2014 US Youth Soccer National Champions crowned in Germantown, Md.
This has certainly been a summer of soccer with the World Cup, recent sell out of international friendly, and US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup. The U.S. National team competed to much excitement into the Final 16 of the World Cup. The recent international friendly between Manchester United and Real Madrid in Michigan Stadium sold out to one of the largest crowds to fill a stadium in the United States. Yet, this soccer craze is nothing new for our U.S. Youth Soccer members. This year’s U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships recently culminated in Germantown, MD. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the games were broadcast live and streamed online. The National Guard presented the National Champions this past Sunday July 27. Watch highlights from the championships here.
The U.S. Soccer Federation initiated this national championship series for all qualifying U.S. Youth Soccer members. Opening in 1974, the U-19 Boys division was awarded the oldest trophy in youth sports since 1935: the James P McGuire Cup. Since its creation, the tournament has added 13 divisions, the U-12 Boys and Girls divisions being added just last year. The tournament consists of U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups, as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups. A total of 96 teams compete to be recognized as the best youth soccer teams in the United States. Throughout the year, 185,000 players on 10,000 teams from 55 State Associations showcase their soccer skills, teamwork, and discipline. Each year, this championship series provides the nation’s top collegiate and professional coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.
Under-14 Girls | NEFC Elite (MA) Under-14 Boys | United FA 00 Elite (GA)
Under-15 Girls | Jacksonville FC 98/99 Elite (FL) Under-15 Boys | Pateadores San Diego (CA-S)
Under-16 Girls | Beach FC 97 Academy (CA-S) Under-16 Boys | Baltimore Celtic 97/98 (MD)
Under-17 Girls | DMCV Sharks Elite (CA-S) Under-17 Boys | Manhattan SC PSG 96 (NY-E)
Under-18 Girls | Beach FC Ingrassia (CA-S) Under-18 Boys | Santa Barbara FC White (CA-S)
Again with California-South making a strong showing with five titled divisions, teams from New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Georgia and Florida also earned National Champion titles this year. Beach FC (CA-S) was the only club to claim two National Championship titles (Under-16 Girls and Under-18 Girls), and the DMCV Sharks Elite (CA-S) successfully defended their National Champion crown two years running.
