Group A Preview

While all four sides in Group B are newcomers to the National Championships, there is still plenty of experience that lies within the teams, making for high-quality competition. Nationals Union 02 Black (MI)’s roster is made of several players from the 2015 and 2016 National Champion, PSG MI Gators 02 Orange (MI), so Nationals Union will have the knowledge to navigate through the National Championships. Nationals Union is also coming fresh off of a Region II Championship run despite its qualification through a National League Blue Division title. La Roca PO 02 (UT) claimed a National Championship spot after taking second in the National League Red Division, but the team thoroughly warmed up at the Region IV Championships and claimed the Regional crown. Loudoun 02 Red (VA) and Solar Chelsea 02 Grado (TX-N) also head to Nationals with Regional titles on their shoulders, looking to build on those performances in Frisco.

Group B Preview

Group B includes three newcomers to Nationals, as CUP 02 Gold (OH-S) is the only team in the 15U Girls age group with National Championship experience. CUP finished third in the 13U Girls age group of the 2016 National Championships, and it earned its way back by gaining a National League Red Division title. Legends FC 02 Academy (CA-S) did well in the National League Blue Division, taking second to claim a spot at Nationals. The remaining two teams in Group B include Sporting OFC 2002 Elite (NE) and Real Colorado 02 Olympico (CO), who were among the final teams in their respective Regional Championships.

Region I: Loudoun 02 Red (VA)

How they got to Nationals
After qualifying to the 2017 Region I Championships through the Eastern Regional League, Loudoun 02 Red (VA) started off the competition in Virginia well with a 3-0-0 record during group play. Loudoun posted 11 goals while allowing three in the preliminary round. In the semifinals, the Virginia side endured a back-and-forth battle with SJEB Rush 02 Academy Blue (NJ) to eventually win 5-3. The final match also required some work as Loudoun came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Beach FC 02 Red (VA), 2-1.

National Championship Series History
2017 Regional Qualification: Eastern Regional League
Region Champs: 2017

Player Accolades
2017 Region I Championships Top Scorer: Sophia Maltese (Tied 2nd)
State ODP: Elisabeth Young, Brooke Kirstein, Sophia Maltese, Amelia Swain, Sydney Schnell, Allison Harvich, Caroline Mandrgoc, Brinley Bell
Region ODP: Brooke Kirstein, Sophia Maltese

Coach
David DiMillio

Region II: Sporting OFC 2002 Elite (NE)

How they got to Nationals
While two-time Nebraska State Champion Sporting OFC 2002 Elite (NE) fell to Nationals Union 02 Black (MI) in the 2017 Region II Championship semifinals, the Nebraska side earned a second chance to fight for a spot at the National Championships. Due to both Regional finalists already qualifying for Nationals through National League, Sporting OFC and semifinalist Nationals Union 02 Red (MI) faced each other in a play-in game to determine the 15U Girls Region II Representative. Sporting OFC claimed a 2-1 win over Nationals Union Red to claim a spot at Nationals.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2016, 2017
Region II Semifinalist: 2016, 2017

Player Accolades
State ODP: Allison Napora, Alyssa Judkins, Gwenyth Lane, Cecilia Behrens, Maranda Kavan, Addyson Seaman, Makenna Shepard-Swett
Region ODP: Alyssa Judkins, Ceclia Behrens, Gwenyth Lane, Allison Napora

Coach
Alex Mason

Region III: Solar Chelsea 02 Grado (TX-N)

How they got to Nationals
Solar Chelsea 02 Grado (TX-N) led Pool C at Region III Championships with a 2-0-1 record. The North Texas side defeated 02 CASL North G (NC), 3-2, in the quarterfinals and then LSC 02 Red (TX-S), 3-0, in the semifinals. As Solar Chelsea went into the final match, the team faced players from the same club, Solar Chelsea 02 Naizer (TX-N). A first half goal from Haley Lopez propelled Solar Chelsea Grado to take the Region III title.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2017
Region Champs: 2017

Coach
Charles Grado

Region IV: Real Colorado 02 Olympico (CO)

How they got to Nationals
At the Region IV Championships, back-to-back Colorado State Champion Real Colorado 02 Olympico (CO) took second in Group A with a 2-1-0 record. Real Colorado made its way to the championship match after defeating D6CL Ethos FC Saints 02 Blue (CA-N), 5-0, in the quarterfinals and USA 02 Premier (UT), 3-2, in the semifinals. The final match featured a rematch of a Group A game between Real Colorado and La Roca PO 02 (UT), where La Roca took a 2-0 win earlier in the week. While Real Colorado fell to La Roca again, the team will represent Region IV at the National Championships due to La Roca representing the National League.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2016, 2017
Region finalists: 2017

