This past weekend, the USYS National League Regional Showcase Virginia took place at the River City Sportsplex in Midlothian, Va. Managed by EDP Soccer, in collaboration with CCL and VYSA, the event featured over 140 teams, from over 70 clubs and represented 16 different USYS State Associations. The weekend saw over 200 games played, with 15U-19U Boys and Girls teams competing from nine of the 13 USYS National League Conferences, with the South Atlantic, Mid Atlantic, North Atlantic, New England, Great Lakes, Midwest, Frontier, Piedmont and Sunshine Conferences all in attendance.
College coaches from all levels were in attendance, as schools focused on rounding out their Class of 2023 and finding top prospects in the 2024 and 2025 Classes. In addition, all games were recorded, making each moment of the showcase more valuable for college coaches, as well as all the players and participating teams!
A Look At Some of This Past Weekend’s Results
Bayside FC EDP U18/19B (RI) and Burke Athletic Club Elite (VA) both entered the final day with a 2-0-0 record. Tied for first place, both teams entered the final match looking to find a win, however the back-and-forth match saw neither team able to find the winning goal, and the game finished a 1-1 draw that saw both teams end on seven points. Cedar Stars Academy Hudson Valley Boys 2005 (NY-E) was in third place, playing some of the most exciting games of the event with scores of 3-2, 2-3 and 4-3.
Virginia Valor 2005G Gold (VA) ended at the top of the table with a 2-0-1 record, as their attack picked up momentum throughout the event becoming tough to stop. After opening with a 1-1 draw against Warrington FC United (PA-E), they scored four goals in back-to-back games, defeating Maryland Rush SOMD Rush 05G (MD) in a high-scoring thriller, 4-3, and then defeating second place BYSA '05 National Girls (MD) 4-0, BYSA’s only loss of the weekend. Warrington FC United (PA-E) finished in third place, drawing all three of their matches.
In the Platinum Bracket, NLS Ajax 06 White (MD), TSJFCV United 2006B Yellow (VA), Barcelona USA Western 06 (MD), CSC Sparta Black NL (MD) all finished 2-1-0, while AC Connecticut (CT) went 1-2-0 with a goal differential of 0, in a very balanced bracket. TSJ FC Virginia (VA) had a chance to finish unbeaten, but dropped a 1-0 decision to CSC Sparta Black on the final day, while NLS and Barcelona USA also recorded 1-0 wins that day to see all four teams end with the 2-1-0 record.
In the Diamond Bracket, Maryland Rush SOMD Rush 06G (MD) went 3-0-0 to finish in first place. Behind their fantastic back line, they started with back-to-back 1-0 wins over Liverpool FC-IA Michigan North Oakland 06 G Academy (MI) and Virginia Rush 2006G (VA), and closed out the event with a 2-0 win over MI Stars 06G Elite (MI). In the Ruby Bracket, four out of the six teams went 2-1-0, with Chicago Empire FC 2006 Gold Girls (IL), Virginia Valor FC 2006G Gold (VA), Rochester Lancers 2006 girls (NY-W) and A3 Soccer Royals 06G (MD) all with the identical record.
USYS Eastern Regional Champions AC Connecticut B07 EDP National (CT) proved again to be one of the top teams in the region, showing their strength against some of the Piedmont Conference top teams and winning the Platinum Bracket. After defeating VB City FC 2007 Boys Academy I (VA) 3-0, they went on to beat Piedmont Triad FC 07 (NC) 3-1 and Wake FC Blue 07 (NC) 4-1. West Pines United FC 2007 Elite (FL) came in second with a 2-0-1 record, and Cedar Stars Academy Hudson Valley 2007 Green (NY-E) was in third place with a 2-1-0 record.
FC Frederick FCF '07 Girls (MD) topped the Diamond Bracket having three extremely close matches. While keeping three clean sheets, they defeated Chicago United SC 07G Premier OP (IL) and MI Stars 07G Elite (MI) both 1-0, and drew 0-0 against Stony Brook - LGN Rush G2007 (NY-E). Across nine games within the bracket, five games finished 1-0 and three games ended in a draw.
In the Platinum Bracket, Princeton SA PSA Monmouth '08 NL (NJ) was the only team to finish 3-0-0, with Barcelona SC 08 Elite (TXS) finishing in second place with a record of 2-0-1. SYC (VA) and Lou Fusz Athletic (MO) both also had strong showings, going 1-1-1. First-place PSA started off very strong with a 3-0 win over AC Connecticut (CT) from the North Atlantic Academy Division, and followed it up with two wins over teams from the South Atlantic Conference defeating SYC (VA) 3-1 and St. Mary’s (MD) 1-0.
In the Diamond Bracket, SYC 2008G National League (VA) and 1776 United FC 2008 Girls Orange (PA-E) both finished the weekend with a record of 2-0-1. SYC had a statement win on day one, beating Wake FC 08G GA (NC) 4-1, then defeating MI Stars 08G Elite (MI) 2-1 and drawing 2-2 versus NCFC Gold North G (NC) in their final match. 1776 United FC 2008 Girls Orange (PA-E) drew with MI Stars (MI) on day one, then defeated NCFC 4-1 and Wake FC 08G GA, 1-0.
