The 2018 US Youth Soccer National Championships continued Wednesday, as teams competed in their second of three group stage games at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas. It was a must-win situation for many of the teams looking to advance to this weekend's games.

"We had our backs against the wall today," said 15U Girls CSA Impact United 03 Black (OH-N) head coach Marko Raduka. "We had to win this game to be able to survive and have a chance to move on. It was absolutely vital. The level of competition has been exciting for the entire group. This is their first experience here, and we know the best level of competition brings the best out of you, and our girls stepped up today. I’m proud of them and excited to see how we do tomorrow."
 
With the teams having completed their second games, the stage is set for crucial games on Thursday, as the 96 sides play their final group stage games to solidify the group standings. The top two teams in the 13U and 19U age groups will advance to the National Championship final on Saturday, while the top two teams in each group in 14U through 18U play advance to their respective semifinals.

Highlights from a few of Wednesday's matches…

13U Girls
San Diego Surf 05 Academy Select (CA-S) secured a place in the 13U Girls championship game with a 3-0 win over Pipeline SC Pre-Academy (MD). Maryn Wolf opened the scoring for San Diego in the 12th minute when she found the back of the net, and the Cal South side took that lead into halftime. Pipeline pushed for an equalizer, but San Diego countered with a pair of quick goals to open up a 3-0 lead. McKenna Gross finished a PK chance in the 47th minute, and Wolf followed just a minute later with her second goal of the game to put San Diego in full control. The Surf defense maintained a clean sheet through the final whistle to secure the 3-0 win and clinched a spot in the 13U Girls National Championship final.

14U Girls
Philadelphia SC Coppa Swarm 04 (PA-E) earned a 1-0 victory over CDA Premier 04 (KY) to remain undefeated and alone at the top of its group after two days of play. After a scoreless first half, Coppa Swarm’s Madison Crozier found the back of the net to put her team up, 1-0. The goal was Coppa Swarm’s first of the tournament and with some help from its defense, kept a second clean sheet and earned a massive three points. Coppa Swarm will face the Midwest Regional Champions, Liberty FC 1974 (IL), in its final group stage match. The winner of the match will book itself a spot in the 14U Girls semifinals.

15U Girls
Beach FC earned its second shutout of the event after defeating Keystone FC Premier 03 (PA-E), 4-0. Beach FC did well to maintain possession and create combination plays early on. The Cal South side gained the early lead as the ball worked its way from Beach’s defensive half and found Amelia Abusham for her to see the open space and put the right-footed shot on goal. In the 14th minute, Sydney Saypack ran onto a chipped through ball and slotted the ball on the ground into the far post corner. With the two early goals, Beach FC settled down and played the ball around. The team eventually increased its lead in the 64th minute as the ball was crossed in from the right flank and Amanda Scott was there to finish the goal. Saypack topped off the win with a goal by sticking with the ball, despite running into a few defenders, and put the ball in the back of the net.

16U Girls
Fullerton Rangers 02 White (CA-S) kept itself in the running for a semifinal berth after earning a 1-0 lead against USA 02 Premier (UT). After a loss in its opening game, Fullerton bounced back and took the lead in the first half when Mia Guererro found the back of the net. Guererro stole a back pass intended for the keeper, dribbled around the goalie and slotted her chance into the open net. Guererro’s goal ended up deciding the match, as the two sides played a scoreless second half. The win keeps Fullerton in the hunt for a spot in the semifinals as it sits tied with North United Rush (PA-W) with three points. Fullerton will face group leaders SJEB Rush 02 Academy Blue (NJ) in tomorrow’s game in what will most likely be a must win game for the Cal South side.

17U Girls
Premier Navy 2001 (MD) earned its second victory at Nationals with a 3-1 win over Pacesetter Villa Red (OH-N). Elyssa Nowowieski scored her second goal of the event to give Premier a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. Premier increased its lead when 2018 Eastern Regional top scorer Madison Carr scored with a header in the 35th minute of play. Premier’s two-goal lead was cut in half midway through the second half as Pacesetter’s Gabriella Pool swept in a shot that initially bounced off the crossbar for Pacesetter. Carr notched her second goal of the game in the 74th minute as she hit a beautiful shot to the back post to push the game to 3-1, and Premier held on for its second victory in two days. The win leaves Premier Navy on top of its group with one game remaining.

18U Girls
In the 18U Girls age group, Century V Gold (PA-W) and Princeton SA (NJ) ended in a 1-1 draw. The game went to halftime knotted at zero with neither team able to find the back of the net in the first half. Princeton took the lead in the 69th minute when forward Julianna Murrill found the back of the net. In stoppage time, forward Sarah Sinnott netted the equalizer for Century in the 93rd minute. 