Player Accolades
2017 Region IV Championships Top Scorer: Addie Follett (2nd)

Coach
Jen Thomas Sandoval

National League Blue 1: Nationals Union 02 Black (MI)

How they got to Nationals
Nationals Union 02 Black (MI) earned its way to the National Championships after becoming National League Blue Champions with a record of 6-1-0. The Michigan side tallied 18 goals while only allowing three throughout the seven matches. Nationals Union also won this year’s Michigan State Cup as well as the Region II Championships.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2017
Region Champs: 2017
2016-17 National League Blue: Champions (6-1-0)

Player Accolades
State ODP: Caitlin O’Malley, Olivia Watson, Meike Ingles, Jenna Blackburn, Emily Mathews, Madaline Novak, Sarah Bridenstine
Region ODP: Meike Ingles, Caitlin O’Malley, Emily Mathews, Madaline Novak, Olivia Watson, Sarah Bridenstine
Under-16 U.S. Women’s National Teams: Emily Mathews

College Programs
Zoe Bessert University of Iowa
Sarah Bridenstine Purdue University
Meike Ingles University of Iowa
Emily Mathews Purdue University

Coach
Jeremy Harkins

National League Blue 2: Legends FC 02 Academy (CA-S)

How they got to Nationals
Legends FC 02 Academy (CA-S) took second in the 2016-17 National League Blue Division to reach the National Championships. The Cal South side went 4-1-2 in the season, scoring 15 total goals and allowing four.

National Championship Series History
2016-17 National League Blue: 2nd (4-1-2)

Coach
Matthews Evans

National League Red 1: CUP 02 Gold (OH-S)

How they got to Nationals
CUP 02 Gold (OH-S) heads into its second go-around at the National Championships after taking first in the National League Red Division. The Ohio South side was the only 15U Girls team to go undefeated in National League, scoring a record-breaking 34 goals and allowing just one. CUP also had a positive showing at the 2017 Region II Championships as it made it to the finals. The team will look to use its experience and improve on its 2016 National Championships run after going 1-2-0 in group play last year in Frisco.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2016, 2017
Region Champs: 2016
Region finalists: 2017
2016 National Championships: Group (1-2-0)
2016-17 National League Red: Champion (7-0-0)

Player Accolades
State ODP: Meghan Creech, Lauren Donovan, Ava Dorsten, Kailyn Dudukovich, Brooklyn Harris, Madison Prohaska, Marcella Cash, Kalista Stock, Makala Woods, Megan Pung
Region ODP: Meghan Creech, Lauren Donovan, Ava Dorsten, Kailyn Dudukovich, Brooklyn Harris, Madison Prohaska, Megan Pung, Kalista Stock
2016 National Championships Top Scorer: Kailyn Dudukovich (2nd)
2016-17 National League Top Scorer: Kailyn Dudukovich (2nd)
2016 Best XI: Kailyn Dudukovich, Brooklyn Harris, Makala Woods
U.S. Youth National Team: Brooklyn Harris, Kailyn Dudukovich, Madison Prohaska, Sydney Jones

College Programs
Kaitlyn Andrews University of Cincinnati
Lauren Bastian University of Cincinnati

Coach
Bobby Puppione

National League Red 2: La Roca PO 02 (UT)

How they got to Nationals
After finishing second in the National League Red Division, La Roca PO 02 (UT) holds a spot in the National Championships. La Roca went 5-2-0 during the season as the team posted 18 goals and surrendered 10. The Utah side should be confident heading into Nationals, as it also claimed the Region IV Championship in June.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2016, 2017
Region Champs: 2017
Region Semis: 2016
2016-17 National League Red: 2nd (5-2-0)

Player Accolades
2017 Region IV Championships Top Scorer: Caroline Stringfellow, Brynlee Meyerhoffer (Tied 3rd)
State ODP: Caroline Stringfellow, Sophie Scholer, Kaitlyn Esquivel, Anna Arnljots-Tlatelpa, Makiya Christensen, Sidney Barlow, Kylie Olsen, Kalea Woodyatt, Kaitlyn Stoker
Region ODP: Caroline Stringfellow, Oakley Rasmussen
U.S. Youth National Team: Caroline Stringfellow, Oakely Rasmussen

Coach
Francisco "Pancho" Ovalle