Group A Preview

Each of the teams in Group A have overcome obstacles to get to the National Championships. Both Greater Binghamton (NY-W) and Nationals Union 01 Black (MI) won their Regional titles, and Florida Elite 2001 (FL) and Legends FC 01 Academy (CA-S) won their respective National League titles. In this group, Nationals Union will have a target on its back for having players from the 2016 14U Girls National Championship team. However, the 2017 National Championships bring new challenges and opponents and each team is beginning with a clean slate.

Group B Preview

CUP Gold 01 (OH-S), back-to-back National League Champions, are headed to the National Championships for the second year in a row. Michigan Jaguars 01 Green (MI) will also join Group B after winning the National League Blue Division with an overall record of five wins and two ties. The Region III representative, SLSC Cosmos 01 Lawless (OK), came in second place at Region III Championships, which was especially impressive with the stiff competition it faced. The final team rounding out Group B is Celtic FC Premier SA (UT). The Celtic FC side won Region IV championships in dramatic fashion against in-state foe La Roca Premier FC (UT).

Region I: Greater Binghamton (NY-W)

How they got to Nationals
Greater Binghamton outscored its opponents, 8-to-1, to win Group D at the Region I Championships. In the semifinal match, the New York West side defeated United FC 01 Xtreme (PA-E), 2-0, to earn a chance to play for the Region I Championship title. In the final match, Greater Binghamton outscored Fury Athletica, 4-0, to advance to the National Championships. Goals in the final match came from Laurel Vargas, Jisela Dall and Emma Bough added two. Greater Binghamton has played together as a unit since U9 and the team looks to further its success in Frisco starting on July 25.

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

Player Accolades
State ODP: Lauren Ashman, Lexi Bartlow, Emma Cappellett, Emilia Colling, Angelina Fahrenkrug, Jasmine Fahrenkrug Olivia McKnight, Victoria McKnight, Melinda Ortiz
Regional ODP Players: Victoria McKnight
Region I Top Scorer: Emma Bough (T-2nd)

Coach:
Taylor Schram

Region II: Nationals Union 01 Black (MI)

How they got to Nationals
Several of the Nationals Union 01 Black (MI) players were a part of the PSG MI Gators 02 Orange (MI) team, who are two-time defending National Champions. Nationals Union started off the Region II Championships with three wins in Group A. In the semifinal and final matches, Nationals Union combined to outscore its opponents, 10-3. In the final match of Region II Championships, Nationals Union defeated Kings Hammer Academy Red (KY), 6-2, with Allison Leonard and Madison Medalle each scoring two goals apiece. Brooke Russell and Arianna Jalics rounded out the scoring, as each added a goal and helped their team advance to the National Championships.

National Championship Series History
National Champions: 2015, 2016
State Champs: 2014-2017
Region Champs: 2015-2017

Player Accolades
Regional and State ODP Players: Justina Gaynor, Emma Boutorwick, Skyla Gebauer, Allison Leonard, Madison Medalle, Alana Wood
Region II Top Scorers: Allison Leonard (T-1st), Madison Medalle (2nd), Arianna Jalics (3rd)

Coach:
Jeremy Harkins

National League Black: Florida Elite 2001 Elite (FL)

How they got to Nationals
Returning to the National Championships for the second year in a row is Florida Elite 2001 Elite (FL). Florida Elite went 2-1 in group play at Region III Championships. In the quarterfinal and semifinal matchups, Florida Elite outscored its opponents, 5-2, to advance to the Region III Championships final. In the final match, Florida Elite defeated SLSC Cosmos 01 Lawless (OK), 3-1. In addition, despite the outcome Region III Championships, Florida Elite already had a bid to the National Championships in light of its National League Black Division title.
At National League, Florida Elite won five of the seven matches and tied the other two. Florida Elite outscored its opponents, 15-to-7 throughout National League play and will look to continue its success in Frisco this month.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2015, 2016
Region Champs: 2016, 2017
National League Black Division Champs: 2016-17

Player Accolades
State ODP Players: Tatum Loveless, Tori Grambo, Taylor Radecki, Avery Patterson, Delaney Tauzel, Maryssa Kosman
Regional ODP Players: Delaney Tauzel, Tori Grambo
National Team Player: Avery Patterson
Region III Top Scorer: Bella Kober (1st)

Coach
Mike Pickett

National League White: Legends FC 01 Academy (CA-S)

How they got to Nationals
In the National League White Division, Legends FC 01 Academy (CA-S) won four games and tied three. In a very competitive group, Legends FC outscored its opponents throughout league play, 12-to-4. In the last weekend of National League play, the Cal South side knew it had to catch up with EGA 01 Maroon Omaha (NE) to claim the National League title. With that, Legends FC got the point it needed on the season's final day to advance. Legends FC will face another difficult group at the National Championships, but it should be prepared and up for the challenge.

