Part 1 | Part 2 (Tomorrow)

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS – Five days this week will determine the outcome of this year’s U.S. Youth  Soccer National Championship Series here, and while the USSF Academy on the Boys’ side and the  Elite Clubs National League on the Girls’ side may call into question the specific future of this traditionally preeminent youth national title, there will be no mystery about the intensity with which 12 age group titles will be decided.

A look at the finalists (Boys today and Girls tomorrow) shows the usual cross-section of traditional club powers and upstarts vying for the titles. Following is a brief overview of the field. Remember the formats: For age groups U15 through U17, 2 groups of 3 (4 regional championship winners plus two qualifiers from the National League). Teams play each of the three teams in the other pod and the top two teams in the standings group then square off in the final. For age groups U14, U18 and U19, one group of four (regional championship winners only). Teams play a 3-match round robin and then the two teams with the most points play a title game.

U14 Boys: Dick McCormick’s Crossfire Premier team represents Washington state and the west, while Eclipse Select, perhaps more known for championship girls teams, has a powerhouse group that rolled through the Midwest Regionals. Lonestar SC of Austin, Texas has a team that is partly the product of a very ambitious Academy program at the club, and Eastern Pennsylvania club Lehigh Valley United rounds out the field.

U15 Boys: A couple of California teams, National League winners Albion White from the San Diego area and Northern Cal juggernaut Mt. Hamilton Tigres lead the field. A strong Baltimore Bays Chelsea team leads the challenge from the other coast.

Michigan club Vardar looks to duplicate the older age group’s Academy national title here, with lesser-known Lemont Raiders of Illinois and Region III championship Concorde Fire Elite of the Atlanta area completing the field.

U16 Boys: Half of the teams here are from our Great Lakes region, including National League winners Grand Rapids Crew, Columbus-area runners-up Blast SC and Region II reps Waza FC of Michigan.

Slammers FC represent Southern California, old-time club Philadelphia SC won Region I and MLS quasi-farm team RSL Florida rounds out the field.

U17 Boys: Georgia rivals Alpharetta Ambush and GSA Phoenix highlight this group, with a team from traditional heavyweights St. Louis Scott Gallagher also on hand.

Newish club Penn Fusion from the Philadelphia area, Orange County club West Coast FC and Long Island’s Hicksville Strikers round out the field.

U18 Boys: Minnesota academy Shattuck St. Marys will compete against Philadelphia area side YMS Xplosion, a team that has largely stuck together despite various pulls from Academy side, a similar scenario as North Carolina side Triangle United Gold. EastSide United  Liverpool is the Region IV Champion.

U19 Boys: Some old favorites return for this age group. Columbus Crew features college stars Andy Lubahn (Wake Forest) Chad Barson, Ben Speas, Zarek Valentin, Eric Stevenson (all of Akron) and UCLA’s Matt Wiet. Notre Dame and U20 MNT standout Dillon Powers leads Dallas-area side Andromeda SC. FC DELCO Hammerheads have been very successful at the club level, and Westside Metros International of Oregon and Region IV rounds out the field.

Tomorrow: Sting looks for double as Girls set to being at U.S. Youth Girls.