Group A Preview

In Group A, Raiders FC (IL) advanced to the 2017 National Championships by winning the National League Black title. Raiders FC went 6-1-0 throughout its tenure in National League. The other National League winner in Group B is Lobos Rush 01 Premier (TN), which won the National League Red Division title. In its first five games played, the Tennessee side did not give up a single goal while picking up five victories. West Coast FC Armour 2001 (CA-S) took home the Region IV Championship title with its nail-biting 1-0 final win over defending National Champion Valparaiso United FC 01 JG (AZ). The final team being represented in Group A is Region II Champion Javanon 2001 Black (KY), which went a perfect 5-0-0 to capture the title in South Dakota.

Group B Preview

Two National League champions and two Regional champions will meet in Group B in the 16U Boys division. CUP Gold 01 (OH-S) won the National League Blue Division title in a group of talented teams from across the country. Tampa Bay United (FL) punched its ticket to the National Championships by winning Region III Championships in Greensboro, N.C., and going undefeated. Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 01 Black Premier (PA-E) became of the 96 teams by not only winning Region I Championships, but they also went a perfect 5-0-0. To round out Group B, LVSA 01 Red (NV) won the National League White Division by finishing the season strong in its last three games, outscoring its opponents 15-to-4.

National League Black: Raiders FC (IL)

How they got to Nationals
Raiders FC (IL) advanced to the National Championships by winning the National League Black Division. Throughout National League play, Raiders FC went a 6-1-0 and outscored its opponents 22-to-11. During the last National League weekend in Las Vegas, Raiders FC won two very important games. In a close matchup, Raiders FC first defeated EC Real Salinas Galaxy 01 (CA-N) and in the final National League match of the year, Raiders FC secured its spot at the National Championships with a win over Beadling (PA-W).

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2015, 2016
Regional Champs: 2016

Player Accolades
National League Top Scorer(s): Angelo Oquendo (T-7th)

Coach
Salvador Valencia

National League Red: Lobos Rush 01 Premier (TN)

How they got to Nationals
Throughout its National League season, Lobos Rush 01 Premier (TN) went an impressive 6-1-0. In the first five games played, Lobos Rush did not give up a goal and the team outscored its opponents, 13-to-0. In the last two games, Lobos Rush defeated Penn Fusion 01 Elite (PA-E), 3-1, and fell to Solar Chelsea 01 Stricker (TX-N), 2-1. However, Lobos Rush's imposing performances throughout National League were enough to send the team to the National Championships. Lobos Rush are just the third boys team from the state of Tennessee to reach the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2015, 2016, 2017

Player Accolades
State ODP Players: Logan Stoltenborg, Will Pucek, Evan Kleiser, Taylor Gruber, Aaron Hill, Will Pucek, Caden Wells, Mitch Proctor, Brandon Brackett
Regional ODP Players: Logan Stoltenborg, Evan Kleiser

Coach
Mark Forrest

Region IV: WCFC Armour 2001 (CA-S)

How they got to Nationals
To advance to the National Championships, WCFC Armour 2001 (CA-S) won the Region IV Championships. In group play, WCFC won one game and tied two. In the quarterfinal match, WCFC defeated FC Golden State – 2001 (CA-S), 4-1. In an exciting semifinal match that ended with kicks from the mark, WCFC edged Santa Clara Sporting 01 Green (CA-N), 2-1. The final match of Region IV Championships was an extremely close one ending at 1-0. WCFC came out on top against Valparaiso United FC 01 JG (AZ) to be one of the 96 teams at the National Championships this month.

National Championship Series History
Region IV Champs: 2017

Player Accolades
Region IV Top Scorer(s): Alejandro Perez (T-5th)

Coach
Neil Armour

Region II: Javanon 2001 Black (KY)

How they got to Nationals
Javanon 2001 Black (KY) went a perfect 3-0-0 throughout group play at Region II Championships and outscored its opponents 10-to-2. In the semifinal match against Galaxy 2001 Blue (IL), Javanon came out on top, 3-2. In the final match of Region II Championships, Javanon defeated SLSG Elite (MO), 2-1, with goals from Jansen Wilson and Brandon McManus to advance to the National Championships in Frisco, Texas.

