With the Region III Championships beginning Friday in the greater Dallas area, a host of teams from across the South will gather to contend for berths in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series, to be played in late July in Massachusetts.

At Region III, hot temperatures are guaranteed as squads are required to play six matches in six days in order to win, so fitness will be as important as the quality of soccer.

Following is a look at the fields for older girls’ age groups.

U16

Premier League East winners Team Boca will be strong in Group A, joined by Concorde Fire, Birmingham United and Arkansas Rush. In Group B, CASL Spartan Elite faces Eclipse Soccer (South Texas), GSA Phoenix and Hattiesburg Storm (Mississippi). Oklahoma champions Hurricane FC are matched with Ponte Vedra Storm (Florida), defending national champion Dallas Texans Red and Bridge FA in Group C. Group D includes Sting Dallas against Mandeville Lakers (Louisiana), Gulf Coast United (Mississippi) and Brentwood Premier (Tennessee).

U17

In Group A, North Carolina champions Triangle FC face South Texas champions Challenge SC, Mississippi Fire and GSA Phoenix (Georgia). Oklahoma winners Hurricane FC are drawn with FC Alliance (Tennessee), CESA Premier (South Carolina) and Lady Lobos (Tennessee) in Group B. In Group C, AFC Lightning of Georgia will face ASC Cougars (Arkansas), Baton Rouge Black and Birmingham United. Group D features another matchup between CASL Spartan Elite and defending national champion Dallas Texans, a team already qualified for the national championships by virtue of winning the U.S. Youth Soccer National League this year. Florida Rush and Premier League West winners Sting Dallas complete this very loaded bracket.

U18

Ryan Higginbotham’s Texans team are defending national champions and qualified via the National League at this age group as well. They are nevertheless competing at this event in Group D along with Mandeville Lakers (Louisiana), NWA Lightning (Arkansas) and RSL Florida. In Group A, CASL Spartan Elite (North Carolina) faces CESA Premier (South Carolina), Edmond SC Black (Oklahoma) and OCSA Crew (Premier League East - North Carolina). In Group B, Premier League Central winners East Ridge Express will face Greensboro Twisters, Lonestar SC and Tennessee champions Stones River FC. Group C features Georgia champions Tophat Gold, Sting Dallas (Premier League West), Hattiesburg United (Mississippi) and Birmingham United.

The event begins Friday, June 19th (See TopDrawerSoccer.com’s special LIVE event for that day) with group matches through the weekend. Quarterfinals are Monday the 22nd with semifinals and finals to follow the 23rd and 24th.

Also on TopDrawerSoccer.com:

Region III Older Boys preview
Region III Younger Girls preview
Region III Younger Boys preview