Under-14 Boys: NJSA 04 Gunners (NJ)
Under-14 Girls: San Juan Spirits (CA-N)
Under-15 Boys: Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD)
Under-15 Girls: Dallas Texans 93 Red Dallas (N-TX)

Under-15 Bays win second consecutive national crown
Under-15 Bays and Texas first to win "the double" as cup and league champions

Under-16, 17, 18 and 19 champions to be determined tomorrow

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (July 26, 2008) – Four of the 12 2008 US Youth Soccer National Champions were crowned today at Burns Park Soccer Complex where the top teams in the country met to conclude the final leg of the 2008 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. This weekend's championship finals match-ups were determined after three rounds of preliminary play, earlier this week.

Tonight the spotlight was on the Under-14 and Under-15 age groups, who were greeted to another night of great crowds.  Over 3,000 were estimated in attendance and only added to the energy that was in the air and on display. 

NJSA 04 Gunners (NJ) was the first to be crowned tonight as the New Jersey boys clashed with their Southern California counterparts, Arsenal FC.  A possession battle endured throughout the match as neither side appeared breakable.  As time neared expiration, a Mael Corboz direct kick in the 70^th was the difference maker as Corboz struck a perfect strike to beat the keeper to the near post.  Arsenal would also be awarded a direct kick in stoppage time but the Gunners defense would hold.  It's been 20 years (1988 Union Lancers - Under-19 Boys, New Jersey) since a New Jersey boys team has won a national championship.

After the win Corboz was already thinking about next year, "This feels great, when I scored it was like a dream.  Everyone was going crazy.  We are finally, actually No. 1 in the country.  Now we have to defend our title."

Former national and professional standout, Tab Ramos, has reminded his side several times this week to enjoy the moment, "I played in three World Cups and in the Olympic Games and I never got a chance to come to the [US Youth Soccer] National Championships.  Here they [the team] are and this is their day.  You may never come back to this day so enjoy it."

Ramos felt the Gunners were a team of destiny, "There came a point in the second half and I thought this is destiny.  It was two excellent teams. We played a great opponent; the game could have gone either way.  I had a feeling that if it could go either way, it would go our way."

Play was even early on in the Under-14 Girls National Championship between San Juan Spirits 94 Blue (CA-N) and FC Stars of Massachusetts.  San Juan was awarded a free kick where an airborne Kyla Booker flipped the ball into the back of the net in the 18th to give San Juan the 1:0 lead. 

San Juan coach Peter Prieto said, "It (National Championship) is the icing on the cake. They have a foundation. They have worked so hard. It goes to them and shows them with hard work what can be accomplished. It is like a building block. It was an amazing run, but it proves to them what can be accomplished with hard work. We will use this as the goal now, to get back here. This is will now be the goal. Why we are training hard, to come back here. Prior to here we had that as a carrot at the end of the stick. Now we have it. It will now be our focus in training and in preparation to make it back here and defend."

Looking to add insurance, a free kick would again be the source, now from the right side where Alyssa Jara found the ball and fired.  The Stars keeper made a play but could only deflect where Jara collected and scored in the 26th.

"We are so overwhelmed. Our whole team has been dreaming to be here since we have gone through state champions, regional champions and now we are national champions. It is our first time here and it is just so amazing. Our team couldn't breathe. We went down on the ground after the final whistle," said Alyssa Jara, San Juan Spirits Blue.

Defending national champion, Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD) entered the Under-15 Boys National Championship against a familiar foe in Solar Red (N-TX).  Both teams qualified for the national tournament via the US Youth Soccer National League, established in 2007.  In their league game the Bays outlasted Solar 3:2.  Tonight the stakes were at their highest as the Bays were looking to defend their crown and Solar was looking to be national champions.

Four minutes in, the Bays made the most of a deflected shot when Julian Griggs, who leads all scorers in the division, collected and scored in the 4th.  A battle for possession would ensue as Solar continued to search for the equalizer. Halftime would come with the score still at 1-0, but once again the Bays would jump out of the restart to take a two goal lead.  This time Mamadou Kansaye would hit a bomb out of midfield, that the Solar keeper could only put fingertips to as the shot sailed into the upper corner in the 45th. 