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

Player Accolades
State and Regional ODP Players: Jansen Wilson, Case Cox, Alex Pollitt, Dillon Patterson, Simon Fewell, Nolan Durbin, Brandon, McManus

Coach
Tim Chastonay

National League Blue: CUP Gold 01 (OH-S)

How they got to Nationals
CUP Gold 01 (OH-S) advanced to the National Championships by winning the National League Blue Division. Throughout the National League season, CUP Gold won five games, tied one and lost one. In the five games that CUP Gold won, it did not give up a goal and outscored its opponents 8-to-0. The Ohio South side won three of its first four games in North Carolina, and it opened up its final weekend in Las Vegas with two wins — helping CUP secure enough points to claim the division title. To add to its list of accomplishments, CUP Gold has twice won the MRL Premier I Division.

National Championship Series History
National League Blue Division Champ: 2016-17

Player Accolades
National League Top Scorer(s): Brennan Gallo (3 goals)

Coach
Scott Bower

Region III: Tampa Bay United (FL)

How they got to Nationals
Tampa Bay United (FL) punched its ticket to the 2017 National Championships by winning Region III Championship. In group play, Tampa Bay outscored its opponents 7-to-3. In the quarterfinal matchup against Concorde Fire Central Elite (GA), Tampa Bay won 2-1. In another close matchup, the Florida side edged 02 CASL Red North (NC), 2-1. The final matchup of Region III Championships was against Solar Cheslea 01 Elite (TX-N), in which Tampa Bay soared to a 4-0 victory. With that win, Tampa Bay punched its ticket to Frisco, Texas.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2014, 2015, 2017
Regional Champs: 2017

Player Accolades
State ODP Players: Brennan Breuer, John Casey, Donny Williams
Regional ODP Player(s): Brennan Breuer
Region III Championships Top Scorer: Jeffrey Copper (2nd)

Coach
Kelvin Jones

Region I: Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 01 Black Premier (PA-E)

How they got to Nationals
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 01 Black Premier (PA-E) went a perfect 5-0-0 to win the Region I Championship, which gave the team a spot in the National Championships. In group play, the Philadelphia side found the back of the net 14 times and was only scored on once. In the semifinal match, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals defeated ASA 2001 Red (VA), 3-1, to move onto the final match. In a close final game ending at 1-0, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals became one of the 96 teams being represented at the National Championships with a win over Match Fit Academy FC 2001 Black (NJ).

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2015
Regional Champs: 2017

Player Accolades
Region I Top Scorers: Dane Harmaty (T-2nd), Matthew Stevenson (T-2nd)

Coach
Shane Rineer

National League White: LVSA 01 Red (NV)

How they got to Nationals
LVSA 01 Red (NV) won the National League White Division title with five wins, one tie and one loss. At the final weekend of National League play, LVSA picked up three vital wins in front of some local fans in Las Vegas. LVSA first defeated Village of the Branch Cosmos United 2001 (NY-E), 5-1. The next match for LVSA was against Bethesda SC Blue 01 (MD) and the Nevada side came out on top, 5-2. In the final game, LVSA edged Legends FC West 01 FC (CA-S), 5-1. With that, LVSA outscored its opponents 15-to-4 in the last three games of National League to punch its ticket to the National Championships.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2014, 2015, 2016
Regional Champs: 2016
National League White Division Champ: 2016-17

Player Accolades
State ODP Players: Lincoln Aquino, Caden Buckley, Jimi Villasenor, Jesus Ubario, Andy Gonzalez, Jimi Villasenor
Regional ODP Players: Caden Buckley, Jesus Ubario
National League Top Scorer(s): Hayden Madsen-Gross (T-3rd)

Coach
Tommy Tate