APPLETON, Wis.  –Semifinal games are complete at the 2011 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest Regional) Championships at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton and Southwest Park in De Pere. The field of 28 has now been reduced to 14 for tomorrow's regional championship finals.
 
All games are scheduled to be played at the USA Youth Sports Complex. Regional champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups earn a ticket to represent the Midwest at the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships this July, 26-31, in Phoenix, Ariz.
 
Windy conditions added another layer of challenge to the pressure, packed semifinals. Of the five defending regional champions played today, only the two boy's teams will advance to the championship finals. A quick look at how the defending champs, listed first, faired today…
 
Girls
Under-16 – JB Marine Wipke (MO) v Michigan Hawks, 1-5
Under-17 – NSA Premier Fury (IL) v Minnesota Thunder Academy 94 Blue, 0-2
Under-19 – Eclipse Select 91/92 (IL) v Mallorca (KS), 2-1 OT (PKs 2-3)
 
Boys
Under-14 Sockers FC (IL) v Vardar (MI), 0-0 (PKs 3-2)
Under-17 Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (MI) v Javanon 94 (KY), 2-1
 
Notes from a few of today's games…

Seeking their last round of play in the National Championship Series as Under-19s, the boys and girls semis were intense as teams realized their last opportunity.
 
"The girls have played since they were nine years old and it is fun to see them finish their run together," said Jeff Zupfer, head coach for Under-19 Girls Inferno (MN). "The last couple of years we feel like we've been a bit cheated in not making it out of our group and so today the girls feel a little justification. I think sometimes the kids take this for granted, the opportunity they have in this environment, I mean they've been state cup champs a number of years. Now coming back from college you see they appreciate it more and realize this is something really special and they are not taking this opportunity for granted." 

Inferno (MN) faced Toro Elite (NE) and a set piece would determine the winner in the 1-0 Inferno win. Catherine Sessions placed a ball at the top of the box and Caitlin Grabowski would net her third corner kick goal of the tournament in the 18th minute.
 
2009 National Champion and three-time regional champ, Eclipse Select played to a 2-2 draw at the end of overtime play against Under-19 Girls Mallorca (KS). Mallorca's tough defense didn't allow Eclipse many chances to break them down and the Kansas side countered well. In the shootout Mallorca would net three to the Eclipse two (3-2) and make their reservation for tomorrow's final.
 
Javanon forced overtime against KCFC Spartans in one of the Under-19 Boys semifinals. Down a goal with stoppage time remaining in regulation, Connor Brehm's header sent the game into overtime at 1-1. Javanon missed two great chances with five minutes left but failed to cash-in and the game went to a shootout where KCFC won 3-1 to face Chicago Fire Juniors who defeated Azzurri 402 (NE), 2-0 in the regional final.
 
Under-14 Girls Eclipse Select (IL) faced Vardar (MI) and in the last seven minutes of the first half Eclipse scored three goals in the 3-0 win. Karly Stuenkel started the offensive in the 28th minute and teammate Kayla McCoy added the third in the 35th minute.
 
Kings Soccer Academy (OH-S) struck first against Javanon (KY) with Maryellen Tully's goal in the 10th minute. Samantha Smith would draw the match even in the 35th but Meghan Martella was the difference maker breaking the draw in the 47th and adding another in the 56th minute for the 3-1 King win.
                                                                                                          
Michigan Hawks 95 (MI) knocked off the defending regional champs JB Marine Wipke (MO) 5-1 today. Tied at one goal each, Michelle Manning would score three unanswered to lead Michigan to a 4-1 lead. Madisson Lewis would add a fifth in the 67th minute.
 
Perennial semifinalist KCFC Force 94/95 (KS), who lost in the last two regional semifinals, found Ohio Premier (OH-S) as the last challenger for a place in the 2010 regional final. Ohio Premier hadn't allowed a goal and maintained that stat today, defeating KCFC 4-0. Lindsay Agnew scored a hat trick (20' 41' 62') and teammate Elise Jones added a late goal in the 78th minute for KCFC.    
 
A pair of US Youth Soccer National League teams met in one of the Under-16 Boys semifinals with Minnesota Thunder Academy 95 facing off against Lemont Raiders (IL). Lemont would answer the first three Minnesota goals within minutes and the game looked destined for overtime until Getenet Worku's 80th minute game winner for Minnesota. The goal was Worku's second of the match, fourth of the week.
 
Overtime was needed in the other Under-16 Boys semifinal between Springfield SC (MO) and CUP Crew Juniors (OH-S). Tied 1-1 after regulation, Jake Stovall was the hero for Crew with his 83rd minute goal that would be the difference maker in the 2-1 win.  
 
Pacesetter Premier (OH-N) sent eight boys teams (Under 11-18) to the Ohio North State Cup semifinals and after today's 2-1 win over Nebraska FC Veleno (NE), the Ohio boys are now headed to the Under-18 Boys regional championship. Tied at 1-1 after the half, Karter Sell hit the Pacesetter game winner in the 71st minute.   
 
Under-18 Boys Chicago Fire Juniors were down early to KCFC Rangers 92/93 (KS) after Zach Colby scored in the 27th minute. The Fire had several changes to draw the match even missing strikes outside the frame but KCFC held to claim a seat in the regional final, 1-0.  
 
Javanon 94 (KY) found themselves a man down after an early sendoff in the 20th minute against fellow US Youth Soccer National League qualifier Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (MI). Despite the advantage on the field, the defending champs were down 1-0 to Javanon after a Lindo Mfeka strike in the 46th minute. Grand Rapids would draw even on what was believed to be an own goal in the 50th minute and teammate Taylor Mazurek's goal in the 90th minute moved Crew one step closer to defending their title.
 
Lou Fusz Gold Popovic and St. Louis Scott Gallagher Gold, two Missouri teams, were tied at 1-1 through the first half. Lucas Hake's goal in the 68th minute secured the 2-1 Lou Fusz win and set the stage for an all National League final and repeat of the last year's Under-16 final where Grand Rapids knocked out Lou Fusz in a shootout. Fusz had success against the Crew in a National League match in November.
 
Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 26-31, at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz.  The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-17 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 60 teams.

Tuesday's Semifinal Results

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