19U Girls
In a back and forth 19U Girls game, NSA Shock (IL) defeated AFC Lightning 99 Elite (GA), 1-0. Both teams went back and forth early, but neither team was able to capitalize on early chances. The game went to halftime tied at zero a piece. In the second half the teams continued with the back and forth play as NSA was able to find the back of the net. Defender Mary Kate Hansen was able to find the back of the net in the 74th minute to give NSA the late lead. NSA held off AFC’s comeback attempt to earn its second win of the tournament.

13U Boys
After 70 minutes of soccer in the 13U Boys age group, Rise 05 Elite 1 (TX-S) and CDA Slammers FC HB 05 Elite (CA-S) ended in a draw. Rise got the early lead when Ari Reimers scored just five minutes into the game. Nine minutes later, Edvin Hasica scored to increase the lead to two. With three minutes left in the first half, Devin LaClair scored to cut CDA’s deficit to one. In the 42nd minute, LaClair netted the equalizer, his second goal of the game. Neither team was able to pull ahead as the game ended in a 2-2 draw.

14U Boys
Nationals Union 04 Black (MI) tied VHSC Steamers 04 Black (AL), 1-1, to keep the Michigan side with sole possession of first in the group. VHSC took the lead early when Kosi Udeh scored in just the 4th minute of play. Nationals Union battled back and leveled the score as Devin Hernandez found the back of the net late in the first half. Neither team could break the deadlock by the final whistle, as each side claimed a point heading into an all-important day three. With the group all within just a few points of each other, both games will have huge implications tomorrow in deciding who advances to the 14U Boys semifinals.

15U Boys
LVSA 03 Silver (NV) earned its second win of the tournament in the 15U Boys age group after defeating FC United 2003 Pre-Academy (IL). Alexis Bravo struck quick for LVSA with a goal in just the second minute of the game. LVSA extended its lead to two in the 17th minute with a goal from Abigay Gomez. After the first 40 minutes of play, LVSA was leading 2-0. FC United was unable to mount a comeback as LVSA held on to the 2-0 win.

16U Boys
02 NCFC Elite Boys (NC) won against St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC Elite (MO) in a hard fought 16U Boys matchup. Trenton Dietiker struck quick with a goal just three minutes in to give the lead to St. Louis. Nine minutes later Dietiker netted his second goal of the game, extending the lead to two. St. Louis took the 2-0 lead in to halftime. Three minutes into the second half, Devin Faison cut the deficit in half for NCFC. In the 80th minute Samuel Durand netted the equalizer for NCFC, and just seconds later, Joshua Bratager scored the go-ahead goal for NCFC to give them the 3-2 win.

17U Boys
Tampa Bay United (FL) secured its position in the 17U Boys semifinals after winning against McLean Green 01 (VA). The first goal came late in the first half from Tampa Bay’s John Casey in the 29th minute to give them the lead. Andres Ojeda extended that lead to two in the 40th minute. Tampa Bay took the 2-0 lead in to halftime. In the 53rd minute, the lead got extended to three with a goal from Joshua Colledge. Ojeda netted his second goal of the game in the 67th minute to give Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead. With three minutes left in the game Oswualdo Cruz scored to cut McLean’s deficit to three. Tampa Bay was able to hold off the comeback and win the game 4-1.

18U Boys
After a loss on day one of play, Davie United Sharks 2000 Blue (FL) bounced back to defeat Baltimore Bays 00 (MD), 4-1. Andoni Garrogericaechebarria scored the game’s first goal in just the 2nd minute of play to give Davie United a quick start. Benjamin Grossi doubled the advantage in the 16th minute, and Davie United went into halftime holding a 2-0 lead. Early in the second half, Bays’ Logan Peterson cut the advantage in half but Davie United’s Gustavo Curiel answered to keep the advantage at two. Garrogericaechebarria scored his second of the game late in the second half to push the score to 4-1.

19U Boys
FC Golden State White (CA-S) and FC United 1999 Select 1 (IL) played to a 1-1 draw on the second day of 19U Boys play. After a scoreless first half of play, Golden State opened the scoring thanks to a Jhonny Felipe Barbosa Pereira goal. FC United fought back and leveled the score in the 76th minute, earning a crucial point to keep itself in the running for a spot in Saturday’s final. FC United will need a win and will be hoping for a FC Golden State loss against undefeated group leaders Baltimore Celtic SC Christos (MD) as the Cal South side needs a tie or win tomorrow to clinch a spot in the final.

For complete statistics, including goal scorers, please visit the schedule, standings and scores website.

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