PHOENIX, Ariz. (June 18, 2012) – The 2012 Region IV Championships, presented by the National Guard, kicked off today at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz. The National Guard's partnership with US Youth Soccer is focused on enriching the soccer experience by positively influencing players and coaches in areas of leadership and character development while adding a strong presence of American pride.

The top 246 US Youth Soccer boys and girls teams from the14 State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region IV compete for the regional title. States represented including host, Arizona, are Alaska, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Teams play a round robin schedule June 18-20, followed by a day of rest before qualifying teams advance to the quarterfinals on June 22. Semifinal will be played June 23, with champions crowned June 24.

Notes from a few of today’s games…

Under-15 Boys

Defending National Champion Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S) is back on the path for a repeat as they won their opening game 5-0 over Washington Premier FC 96 Black (WA).  Carlos Troncoso got the Far West Regional League champions on the board in just the 1^st minute to kick things off before Youth National Team member Amirgy Pineda got the first of his double in the 18^th.  Andres Lemus added a third in the 25^th, while Pineda made it 4-0 at the break and Ednnis Arriaga finished things off in the 70^th.

Rio Vista FC 97 just missed out on a quarterfinal spot last year, but they got off to a good start knocking off 2011 quarterfinalist Sparta 97 Premier PR (UT) 2-0 in U-15 Boys action.  Christopher Lavato struck for the eventual game winner in the 14^th minute and Nicolas Watson grabbed the insurance goal five minutes after the break to deliver the victory for Rio Vista.

Under-14 Girls

Legends FC (CA-S) and Orchard Valley Heat (CA-N) battled to a 1-1 draw to open their group play.  Orchard Valley took the lead just 12 minutes in from Miranda Jimenez, but Michelle Palfrey leveled in the 50^th as neither team could break through again and the two shared the points.

Northwest Nationals 97 Red (WA) jumped to the top of a tough group for the time being with a 2-0 victory over Coeur d’Alene Sting Gold (ID).  Madison Shultz gave Nationals the lead with her 24^th minute goal and Ashleigh Fonsen added an insurance goal in the 58^th for the win.

Under-13 Girls

Downtown LVSC 99 Gold (NV) took the early lead in the group by defeating Real Colorado 98/99 (CO) 1-0 to open play.  The Nevada state champs got the game winning goal from Arlie Jones in the 65^th minute and the defense did the rest to clinch the victory.

LaRoca Premier LH (UT) fought back from a second half deficit to defeat Rio Vista FC Prestige 99 (NM) 2-1 in the U-13 Girls.  Emily Avila put Prestige up early in the second half, but LaRoca equalized just three minutes later from Anne Bitner.  LaRoca struck for the winner before Prestige could regroup as Cassidy McCormick netted four minutes after Bitner to pull out a 2-1 win.

Under-14 Boys

Las Vegas Sports Academy (NV) used an opening minute goal to take down Juventus Heat (CA-N) 1-0 to open group play.  Mason Reid struck for LVSA for the game winner as neither team could break down the opposing defense again.

98 CCV Stars (AZ) upended the Colorado Rapids 2-0 for a strong opening to their Regional campaign.  After a scoreless first half, Dylan Brown put Stars in front with a 45^th minute goal before Juan Garnica Hernadez doubled the lead and ensured the victory with a strike in the 70^th for the Arizona state champs.

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 23-29, at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hills, S.C.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-17 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 60 teams. 

Daily reports and complete results from the tournament are available on http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org. Follow the moments from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on Twitterand share the moments with us on Facebook.

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