WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA – A youth national league began its season here Thursday night at Gillette Soccer Complex.

Friday another organization begins its national league.

The College Cup is here in the area this weekend. The CASL Showcase is also going on, hosting teams from all over the country.

Just about every DI coach and a lot from lower divisions are in the area as well.

Thursday night’s competition was the U.S. Youth Soccer National League, and there were easily more than 100 coaches on hand watching the games in four age groups here.

We dropped by to catch a pair of matches as temperatures here plummeted from comfortable daytime conditions.

The last time we caught Clyde Watson’s Mclean Strikers, they were playing in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship at Kansas City in the U16 age group. The day ended in disappointment for this talented group, but it’s a team that likes to play the game the right way and that was on display Thursday night. Central midfielders were spraying the ball around. Forwards and wingers were moving into space and combining passes and off-the-ball-runs. Defenders were keeping things tight and starting the attack quickly with smart distribution forward.

Goalscorers for the Virginia club in their 4-0, U17 win over Internationals included Sharon Wojcik, Lina Granados, Kara Wilson and Tabitha McHale.

{mosvideo:350}On the next field over, Jim Wipke’s JB Marine U16 team defeated GSA Phoenix 3-2. This St. Louis-area team also likes to play with the ball on the ground and they did so effectively on the frosty night.

After GSA’s Anna McClung scored from a scramble in the early going, JB tied the game with a goal from Jade Klump, set up by Haley Kavanaugh. Early in the 2nd half, Klump went from scorer to provider, giving a good pass to Hannah Leinert, who scored to make it 2-1 for JB Marine.

Courtney Silberberg came close with a free kick that GSA goalkeeper Mallory Sayre pushed away. Klump and Leinert were a really dangerous combination in attack for JB, and Kavanaugh showed great close control on the ball and likes to run at defenders. She earned a corner that JB scored its third goal on, when Jamison Wipke sent in a serve and Alexis Boschert managed to knock it in from a scramble.

Colin Chapman’s GSA team then got back into the offensive flow. McClung, Rachel Garcia and Taylor Donahue each came close with shots, but Abby Rowan kept the ball out for JB. Garcia connected on a 25-yard drive that cut the lead to 3-2, but JB held on for the win.

US Youth Soccer National League Results | Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010 (Courtesy of US Youth Soccer)

U-15
SAC United Premier    MD    3    Internationals    OH-N    2
SAC - Danielle Hogarth (26:00) (37:00) Imani Dorsey (53:00)        
INTR - Brianna Timko (27:00) | Kathryn Waters (49:00)           

BRYC 95 Elite    VA    0    Match Fit Chelsea Beat    NJ    2
BEAT - Schuyler DeBree (40:00) Alexis DellaPietro (72:00)       

Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Gold    MI    0    AFC 96 Elite    GA    1
AFC - Amanda Bartholomew (53:00)                   

Arsenal Elite    FL    1    So Cal Blues-Pearson    CA-S    2
WFP - Quinn Lombard (47:00)                   
SCBL - Kaitlin Klawunder (3:00) Nicole Miyashiro (56:00)       

U-16 Red                   
Sockers FC Chicago    IL    2    Penn Fusion 94    PA-E    1
SFCC - Michelle Poulsen (10:00) Kristen Dodson(80:00)           
PENN - Olivia DiFonso (70:00)                   

Hurricane FC 95 Shubert    OK    5    Blast FC     OH-S    0
HFCS - Kristen Killion (7:00) Madison Saliba (17:00) (67:00) Lauren King (53:00) Jasmine Pascoe (76:00)   

VSA Heat Blue    VA    0    Legends Breakaway    CA-S    1
BWAY - Jordan Jesolva (17:00)                   

JB Marine Wipke    MO    3    GSA 95 Phoenix Red    GA    2
JBMW - Jade Klump (25:00) Hannah Leinert (50:00) Alexis Boschert (64:00)       
GPHX - Anna McClung (5:00) Rachel Garcia (68:00)           

U-16 Blue                   
Patriots FC 95    NY-E    0    Dallas Texans 95 Red    TX-N    3
DTR - Jasmine Hart (45:00) (55:00) Sophie Groff (79:00)           

Cleveland FC    OH-N    1    Brandon FC Flames - Blue    FL    2
CFC - Hannah Schippers (50:00)                   
BFC - Shea Rhoney (6:00) Shea Rhoney (56:00)               

Albion SC    CA-S    0    Eclipse Select 94/95    IL    1
ES94 - Cory Levels (22:00)                   

So Cal Blues Draluck    CA-S    2    CYA Firecats    VA    0
SOCA - Amber Munerlyn (17:00) Amber Munerlyn (61:00)       

U-17 Red                   
McLean MPS Strikers    VA    4    Internationals    OH-N    0
MCLN - Sharon Wojcik (6:00) Lina Granados (37:00) Kara Wilson (45:00) Tabitha Mchale (83:00)   

NSA Premier Fury    IL    1    Empire United SA-Syracuse    NY-W    1
NSA - Catherine (Cat) Caniglia (77:00)               
EUSA - Jackie Firenze (79:00)                   

Dallas Texans 94 Girls Red Dallas    TX-N    3    Legends FC    CA-S    1
DTR - Kelsey Shimmick (3:00) (11:00) Mary Alissa Lonsberry (73:00)       
LEG - Rylee Baisden (46:00)                   

United FA 94 Elite    GA    0    SD Surf Girls 93/94 Premier    CA-S    2
SURF - Regina Manneh (15:00) Sylvia Trinh (84:00)           

U-17 Blue                   
FC Pennsylvania Strikers    PA-E    0    LaRoca PT    UT    2
LARO - Mackenzie Harrison (21:00) London Crown (33:00)       

St. Louis Scott Gallagher     MO    0    So Cal Blues Pearson    CA-S    1
SCB - Janae Cousineau (28:00)                   

Toro Bravo    NE    1    NASA 12 Elite II    GA    1
BRAV - Karlie Mueller (4:00)                   
NASA - Emily Sonnett (42:00)                   

Brentwood 94 Girl Premier    TN    0    Buffalo Soccer Academy Invaders    NY-W    2
BSA - Catherine Williams (72:00) Jenna Panepinto (79:00)