National Championship Series History
National League White Champion: 2017

Player Accolades
Regional ODP Players: Laney Carroll, Sage Robledo, Madison Perez, Chloe Ragon
National Team Players: Clarissa Ramirez (Mexico), Vanessa Buso (Mexico), Laney Carroll

Coach
John King

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

How they got to Nationals
CUP Gold 01 (OH-S) paved its way to the National Championships by winning the National League Red Division. The CUP Gold side recorded five wins, one tie and one loss during its National League campaign. CUP Gold found the back of the net 13 times in seven games, while its opponents scored just three times. In the final National League match, CUP Gold's Jenna Kralik and Elise Le were the lone goal scorers to give the CUP Gold side the 2-0 victory. CUP Gold will battle in Group B in the 16U Girls division for the shot at a National Championship.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
National League Champions: 2015-16, 2016-17.

Player Accolades
State ODP Players: Ande Allison, Caitlin Elam, Alyssa Weisbrodt, Ellie Podojil, Samantha Dodd, Jenna Kralik, Julia Simer
Regional ODP Players: Ande Allison, Ellie Podojil
National Team Player(s): Ellie Podojil

Coach
Bobby Puppione

National League Blue: Michigan Jaguars 01 Green (MI)

How they got to Nationals
By winning the National League Blue Division, Michigan Jaguars 01 Green (MI) advanced to the 2017 National Championships. Throughout National League, the Michigan Jaguars didn’t lose a single match and tied twice. In their final National League match against LFSA 2001 Select (IL), Michigan Jaguars' Gabrielle McCaslin scored the lone goal of the game in the 34th minute. The Michigan Jaguars side outscored its opponents, 19-to-5, and will look to continue their offensively aggressive style of play in 16U Girls Group B.

National Championship Series History
State Champs: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
National League Black Division Champs: 2016-17

Player Accolades
National League Top Scorer: Danielle Wolfe (3rd)

Coach
Andy Richards

Region III: SLSC Cosmos 01 Lawless (OK)

How they got to Nationals
SLSC Cosmos 01 Lawless (OK) came in second place in Group D at Region III Championships. Once advancing on to the quarterfinal and semifinal matches, both games came down to kicks from the mark with SLSC coming out on top. In the final match, SLSC fell, 3-1, to Florida Elite 2001 Elite, but since Florida Elite was already advancing to National Championships through the National League, SLSC moved on as the Region III Representative. Having shown mental toughness to get to the Region III final, the Oklahoma side should be ready for the challenges ahead.

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

Player Accolades
State ODP Players: Kylee Munson, Kylee Wickersham, Brooklyn Fink, Bayleigh Fink, Hannah Tillison, Haley Tillison, Aubrey Gonzales, Skylar Revas

Coach
Brandon Lawless

Region IV: Celtic FC Premier SA (UT)

How they got to Nationals
Celtic FC Premier SA (UT) won Region IV Championships with a record of five wins and one tie. In the quarterfinal match, Celtic FC defeated FC Nova Elite 01 (SC), 2-0. Spokane Sounders 01 (WA) tested Celtic FC in the semifinal match, but Celtic FC came out on top, 2-1. The final match of Region IV championships was a nail-biter. Celtic scored a tying goal with the final kick of overtime before defeating La Roca Premier FD (UT) in kicks from the mark to take the title and punch its ticket to Frisco.

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

Player Accolades
State ODP Players: Devi Dudley, Lily Haskins, Hallie Fernandez, Katie Houston, Haven Empey, Emily Martin, Breanna Eves, Jocelyn Bybee, Emma Heiden
Regional ODP Players: Devi Dudley, Katie Houston, Hallie Fernandez, Lily Haskins, Haven Empey
National Team Player(s): Devi Dudley

Coach Info
Scott Anderson