LAS VEGAS – Top talent from some of the nation’s elite teams in the Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 Girls and Under-17 Boys age groups continued games in US Youth Soccer National League Saturday at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in Las Vegas.

Teams continued National League play working towards positioning themselves for the league championship, ticket to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships and a slot in the 2009-2010 US Youth Soccer National League season. Again Saturday, collegiate coaches lined the sidelines as coaches used the meaningful matches of the league to scout future impact players. 

Under-15 Girls
Wall Wombats (NJ) faced FC Pennsylvania Strikers (E-PA) and Brittany Ratcliffe was a difference maker as Ratcliffe notched two goals on the day (13:00, 45:00).  Ratcliffe has four goals on the season, leading all scorers in the Under-15 Girls division.

The San Juan Spirits 94 Blue (CA-N) and San Diego Surf 93-94 White (CA-S) was deadlocked through sixty minutes of play.  Neela Mohan beat her mark in the 60th to give Surf the 1:0 lead.  Teammate Jacqueline Friedman doubled the total in the 80th as Surf held on to the 2:0 win.

The Under-15 Girls division will be determined tomorrow when FC Pennsylvania Strikers play San Diego Surf 93-94 White (CA-S).  Both teams are currently tied for first in league play.

Under-16 Girls
Slammers FC (CA-S) faced a familiar Southern California opponent today in So Cal Blues-Dodge (CA-S) however the stakes were considerably higher than normal.  A win today punches a ticket to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships.  Scoring chances were found but neither side could capitalize thanks to great play from Lindsey Luke (Slammers) and Kelly McCormick (So Cal).  The game would be decided by free kicks.  Jordan O’Brien’s free kick in the 64th just cleared the wall to beat McCormick to her left and give Slammers the 1:0 lead.  Eight minutes later So Cal was awarded a free kick that Jessica Mandarich bent to the far upper corner past Luke to knot the game at 1:1 in the 72nd.

Ashley Oswald scored in the 31st for Team Boca (FL) and the half ended with the same score with Cleveland FC (OH-N) down one.  After reorganizing, Cleveland’s adjustments paid off with Maura Gorman’s goal in the 43rd and teammate Jillian Graff scored her second of the weekend in the 41st to give Cleveland the 2:1 win.

Tomorrow So Cal Blues-Dodge will face Cleveland FC and Slammers FC against Team Boca 93/93.  A three-way tie between Slammers, So Cal and Eclipse Select 92-93 for the second place while the Dallas Texans 93G Red Dallas claim the top spot in the National League standings and punch their ticket to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships. 

Under-17 Girls
Patricia Mallory placed Challenge 92 (STX) on the board early (8:00) and the goal held through the first half and near the end of the second until Amanda Anton’s equalizer in the 78th for Vardar (MI).  The tie keeps Vardar in sole possession of third place.

McLean MPS Dragons (VA) met Laguna Hills Eclipse Black (CA-S) and the match would feature two offensive sets that were clicking.  Jennifer Barrientos scored in the 30th for Laguna and Christy Hassell drew the match back to even in the 49th.  Gabrielle Arganda gave Laguna the 2:1 advantage in the 73rd.  Dragons Jessica Frech scored back-to-back goals in the 77th and 86th to then give the Dragons the 3:2 lead.  Frech’s goals looked to be the difference until Jennifer Barrientos goal in stoppage time (90:00+) again tied the match (3:3).

After today’s ties, Eclipse Select 91-92 (IL) will join Dallas Texans 92 Red as National League qualifiers for the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Lancaster, Mass.

Under-17 Boys
Through the first half the match between Santa Clara Sporting 91 (CA-N) and Manhattan Phoenix (E-NY) remained scoreless due in large part to the play of Manhattan’s Sam Embry who held off several Santa Clara chances with great play in goal.  An own goal in the 52nd and a James Sweetman goal in the 59th had Santa Clara up 2:0.  Manhattan’s Caetano Sanchez cut the lead in half in the 90th.  With the win Santa Clara moves into fourth place in the league standings.

Reed Williams struck quickly for Slammers FC (CA-S) in the 5th minute of play against Team Ohio (OH-S).  As the first half neared an end, Jon Stegner scored the equalizer in the 37th.  The second half would play out with the teams tied at 1:1.

The US Youth Soccer National League competition is for the nation's top teams in the Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 Boys and Girls age groups, consisting of a total of eight teams per gender age group. The National League offers additional exposure to collegiate, professional and U.S. National Team coaches and offers top notch competition. The top two teams in each age group earn a direct path to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, played this July 21-26 in Lancaster, Mass., and the top four teams retain their spots in the National League for the following season.
US Youth Soccer National League Results for Saturday

Under-15 Girls Results:
Wall Wombats (NJ), FC Pennsylvania Strikers (E-PA), 0:2
Goal Scorers: Strikers: Brittany Ratcliffe (13:00), (45:00)

San Juan Spirits 94 Blue (CA-N), San Diego Surf 93-94 White (CA-S), 0:2
Goal Scorers: Surf: Neela Mohan (60:00), Jacqueline Friedman (80:00) 

Under-16 Girls Results:
Slammers FC (CA-S), So Cal Blues-Dodge (CA-S), 1:1
Goal Scorers: Slammers: Jordan O’Brien (64:00)
Blues: Jessica Mandarich (72:00)

Cleveland FC (OH-N), Team Boca 93/93 (FL)
Goal Scorers: Cleveland: Maura Gorman (43:00), Jillian Graff (41:00)
Boca:  Ashley Oswald (31:00)

Under-17 Girls Results:
Vardar (MI), Challenge 92 (S-TX), 1:1
Goal Scorers: Vardar: Amanda Anton (78:00)
Challenge: Patricia Mallory (8:00)

McLean MPS Dragons (VA), Laguna Hills Eclipse Black (CA-S), 3:3
Goal Scorers: Dragons: Christy Hassell (49:00), Jessica Frech (77:00) (86:00)
Laguna: Jennifer Barrientos (30:00), Gabrielle Arganda (73:00), Jennifer Barrientos (90:00+)

Under-17 Boys Results:
Santa Clara Sporting 91 (CA-N), Manhattan Phoenix (E-NY), 2:1
Goal Scorers: Sporting: OG (52:00), James Sweetman (59:00)
Manhattan: Caetano Sanchez - (90:00) 

Slammers FC (CA-S), Team Ohio (OH-S), 1:1
Goal Scorers: Slammers: Reed Williams (5:00)
Ohio: Jon Stegner - (37:00)

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