Cal South clubs win four @USYouthSoccer national titles

By Mike Woitalla

South California clubs won a pair of US Youth Soccer national titles last weekend in both boys and girls competitions, including FC Golden State’s liftingof the McGuire Cup, the U-19 boys competition that is the nation’s oldest youth trophy, dating back to 1935.

At national championships in Frisco, Texas, FC Golden State, winners of the2015 U-18 national title, beat FC Florida Elite in the McGuire Cup final, 3-1. Pedro Fonseca scored twice and Maicon Abreu added Golden State’s third goalbefore halftime. John Schroeder scored FC Florida’s consolation goal 15 minutes before the final whistle. The last Southern Californian club to win the McGuire club was NomadsSC in 1999.

“You never really think it’s going to happen,”FC Golden State coach Robert Friedland said. “So when you actually come to realization and know the boys have worked two years in a row and done what they’ve done, therecan’t be a better feeling.”

In an all-Southern California U-18 boys final, Santa Barbara SC White, coached by Rudy Ybarra, prevailed ina penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 tie with FC Golden State to win its third national title after lifting the U-15 crown in 2013 and the U-14 title in 2013.

Santa Barbara joins four otherthree-time winners: Dallas Texans Red 88 (TX-N), Central Valley Mercury (CA-N), Arsenal FC (CA-S) and So Cal United (CA-S). Santa Barbara goalkeeper Edward Delgado, a 2012 Golden Ballwinner, saved two spot kicks in the shootout win over Golden State.

“We are a small community and don’t have millions to choose from like the metropolitan areas,” said Ybarra. “So playerdevelopment and setting foundations is very important for us. Coaches don’t develop players. We set the foundation and they develop themselves through the love of the game.”

FiveSouthern California teams reached girls finals, with So Cal Blues winning the U-19 title and Carlsbad Elite prevailing at U-16s.

Virginia clubs reached three boys finals and two girls finals,with Loudoun Red and and McLean Green winning boys U-16 and U-15 titles, respectively. Michigan also claimed two titles, clubs Midwest United winning the girls U-15 crown and PSG Gators Orange, U-13winners in 2015, taking the girls U-14 title.

Tennessee SC 16, a runner-up at U-14s in 2012, defeated Carlsbad Elite, 3-0, in the U-18 girls final to bring the state of Tennessee its firstnational championship.

2016 US Youth Soccer National Finals
U-19 Boys
FC Golden State 3 (PedroFonseca 2, Maicon Abreu) FC Florida Elite 1 (John Schroeder)
U-18 Boys
Santa Barbara SC White 1 (Julian Arauo) FCGolden State Platinum 1 (Eduardo Sanchez) (4-3, PKs)
U-17 Boys
Pipeline (MD) Black 2 (Benjamin Alexander, 2) Loudoun (VA) Red1 (Ermin Karic)
U-16 Boys
Loudoun (VA) Red 1 (Evans Moyo) Dix Hills (NY-E) Hurricanes 0
U-15Boys
McLean (VA) Green 1 (Daniel-Diaz Bonilla) CFA (IL) Raiders 1 (Fernando Barragan) (7-6, PKs)
U-14 Boys
Valparaiso United (AZ) FC JG 2 (Paul Gindiri, Denis Conteh) Baltimore Derby 0
U-13 Boys
CASL (NC) Academy Juniors2 (Jason Smith, Adam Armour) Strikers (CA-S) FC Chingirian 1 (Reagan Wortmann)

Under-19 Girls
So Cal Blues Dodge5 (Karina Rodriguez, Marissa Everett, Nicole Rosen, Hannah Stammer, Anika Rodriguez) McLean (VA) Green 0
Under-18 Girls
Tennessee SC 3 (Juliette Garst, Callie McKinney, Mackenzie Firek) Carlsbad (CA-S) Elite 0
Under-17 Girls
YMS Premier (PA-E)Xplosion 3 (Maddie Elwell, Murphy Agnew 2) Beach FC (CA-S) Academy 2 (Whitney Davis, Myah Baksh)
Under-16 Girls
Carlsbad (CA-S)Elite 1 (Jessica Wright) La Roca (UT) Premier 0
Under-15 Girls
Midwest United (MI) FC Royal 1 (Stephanie Currie)CUP (OH-S) Gold 0
Under-14 Girls
PSG (MI) Gators Orange 1 (Emily Mathews) BRYC (VA) Elite 0
Under-13 Girls
Solar Chelsea (TX-N) Red 3 (Trinity Byars 2, Quinn Cornog) So Cal Blues Baker 1 (Reilyn Turner)