OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (July 9, 2015) – The 2015 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup kicked offThursday at the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan. The four-day event features 40 US Youth Soccer Boys and Girls teams in the Under-13 through Under-17 age groups that have earned their way to the National Presidents Cup via success in their respective US Youth Soccer Regional Presidents Cup events.

In addition to playing for a national title, players will get the chance to expose their talents in front of an estimated 30 college coaches scheduled to attend.

The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup offers teams the challenge of experiencing different types of play by competing from state to regional to national levels. The Presidents Cup provides teams with a progressive, competitive experience that highlights competition, camaraderie and community.

The US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup will continue preliminary games through Saturday, July 11. Consolation and championship matches will take place on Sunday, July 12.


Match Highlights:

Under-13 Girls: KRW Rush (KS) 5-3 North Union United 01 Lady Cannons (PA-E) 
Under-13 Girls KRW Rush (KS) kicked off the tournament with a 5-3 win versus North Union United 01 Lady Cannons (PA-E). Forward Dilary Heredia-Beltran came out with a stellar performance producing four of the five KRW Rush goals of the match. Her first in the 9^th minute was quickly leveled by North Union’s Mackenzie Good just three minutes later. Paige Temple gave North Union the lead in the 21^st minute, but Heredia-Beltran evened the match before the half with a 28^th minute goal. In the second half, Lauren Brooks put the Kansas side on top with a goal in the 39^th minute. Erin Tompkins tied the match once again for North Union in the 44^th minute, but Heredia-Beltran secured the win with a pair of second half goals in the 64^th and 70^th minutes.

Under-14 Girls: Souderton Stingers (PA-E) 1–1 NWC Alliance Black 00 (OH-S)
In Under-14 Girls play, Souderton Stingers (PA-E) and NWC Alliance Black 00 (OH-S) played to a 1-1 draw. Both teams created a few chances in the first half, but went into halftime scoreless. Cassi Hennen broke the stalemate in the 57^th minute with an NWC Alliance goal, but ten minutes later Alison Trick found the equalizer earning a point for Souderton Stingers as well.

Under-15 Girls: Leahi 00 Premier (HI) 2-0 Greeneville Galaxy Select (TN)
A goal in each half of play gave Under-15 Girls team Leahi 00 Premier (HI) three points to start off the tournament. Their win versus Greeneville Galaxy Select (TN) saw an early goal in the 11^th minute by forward Ciana Rivera. In the 59^th minute, forward Jacey Lyn Iwane connected with a pass in the center of the box for the 2-0 Leahi Premier victory.

Under-16 Girls: Crossfire Select 98 McLaughlin (WA) 4-0 LA Fire Navy (LA)            
Crossfire Select 98 McLaughlin (WA) defeated Under-16 Girls team LA Fire Navy (LA) 4-0 with strong performances in each half. Crossfire Select dominated the majority of the match, and scored two goals within the first 20 minutes by Megan McLaughlin and Angela Noffsinger. Their control continued in the second half and they obtained two additional goals by Natalie Vetto and Molly McLaughlin in the 65^th and 74^th minutes respectively.

Under-17 Girls: Washington Timbers 97 Green (WA) 2-0 CUFC 97 Green (NC)
Two second half goals gave Under-17 Girls Washington Timbers 97 Green (WA) a win on opening day versus CUFC 97 Green (NC). Both teams pushed to find the back of the net, but it was forward Alexandria Sanders who gave Washington Timbers the advantage with a 50^th minute goal. Fellow Washington forward Kaili Brundage doubled the lead shortly after scoring in the 69^th minute.

Under-13 Boys: Bonita Storm (FL) 1–0 Anaheim FC 01 (CA-S)
Bonita Storm (FL) was the only Under-13 Boys team to earn three points on opening day after a 1-0 win against Anaheim FC 01 (CA-S). The first half was neck and neck and entered halftime with a 0-0 score. In the 44^th minute, David Gomez found the back of the net and Bonita Storm’s defense protected the lone goal for the victory.

Under-14 Boys: Players Elite AP (NV) 3-0 Southern Alliance Futbol Elite (GA)           
An Alfredo Robles hat trick gave Players Elite AP (NV) a 3-0 victory versus Under-14 Boys Southern Alliance Futbol Elite (GA). Forward Alfredo Robles gave Players Elite a 1-0 lead at the half after scoring in the 23^rd minute. Robles remained unstoppable in the second half and acquired two additional goals in the 43^rd and 53^rd minutes.

Under-15 Boys: Dynamic F.C 99/00 (IL) 3-0 Olney Rangers White (MD)
The only Under-15 Boys victory and goals of the day were produced by Dynamic F.C 99/00 (IL) with a 3-0 shutout against Olney Rangers White (MD). Droyvin Lara and Evan Wimberly put the Illinois team ahead at halftime, and Adrian Medina added a third goal in the 76^th minute for Dynamic’s three points.

Under-16 Boys: VSA Heat 98 Blue (VA) 1–0 Elm Grove Blues (WI)
In the Under-16 Boys matchup between VSA Heat 98 Blue (VA) and Elm Grove Blues (WI), VSA player Ian Mateer excelled with a goal in the 65^th minute. VSA Heat’s backline remained sturdy until the final whistle to earn the 1-0 win.

Under-17 Boys: Legacy FC (CA-S) 3-1 SC Bulls 97 Elite (SC)
Cal South team Legacy FC defeated Under-17 Boys SC Bulls 97 Elite (SC) 3-1. Legacy FC actually started the match down 1-0 after an early 9^th minute goal by SC Bulls forward Mekhi Honore. Imer Figeroa helped pull Legacy FC right up with a pair of back-to-back goals in the 24^th and 33^rd minutes, and Jose Iniguez locked in the scoring with a third Legacy goal in the 50^th minute.

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