Legends FC claims record three National League titles

• by Soccer America , Mar 26, 2012

[U.S. YOUTH SOCCER] Legends FC of Southern California finished the U.S. Youth Soccer National League season in unprecedented fashion, as Legends girls teams won division titles in the U-15, U-16 and U-17 championships. In addition, Legends Breakaway captured its U-17 division. The eight division champs move on to the 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships.

In the five-year history of the National League, only one club had won more than one National League title in the same season.  The Dallas Texans have won multiple league titles in the same year three different times, but only once did they win more than one in the same gender. They won the U-16 and U-17 girls in 2008-09.

Legends FC's U-16s were the second team from the club to clinch a title, and the first on the final day of play at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in Las Vegas, where the final weekend of the 2011-12 National League was held in conjunction with the Players Showcase. They were locked in a heated race with 2011 National Championships participant Match Fit Chelsea Beat that came down to the last game of the season.

“All seven games could have gone either way, every game was a battle,” said Legends FC coach John King. "In Atlanta, we came back from being down 2-0 to win in extra time 3-2, we won yesterday in the 80th minute, so there was never a game thinking we were going to win.  We were in a battle all seven games. Being able to put together seven games during the whole league is amazing.  This team is a bunch of warriors and I think it’s special because it’s not easy to put together seven games in this league.  So, for them to do this, and to finish on top, is amazing."

Legends Breakaway needed at least two wins and a draw in the final weekend to surpass Michigan FC, but it left no doubt by grabbing three wins, scoring 12 goals and giving up just one, en route to the Red title.  Breakaway clinched the division crown with a 5-1 victory over Players SC. Mexican youth international Tanya Samarzich, a USC commit, and Loyola Marymount-bound Nicolette Martino led Breakaway with two goals apiece.

2011-2012 National League Champions
U-15 Blue: Kings Soccer Academy (OH-S)
U-15 Red: Legends FC (CA-S)
U-16 Blue: Legends FC (CA-S)
U-16 Red: KCFC/Futura Academy (MO)
U-17 Blue: Legends FC (CA-S)
U-17 Red: Legends Breakaway (CA-S)
U-18 Blue: FC Pennsylvania Strikers (E-PA)
U-18 Red: Toro Bravo (NE)

Second Place Qualifiers for 2012-2013 National League Season
U-15 Blue: Match Fit Chelsea Colchesters (NJ)
U-15 Red: Eclipse Select (IL)
U-16 Blue: Match Fit Chelsea Beat (NJ)
U-16 Red: Internationals Red (OH-N)
U-17 Blue: VSA Heat Blue (VA)
U-17 Red: Michigan FC (MI)