BOISE, Idaho, (June 25, 2011) – Teams have earned berths in the final matches at the 2011 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships in Boise, Idaho. The winners of tomorrow’s games in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups qualify for the US Youth Soccer National Championships July 26-31 at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz.

Six defending Region IV Champions have the opportunity to win back-to-back titles tomorrow, and one team has the chance to advance to the National Championships and capture back-to-back National Championships. Here’s how the defending champions looked in the semifinals…

2010 Region IV Champions
U-13 G *Arsenal FC (CA-S) v Santa Rosa United Freeze (CA-N)  3-2
U-16 G *Real Colorado National (CO) v Legends Breakaway (CA-S)  2-1
U-18 G *Real SoCal White (CA-S) v So Cal Blues Dodge (CA-S)  2-1
 
U-14 B *Cosmos Academy West (CA-S) v Real SoCal (CA-S)  3-0
U-16 B *Mt Hamilton PAC Tigres (CA-N) v Downtown Rapids 95 Gold (NV)  4-2
 
2010 Region IV and National Champion
U-19 B *EastSide United FC 91 Liverpool Red (OR) v Las Vegas Premier 92 (NV)  3-0

*Defending champion

A few highlights from today’s matches…

The Under-16 Boys featured one of the most competitive semifinals of the tournament with all three US Youth Soccer National League participants and the defending champion, Mt. Hamilton PAC Tigres (CA-N). Downtown Rapids Gold (NV) jumped out to a two goal lead on the champs with back-to-back goals from Saul Aguirre and Danny Ortiz in the 34th and 36th minutes, but Tigres pulled one back before halftime on a Josue Medoza strike. Medoza leveled the game in the 54th and five minutes later Tigres had the lead after Edwin Luna netted. With Rapids pressing for an equalizer, Luna put the game away with his second goal in stoppage time as Tigres move on to defend their title.

Eastside FC 94 Red (WA) and Albion SC White (CA-S) have a long rivalry that only grew stronger after they met in the other U-16 Boys semifinal. Eastside had knocked off Albion for the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional League title earlier this year, but Albion defeated Eastside on the final day of the National League season to earn an automatic berth to the National Championships. Today, it was Eastside’s turn again as they beat Albion on penalty kicks following a 1-1 regulation and overtime. Albion took the lead in the 9th minute from Ricardo Martinez, but Eastside immediately answered four minutes later through James Molyneux-Elliot. Neither team could break through over the next 82 minutes and Eastside prevailed in PKs. Eastside will face Tigres who eliminated them in 2010 in the semifinals.

Under-14 Girls Leahi 97 Premier (HI) lost the 2010 regional final on penalty kicks, and today they outlasted Crossfire Premier 96 (WA) to get back to the championship game. Leahi grabbed the lead in the 27th on a goal from Hiilanikuuhiwahiwa Thomas and that lead looked like it might hold until Keagan Bolibol leveld with six minutes to play for Crossfire to force the game into overtime. Eight minutes into the added period, Emma Young scored the game winner for Leahi as they held on to return to the regional final.

Arsenal FC (CA-S) and Real Colorado National 96/97 battled through regulation and two overtime periods without a goal as the other U-14 Girls semifinal had to be decided in penalties. Arsenal prevailed 4-2 after kicks from the mark to earn a trip to the final to face Leahi.

The 2010 Dallas Cup champion Fullerton Rangers 96 White (CA-S) will try to add a regional championship to their trophy case this year as they knocked off Las Vegas Premier White (NV) 7-1. Rangers were up 2-1 after the first half on goals from Ronaldo Pineda and George Castro before Omar Arellano grabed one back in stoppage time. But Rangers exploded for five second half goals, led by Dylan Smith’s hatrick while Bilal Abdallah and Andres Lemus finished the scoring. Rangers will meet defending champion, Cosmos Academy West, in the final.

Cosmos Acadmey West 96 (CA-S) defeated fellow Cal South squad Real So Cal 3-0 to earn their chance to repeat. Jesus Moreno put Cosmos ahead 1-0 at the break with an 11th minute strike and Caleb Calvert doubled the lead two minutes after the restart. Sebastian Velasco put the game out of reach for Real with a 58th minute goal as Cosmos will face Rangers in an all-Cal South final.
 
The door is open in the Under-17 Girls as both finalists from 2010 have been eliminated after Rio Vista FC 94 Eagles (NM) knocked off last year’s runner up, Legends FC (CA-S) 1-0 today. The other 2010 finalist, Colorado Rush, were upset in their state semifinal, and Rio Vista will battle with So Cal Blues – Dido (CA-S) to determine the new champion. The lone goal of the game came from Caitlin Mortensen in the 48th minute as Rio Vista frustrated Legends with a tight defense that allowed few offensive opportunities.

So Cal Blues – Dido went behind to Oregon Rush Nike in the 12th minute of their semifinal on a goal from Alexandria Carter, but the Blues battled back to even the score just before halftime on a Madison Krauser goal. In the second half, Danielle Spriggs led So Cal to victory with goals in the 47th and 59th to set up a rematch from group play in which So Cal beat Rio Vista 1-0.

Championship Matches

Complete scores from yesterday's action

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