The heat and winds of Lancaster, California, should have less of an effect on the resilient U13, U14 and U15 Boys teams competing in next week’s U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships. While conditions might not be so good for spectators, the players will be determined to negotiate the six matches required to bring home a championship plaque.

U13 Boys

West Coast FC, defending Region IV champions and TopDrawerSoccer.com's national #2, are on hand to defend their crown. The Southern Californians are drawn in group play with Dick McCormick’s Crossfire Premier squad, Hawaiian champions Maui United and Arizona’s Scottsdale Blackhawks. Washington Premier will face Utah champions La Roca Premier, New Mexico’s Striker FC and Oregon’s NWSSA Eagles. Colorado Storm and Northern California’s Santa Clara Sporting look strong in Group B, playing along with Cook Inlet SC of Alaska and FC Missoula from Montana. The final group draw has Nevada’s Neusport 96 facing Magic City (Montana), Real Rush (Hawaii) and Boise Nationals (Idaho).

U14 Boys

Last year’s winners, Irvine Strikers, not only did not qualify to defend their title, but they’ve left the club and are now with LAFC Chelsea. In Lancaster it will be West Coast FC representing Cal South as State Cup winners. They will face New Mexico Rush, Colorado Rush and La Roca Premier from Utah. Cal South’s Albion White and Arsenal FC are the FWRL qualifiers. Albion’s group includes Cheyenne Sting (Wyoming), Mission Real (Cal North) and SBSC United (Nevada). Arsenal’s group includes Arizona champions SC del Sol, Hawaiian winners Abunai and Cook Inlet from Alaska. The other group for this age division has Eastside FC (Washington), Boise Nationals (Idaho), Flathead Force (Montana) and Cascade FC Atlas (Oregon) squaring off for quarterfinal berths.

U15 Boys

Defending champion Arsenal FC will be back, but as FWRL winners. Aztecs FC won the Cal South State Cup final over Arsenal and Camarillo Eagles were the other FWRL qualifier (fall/spring).

Arsenal and Eagles are in the same group in fact, along with New Mexico Rush and Arizona champions Sereno SC. Aztecs will play in a group with Hawaii winners Real Rush, Santa Clara Sporting (Cal North) and Montana winners Helena Arsenal). Group B features Colorado Rush against Alaskan champions NLSC Sparta, Nevada winners Players United and Oregon’s Westside Metros. In Group C it is Washington Premier, New Mexico winners Rio Vista, Utah winners La Roca Premier and Idaho Rush.

Group play begins Monday, June 15th, and concludes Wednesday, the 17th. Quarterfinals begin Friday June 19th (watch for TopDrawerSoccer.com LIVE that day), with semifinals the 20th and championship matches June 21st. Watch for the results all week on TopDrawerSoccer.com.

Also on TopDrawerSoccer.com:

Region IV Older Boys Preview
Region IV Younger Girls Preview
Region IV Older Girls Preview

Coming Tuesday: Region III Previews