U-14 Girls

The youngest age group at the National Championships entered play on day three with every team still in contention for the title game. Needing to do the most work to advance to the final, MSC Coyotes (MD) Julia Abbott put her team on the board with a goal in the 12^th minute against Ambassadors FC (OH-N). In the 62^nd minute, Clare Severe doubled the lead and Paula Germino-Watnick sealed the win in the 70^th. The three points put MSC and Ambassadors even on points, but Coyotes advanced on the head-to-head tie breaker.

TNFC (TN) entered Friday’s game needing only a tie to advance to the final, while Beach FC 97 (CA-S) needed a win to move on. Beach FC certainly played the more attacking role on the day, leaving four players up top towards the end of the game seeking a goal. That goal would never come, and TNFC advanced to the national final on the 0-0 draw.

U-15 Girls

Needing a win and some help to advance, MVLA Mercury Black (CA-N) did its part with a 3-2 win over CRUSA/FC Buck Fury (E-PA). Erica Higgs struck first for MVLA in just the 3^rd minute, but the lead didn’t last long as Fury leveled on a strike by Dakota Mills in the 15^th. Michelle Maemone put MVLA back on top in the 24^th. Coming out of halftime up 2-1, Marissa Hing added an insurance goal for MVLA in the 43nd minute. That goal proved vital as Fury’s Michaela Finneyfrock would find the net just four minutes later. MVLA secured the 3-2 win, but didn’t receive the help it needed to advance to the title game.

National League division champ Legends FC (CA-S) earned a 1-0 win over Internationals 96 Red (OH-N) today. Coming into Friday matches, either team could advance to the title game with a win, and Legends FC’s Angela Mitchell was the difference on the day, as her 56^th minute goal secured the victory. Legends FC will have two chances to raise a trophy, as the U-17 team also advanced to the final.

Fellow National League representative Kings Soccer Academy (OH-S) fell behind early to Sting 97 (N-TX) and needed late heroics to win and advance to Saturday. Kathleen Summers put Sting ahead in just the third minute of the game. That lead held until Lauren Nemeroff leveled for KSA in the 51^st minute. Desperate to net another, Nemeroff again proved dangerous down the wing, beating the keeper, but had her chance tackled away at the last second by a recovering Sting defender. That tackle fell directly to Bayley Feist who calmly knocked it in for KSA and sent her team to the championship game.

U-17 Girls

Team Chicago Academy Botafogo (IL) entered Friday’s game against Legends Breakaway (CA-S) with a chance to advance to the final with a win. Breakaway looked to spoil that chance with a Kylie Sincox (San Diego) goal in the 53^rd minute. Just five minutes Zoey Goralski (UCLA) leveled for Team Chicago. With less than five minutes to play, Breakaway Karsten Sigband lifted Breakaway to its first win of the week with a strike in the 86^th minute for the 2-1 victory.

VSA Heat Blue (VA) earned its third win in as many days with a 3-0 victory over CESA 94 Premier (SC). VSA started the scoring in the 51^st minute with a Caitlin Hite (East Carolina) goal. Vanessa Kovar (South Carolina) extended the lead in the 73^rd and Christina Corbin (Coastal Carolina) added another in stoppage time. Just as impressive as the eight goals VSA has scored this week; the squad has yet to concede a goal—recording three shutouts.

VSA’s opponent on Sunday will be Legends FC 94 (CA-S) who advanced thanks to a 0-0 draw with Central Valley Chilipeppers (CA-N). Needing a positive result to advance, Legends FC played a sound tactical game and accomplished what was needed to compete for the national title. The game Sunday will be a rematch of the 0-0 draw between VSA and Legends FC in the US Youth Soccer National League season.