(article courtesy of US Youth Soccer)

Semifinal schedule set at the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships

FRISCO, Texas (June 22, 2009) – Carriages have turned into pumpkins for another set of teams competing at the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Frisco. Only four teams remain in each age group as they prepare for tomorrow’s semifinal matches and their chance at the lucrative slot in the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Lancaster, Mass., July 21-26 at Citizens Bank Fields at Progin Park.

The final game to end was an all-out battle in the Under-15 Boys division between Solar Red 94 (N-TX) and NYSA Celtic Green (OK). Solar led 2-0 after goals by Ryan Condotta in the 9th minute and Eudy Dalton in the 32nd minute, but Celtic cut it to 2-1 when Jose Cardoza scored five minutes before the half. A 78th minute goal by Redford Jones forced overtime, after which the teams remained scoreless. In penalty kicks, Celtic prevailed 5-4 to advance to Tuesday’s semifinals.

Jonathan Bennett had a hat trick for CASL Elite (NC) in a 5-1 win in the Under-14 boys’ division over CESA 94 Premier (SC). Bennett scored in the 5th, 35th and 70th minutes for CASL, who also got goals from Evan deYcaza and Zane Laughery.

In Under-16 Boys action, Eclipse 91 Black (S-TX) and Dallas Texans 91 Red (N-TX) played 120 minutes of scoreless soccer before Eclipse emerged victorious by winning 4-3 on PKs. Gulf Coast United FC 91 (MS) took a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute thanks to Cameron Bosley but TSC Texans 90-91 (S-TX) drew things level when Lewis Robertson scored about a minute from full time. These teams remained tied and went to penalties, where Gulf Coast advanced 5-4.

An 11th minute tally by Clinton Turnipseed gave ESC 92 Black (OK) an early lead in their boys’ Under-17 game with Columbia United FC (SC), but United answered when AJ Rogers drew things level in the 43rd minute. At the end of regulation, this one remained tied 1-1, so it went to overtime. Seven minutes from the end of the second extra period, Andrew Hall scored for ESC and they held on for a 2-1 win.

Team Boca 92/93 (FL) defeated Eclipse 93 Black (S-TX) 2-1 in overtime in one Under-16 Girls quarterfinal. Boca took an early lead when Abby Carr scored 24 minutes in. Eclipse tied things up in the 72nd minute after the equalizer by Kaisa Marshall. Things remained tied until the 110th minute when Boca’s Ashley Oswald netted the eventual deciding goal.

The Under-17 Girls game between AFC Lightning 92 White (GA) and Dallas Texans 92 Red (N-TX) went to penalty kicks. Texans took an early lead when Alyssa Diggs scored 15 minutes in and increased that edge after a 23rd minute tally by Brittany Morgan. AFC drew one back when Erin Emerson scored in the 28th minute and pulled things level thanks to an Amanda McCalla goal in the 77th minute. After two 15-minute overtime periods, AFC prevailed on PKs 3-2.
More than 184 top boys and girls US Youth Soccer teams from 12 State Associations are competing for the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships.

Complete scores from today’s action are below.