Down two, Solar was too close to give up on the game, and they responded within five minutes of the Bays second goal.  An in-swinging corner kick was redirected by Daniel Forry (59:00) at the near post, and the Bays cushion was gone.  The reply wasn't enough as the Bays successfully added defending national champion to their resume. 

The Bays also won the National League and Region I Championship, despite the fact that they qualified for nationals via the league championship.  "We wanted to win regionals because we wanted to send a message," said Steve Nichols, head coach of the Bays.  "We didn't just want to back in through the National League. We went in with the attitude of 'we feel like we're the best team in the country out to win regionals, and we did it with class."

The Bays are also looking ahead, as the team could have several more chances to win the national title.  "This is just the beginning for us," said Nichols.  "It is only their second year here and they are two for two. We've got 16, 17, 18 and 19 left. They can go down in history for being one of the greatest teams ever in the country."

One of the most successful clubs in the country, Dallas Texans has three teams in the national finals.  Tonight, the Dallas Texans 93 Red Dallas (N-TX) took on So Cal Blues – Dodge (CA-S) who, like the Under-15 Boys game, also met earlier in the year via the National League where Dallas edged So Cal 1:0.

So Cal was on the attack early and often but couldn't avoid the post.  Kaylie Davidson beat Rosa Medina on a strike from 35 yards out but the ball hit the crossbar above Medina's reach.  Haley Rosen drove a header off a corner that also found the crossbar.  Both balls were past the Texan defense but struck iron and kept the Blues off the scoreboard in the first. 

The third time was the charm in the 39th when Emily Goldstein scored to give her Blues the 1:0 advantage.  During the half, Shawn Cantrell motivated the Texans and the talk paid dividends early. 

"We just didn't play well; we haven't played like that all year," said Cantrell, head coach for the Texans.  "It was kind of the tale of two halves. I think that they dominated us; I mean it could have been four to nothing. We got a little bit fortunate, and then in the second half, I challenged them and their character at halftime."

Catherine Meyer hit the equalizer for the inspired Texans in the 59th.  The game winner would come from Clarissa Wedemeyer, who leads all scorers in the division, who scored in the 63rd to net her fifth goal of the week.  The game would end this July just as it did in April's league meeting with the Texans by one.

"Every game is a grind and every team is very special in the National League," said Cantrell.  "I thought the league prepared us.  Today they (So Cal) were unbelievable in the first half and we just had nothing.  We were fortunate enough to get the victory but it could have gone either way."

Today offered redemption for the Texans and Clarissa Wedemeyer, "We lost in regionals last year and this whole year we have been working to make up for that.  We've been thinking about that all year.  We went through the National League undefeated, we got here and went undefeated and I scored a goal in every game."

The Dallas Texans 93 Red Dallas (N-TX) and Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD) are the first two teams to win "the double" as US Youth Soccer National Champions and US Youth Soccer National League Champions.  Tomorrow night the Texans will send their Under-16 Boys, who won the league title, to seek the same accomplishment against Real So Cal Blues (CA-S) at 10:15 a.m.

Under-14 Boys
Arsenal FC v NJSA 04 Gunners, 0:1
Goal Scorers: NJS - Mael Corboz (68:00)

Under-14 Girls
FC Stars of Massachusetts v San Juan Spirits 94 Blue, 0:2 
Goal Scorers: SAN - Alyssa Jara (26:00), SAN - Kyla Booker (18:00)

Under-15 Boys
Baltimore Casa Mia Bays 93 v Solar Red, 2:1
Goal Scorers: SOL - Daniel Forry (59:00), BAL - Mamadou Kansaye (45:00), BAL - Julian Griggs (4:00)

Under-15 Girls
So Cal Blues-Dodge v Dallas Texans 93 Red Dallas, 1:2
Goal Scorers: DTX - Clarissa Wedemeyer (63:00),
DTX - Catherine Meyer (59:00), SOC - Emily Goldstein (39:00)

For complete statistics please go to http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org.  

