Before one of Friday’s games kicked off, someone from a team’s huddle could be heard proclaiming: 

“Leave it on the field…leave it all there! Let’s go!”

That’s exactly what these teams did on the fourth day of the US Youth Soccer National Championships, whether it was to save face or the title game appearance.

 

U15 Boys: Dix Hills Elite 1, Bethesda Lions 0

New York’s Dix Hills Elite U15 boys team punched their ticket to the national championship game following a 1-0 win against Maryland’s Bethesda Lions. 

The Lions had an ever-so-slight edge through the first half, taking calculated shots and often. There were several notable scoring attempts in the first part of the game, including the 24th minute by Collin Jouan. His shot was a dart from about 50 yards out but couldn’t get by Dix Hills’ Tyler Spellman. 

Bethesda had another attempt in the 28th minute by Francisco Contreras but Spellman thwarted the scoring attempt.

While the Lions took their shots, the Dix Hills defense never relented. Along with a sharp Spellman, defenders Noah Waxner, Casey Barone and Joseph Destephano all brought their defensive A-game. 

It was a second-half goal by Dix Hills’ Michael Sclafani that put the team over the top and into Saturday’s title game. 

The Lions had the edge in shots against Dix Hills (16-11) and shots on-goal (9-6), while the victors had more corners (5-2) and saves (9-5).

Dix Hills takes on Santa Barbara SC White, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Santa Barbara earned their way to the title game following a 2-1 win against Vardar 98 from Michigan.

 

U15 Girls: Ambassadors FC 3, Tampa Bay United 97 Premier 2

Keeping with the day’s trend of tight, well-matched games, the Ambassadors were able to squeeze out the win Friday to reach the national championship game.

Entering the second half tied 1-1, AFC took the lead in the 49th minute. An Ambassador player sent a cross into traffic in front of the goal. While the Tampa Bay keeper was attempting the save and clear, the ball got away from her and Sarah Krause was there to finish the ball into the net. 

That goal was Krause’s second of the day, making her the leading U15 girls scorer of the week with six goals.

Tampa had their chance to tie on a free kick in the 71st minute. The foul took place deep in AFC territory near the corner but a flubbed free kick threw that opportunity away. 

Ambassador FC took advantage seconds later when Gabrielle LoPresti sent a shot into the goal that looked more like a pass to a waiting teammate. Though stunned (much like everyone else), LoPresti put AFC up 3-1.

Tampa Bay closed the gap by a goal in the 80th minute when Elaina Laxer put up the team’s second goal. But the third goal never came to fruition and AFC moved on to Saturday.

Ambassador FC will face a 2-0-1 Eclipse Elite Black 97-98 team from Illinois, Saturday at 7 p.m. Eclipse posted a huge 5-0 win against Boise Nationals Italia from Idaho on Friday.

 

U16 Boys: Smithtown Arsenal 1, Fullerton Rangers 96 White 0

In a very physical game from kickoff to final whistle, Smithtown Arsenal pulled off the upset by taking down two-time champion and three-peat hopeful Fullerton.

Fullerton started its attack early in the game. George Castro took a shot at the goal in the sixth minute but Smithtown goalkeeper Noah Varonier spoiled that effort.

It was Christopher Hettler who scored the lone goal of the game and the game-winner in the 18th minute. Steven Braccioforte took a free kick from the left side of the field deep in Fullerton territory to find Hettler to finish for the goal.

Fullerton took their attempts throughout the rest of the half. In the 28th minute, Ronaldo Pineda sprinted with the ball into the box and took what he thought was a scoring option. But Varonier was there to make the save and preserve the Arsenal’s lead. 

The Rangers attempt to get on the board continued into the second half. They missed an opportunity with a free kick into the middle that Ricardo Ruiz sent sailing over the goal.

Again in the 77th, Fullerton’s Amirgy Pineda made an attempt at the goal that looked to all like it was heading in, sailing over the Arsenal goalkeeper but ricocheted off the crossbar.

The Rangers continued their attempts to make it to the championship game but to no avail. They took 10 shots during the game, compared to Smithtown’s three.

Smithtown turns its focus to GSA Phoenix 97 Red for the title on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. GSA made the finals with a 2-0 win against Concorde Fire Elite.

 

U16 Girls: DMCV Sharks Elite 1, Legends FC 0

The DMCV Sharks will be heading to the national championship game after scratching out a 1-0 against Legends FC out of California.

Both of these teams had quick forwards that took turns at making threats on the goal. For the Legends, it was Madison Stark, who took good looks at the goal in the sixth and 22nd minutes.

For the Sharks, Crystal Cardova kept penetrating Legends territory but not quite finding the looks at the goal.

The game finally broke open for DMCV midway through the second half, when Hannah Keogh scored the game-winning goal.

Legends led the game with 12 shots to DMCV’s nine, though the Sharks had the edge in shots on-goal with five to Legends' three.

Kings Hammer Academy from Ohio is the Sharks’ next and final opponent of the week. Kings come into the title game after a tie against 97 Louisiana Fire Navy.

 

U17 Boys Championship: CUP Gold 95/96 Boys vs. West Coast FC

CUP Gold took at 2-0 win against SC Waukesha to move to 2-1 on the week. Scoring the two goals were Josh McDaniel (13’) and Jacob Scheper (65’). 

West Coast FC squeezed their way into the championship game after a 1-0 win against PDA McGeough and one more goal-for in the standings compared to OBGC Rangers. West Coast’s goal against PDA was scored by Nicolo D’Amato in the 73^rd minute.