Boys Home Visitor
Under-14 (FL) South Florida Elite FC 94 4 (TX-S) AHFC 95 Blue 2
Under-14 (SC) CESA 94 Premier 1 (NC) CASL Elite 5
Under-14 (TX-N) Dallas Texans 95 Red 5 (MS) Gulf Coast United FC Blue 0
Under-14 (GA) Atlanta Silverbacks Elite South 1 (GA) Concorde Fire South 95 3
Under-15 (TN) Clarksville SA KAOS Arsenal 0 (NC) SCSA 93 Gold 5
Under-15 (TX-N) Solar Red 94 2 (OK) NYSA Celtic Green 2
(NYSA Celtic Green advances on penalty kicks, 5-4)
Under-15 (GA) Concorde Fire Elite 2 (SC) CESA 93 Premier 0
Under-15 (OK) Tulsa Soccer Club 94 Black 2 (TN) Brentwood 94 Premier 0
Under-16 (FL) Florida Rush Nike 2 (GA) Ambush 93 Red 1
Under-16 (TX-S) Eclipse Premier 2 (TN) KFC 93 Crush Blue 0
Under-16 (TX-S) Dallas Texans 93 Red 3 (AL) HSC 93 Blue Strikers 0
Under-16 (LA) Lakeview Thunder 1 (SC) CESA 92 Premier 3
Under-17 (TX-S) Lonestar 92 B Red 2 (TN) FCA 92 Black 0
Under-17 (SC) Columbia United FC 1 (OK) ESC 92 Black 2
Overtime
Under-17 (OK) Celtic 92 1 (LA) LSC 92 Gamblers 2
Under-17 (NC) Triangle United 5 (FL) Brevard FC 0
Under-18 (TX-S) Eclipse 91 Black 0 (TX-N) Dallas Texans 91 Red 0
(Eclipse advances on penalty kicks, 4-3)
Under-18 (GA) 91 Norcross Fury Gold 2 (OK) NYSA Celtic Green 0
Under-18 (SC) DSC 90 Green 3 (OK) Tulsa TSC 91 1
Under-18 (MS) Gulf Coast United FC 91 1 (TX-S) TSC 91 Elite 1
(Gulf Coast United advances on penalty kicks, 5-4)
Girls Home Visitor
Under-14 (OK) Hurricane FC 95 Rhein 5 (TX-S) Challenge 95 1
Under-14 (NC) CASL Spartans Elite Black 1 (GA) Concorde Fire South 0
Under-14 (TN) Brentwood 95 Premier 1 (TX-N) D'Feeters 95 PL West 3
Under-14 (TX-N) Sting 95 3 (SC) CESA 94 Girls Premier 0
Under-15 (TX-N) Dallas Texans 94 Red 2 (SC) CESA 93 Premier 0
Under-15 (OK) North OKC NOKC 94 Red 1 (NC) CASL Spartan Elite Black 0
Under-15 (TX-S) Challenge 94 2 (GA) ASA Xtreme Elite 0
Under-15 (GA) NASA Elite II 1 (TN) BWSC 94 Premier 0
Under-16 (FL) Team Boca 92/93 2 (TX-S) Eclipse Soccer 93 Black 1
Overtime
Under-16 (FL) Ponte Vedra Storm 2 (TN) Brentwood 93 Premier 0
Under-16 (TX-N) Sting 93 3 (OK) Hurricane FC Shubert 93 0
Under-16 (GA) GSA Phoenix 93 Red 3 (GA) Concorde Fire Elite 2
Under-17 (NC) 91 Triangle FC Navy Girls 3 (OK) Hurricane FC 92 Shubert 2
Under-17 (TN) FC Alliance 92 Black 0 (GA) GSA Phoenix 92 Red 4
Under-17 (GA) AFC Lightning 92 White 2 (TX-N) Dallas Texans 92 Red 2
(AFC Lightning advances on penalty kicks, 3-2)
Under-17 (TX-N) Sting 92 4 (AR) ASC Cougars 0
Under-18 (OK) Edmond ESC 91 Black 4 (TN) Stones River FC 91 Premier 0
Under-18 (TX-S) Lonestars SC 91 Red 1 (NC) OCSA 90 Crew 0
Under-18 (TX-N) Sting 91 2 (FL) RSL Florida Elite 0
Under-18 (TX-N) Dallas Texans 91 Red 2 (AL) BUSA 91 Elite 0

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played in Lancaster, Mass., July 21-26, at Citizens Bank Field at Progin Park.

Of all US Youth Soccer National Championship trophies, the Under-19 Boys will play for the oldest and most coveted of all, the James P. McGuire Cup, which dates back to 1935. This year will mark the 74th anniversary of the storied cup.

Daily reports and complete results from the tournament will be available at http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/link.asp?l=6&mid=47592&lid=122645 Keep up to the minute with US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on Twitter.