Tomorrow the Under-16, 17, 18 and 19 championship matches will take place at Burns Park Soccer Complex with games scheduled from 7:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Schedule | US Youth Soccer National Championship Finals
Sunday, July 27
7:30 a.m.    Field 1        Under-18 Boys Andromeda 90 (NTX) vs. Shattuck-St. Mary's (MN)
7:45 a.m.    Field 2        Under-18 Girls Colorado Rush Nike (CO) vs. Sting 90 (NTX)
8:00 a.m.    Field 3        Under-17 Boys Everest SC (OH-N) vs. Andromeda 91 (N-TX)
8:15 a.m.    Field 4        Under-17 Girls Dallas Texans 91 Red (N-TX) vs. Eclipse Select (IL)
10:00 a.m.  Field 1        Under-16 Girls Eclipse Select (IL) vs. Dallas Texans Red (NTX)
10:15 a.m.  Field 2        Under-16 Boys Dallas Texans 92 Red vs. Real So Cal Blue (CA-S)
10:30 a.m.  Field 3        Under-19 Girls Slammers FC (CA-S) vs. Force Football Club (MI)
10:45 a.m.  Field 4        Under-19 Boys KC Wizards Jrs. (MI) vs. Solar 89 (NTX)

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

The 2008 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 Saturday, August 9, 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 1 p.m. ET. The two-hour show will highlight the national championships providing feature stories, interviews, game highlights and much, much more.

2008 US Youth Soccer National Championship Final Results
Day 4 Results – Championship Matches

Under-14 Boys
William J. "Billy" Goaziou Cup
NJSA 04 Gunners (NJ)

Under-14 Girls
Elmer Ehlers Cup
San Juan Spirits 94 Blue (CA-N)

Under-15 Boys
adidas Cup
Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD)

Under-15 Girls
Kristine Lilly Cup
Dallas Texans 93 Red (NTX)


adidas Golden Glove and Golden Boot
Under-14 Boys
Golden Glove – Thomas Hand, NJSA 04 Gunners, New Jersey
Golden Boot – Mael Corboz, NJSA 04 Gunners, New Jersey

Under-14 Girls
Golden Glove – Katelyn Rowland, San Juan Spirit, California-North
Golden Boot – Alyssa Jara, San Juan Spirit, California-North

Under-15 Boys
Golden Glove- Timothy Peitsch, Baltimore Casa Mia Bays, Maryland
Golden Boot – Julian Griggs, Baltimore Casa Mia Bays, Maryland

Under-15 Girls
Golden Glove - Rosa Medina, Dallas Texans 93 Red Dallas, North Texas
Golden Boot – Clarissa Wedemeyer, Dallas Texans 93 Red Dallas, North Texas

US Youth Soccer Fair Play Award Winners
Under-14 Girls – D'Feeters 94, North Texas
Under-14 Boys – NJSA 04 Gunners, New Jersey
Under-15 Girls – Scorpions Elite, Massachusetts
Under-15 Boys – Valley United Blast, California-South

The 2008 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.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions for boys and girls teams in multiple age groups as teams earn their way from the top team in their state to the regional championship tournaments. State Cup champions and selected wildcard teams in most age groups are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the under-14 through under-19 age group from each regional event converge to enjoy the nation's top competition.

The James P. McGuire Cup is the oldest trophy in youth sport dating back to 1935 with the inaugural youth championships. The under-19 boys age group as the National Champion will hoist the McGuire Cup. This is the 73rd anniversary of the storied cup.

Annually the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. In 2008, over 600 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships including the majority of the top 25 men's and women's programs based on the final 2008 NSCAA/adidas National Rankings for NCAA Division I schools.

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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)
The Game for ALL Kids!^® is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

About the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships.  These champions and selected wildcard teams through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-14 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.  Adding to the excitement in 2008, the national championships will feature two teams from the newly formed US Youth Soccer National League in the U-15 and U-16 age groups.  Overall the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. 

Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never as USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.