls – Slammers FC (CA-S)
Under-14 Boys – Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD)
Under-15 Girls - So Cal Blues (CA-S)
Under-15 Boys - Michigan Wolves 92 Black (MI)
Under-16 Girls – McLean Freedom (VA)
Under-16 Boys – Real So Cal (CA-S)
Under-17 Girls - Dallas Texans 90 Red (TX-N) and Eagles (CA-S)
Under-17 Boys - Real Colorado National (CO)
Under-18 Girls – Arsenal World Class (NJ)
Under-18 Boys – Terryville Fire (E-NY)
Under-19 Girls – Sereno White (AZ)
Under-19 Boys - Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD)