Four exciting days of action at the USYS National League Quarterfinals in Mesa, Ariz., saw 45 girls teams qualify for the February 2025 National League Semifinals, while six sides claimed titles as the winners of the champions pool in their age group.

This January quarterfinals featured primarily teams from Elite 64, the top club-based platform in the USYS National League. The Jan. 10-13 action took place at Arizona Athletic Grounds and featured more than 125 girls teams across the 13U-19U age groups.

For the 14U-19U age groups, the quarterfinals represent the first of two stages of National League events, which provide every competing team with a pathway to ultimately advance to the USYS National Championships, presented by New York Life. The 45 teams that earned advancement to the next stage — the National League Semifinals — will play Feb. 21-23 in Round Rock, Texas, for a chance to qualify to the National Championships.

Wisconsin and Michigan led the way, as they each saw 10 teams qualify for the NL Semifinals during play from this event.

“Every game we’re working hard and trying to win, but this really gives us something to work toward,” Legends FC Elite 64 06/07G (MI) goalkeeper Sarah Marsac said after her team earned a National League Semifinals berth. “We feel like we’re earning something when we win our games, and we’re really working hard to get that spot [in the Semifinals].”

In addition to earning a place in the semifinals, six teams also won the tournament competition within the champions pool of their respective age groups to claim event titles.

2025 NL Quarterfinals (January) | Girls Champions 
*13U: Elmbrook United 12G Elite 64 (WI) 
14U: Madison 56ers Elite 64 11G (WI) 
15U: Elmbrook United 10G Elite 64 (WI) 
16U: Charlotte SA Elite 64 09G (NC) 
17U: WNY Flash Rochester Elite 64 08G (NY-W) 
19U: Madison 56ers Elite 64 06/07G (WI) 

*The 13U age group does not advance teams to the semifinals event. 

Elmbrook United and Madison 56ers led the way, as the two Wisconsin clubs each secured two champions pool titles. Across the six age groups, Elmbrook United had four teams advance to the finals in the champions pool

Giuliano Oliviero, a director of coaching at Elmbrook United, said he was proud of their whole girls program and the consistency their players showed from age group to age group. He also noted the value of a successful weekend at the National League Quarterfinals.  

“You want to win every game you play in, and that’s the mentality the girls have and the effort they showed up with,” Oliviero said of the EBU 10G side after it claimed the club’s first champions pool title. “To go 3-0-0 and earn a top spot heading into Texas in February for the Semifinals puts us in a really great spot. We’ll continue to prepare and be ready for the Semifinals next month.” 

TITLE GAME RECAPS…

13U Girls  
Elmbrook United 12G Elite 64 (WI) powered its way to the champions pool title behind an offensive avalanche. Its 5-0 win over KC Legends Elite 64 12G (KS) was never in question, as Kyra Patterson’s eighth-minute goal put her team in the driver’s seat early. Patterson added her second off a rebound during first-half stoppage time to give her Wisconsin side even more momentum heading into the break. From there, it was the Khloe Bacon show. Bacon’s sizzling second-half hat trick — all coming in a span of 10 minutes — put the game out of reach and sealed the win for Elmbrook.

14U Girls 

Madison 56ers Elite 64 11G (WI) capped off a stout defensive weekend with a third straight shutout in the champions pool final. Facing in-state foe Elmbrook United 11G Elite 64 (WI), the 56ers once again put their defensive skill on display to shut out a team that had scored seven goals heading into the match — but this one needed penalties to be decided. Madison keeper Alana Curley continued her stellar event by making two saves in the shootout, and Corbi Grinch played the hero by converting the decisive penalty kick to clinch the game for the 56ers. 

15U Girls 

Elmbrook United 10G Elite 64’s (WI) commanding 3-0 win over Madison 56ers Elite 64 10G (WI) in the champions pool final was a reflection of its weekend at the quarterfinals. The Wisconsin side scored a combined eight goals in its first two games in Mesa and came into the final red hot. Elmbrook’s Lydia Presti wasted no time putting her team in front, catching the 56ers off guard and scoring in the second minute. Dylan Szesterniak headed in the team’s second just nine minutes later, and Olivia Rameker added one more for insurance in the 49th minute to cap of a title-winning weekend for Elmbrook. 

16U Girls 

Charlotte SA Elite 64 09G (NC) clinched the champions pool title over Elmbrook United 09G Elite 64 (WI) behind timely goals and a clinical defensive performance. Samia Margherio broke the deadlock early, scoring in the 10th minute and putting Charlotte ahead. That margin held for the next 70 minutes until Shradha Kathirvel found the back of the net and iced the game for the North Carolina side. Elmbrook — which came into the final scoring five goals in each of its first two games in Mesa — had put the Charlotte defense under intense pressure for most of the second half, but it could find no answer against the fortified unit. 

17U Girls 

WNY Flash Rochester Elite 64 08G’s (NY-W) late game heroics helped it complete a comeback win over Michigan Tigers Elite 64 08G (MI) in the champions pool final. The Tigers struck first in this one, with Ayla Tindall opening the scoresheet in the 22nd minute, but it took just 10 minutes for the Flash to level the game again behind a Savanna Biehler goal. The Tigers snuck into the break up one, though, as Maya Borgsdorf’s stoppage-time strike put her team in the driver’s seat with 45 minutes gone. The Michigan side did its best to hold on for the win, but WNY Flash’s Alexis Olson leveler in the 87th minute sent this final to a penalty shootout. Once there, Addison Tally made multiple saves to seal the win for the New York side. 

19U Girls 

Madison 56ers Elite 64 06/07G (WI) topped Steel City FC Elite 64 06/07G (PA-W) 1-0 in a very competitive champions pool final. While both sides traded chances throughout the game’s opening period, it was scoreless at the break with neither team able to capitalize. It took until the 66th minute for the deadlock to be broken, with Madison’s Nola Maughan putting her team in front for good. The 56ers defense did the rest from there, with the backline holding strong and Reese McCabe making timely saves to preserve the shutout win.