Soccer: Loudoun Boys 98 Red Advances to Region I Finals, One Win Away from US Youth Soccer National Championships

(July 1, 2013) - The Loudoun 98 Boys Red soccer team is one win away from earning at rip to the US Youth Soccer National Championships later this month in Overland Park, Kan. after advancing to the finals of the Region I Championships.

Loudoun knocked off the FC Somers Razors from New York, 2-1, in Monday's semifinals and will play Penn Fusion SA 98 in the finals Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Along the way at the tournament at the University of Rhode Island, the Loudoun team has picked up four wins in four days including coming back from down 2-0 to beat defending regional champion Bethesda SC Blue PL, 5-2, in pool play.

Loudoun 98 Boys Red - Region I Championships
Fri. June 28: Loudoun 1, Delaware Rush Nike 98 (DE) 0
Sat. June 29: Loudoun 5, Bethesda SC Blue PL (MD) 3
Sun. June 30: Loudoun 2, Bruno United FC (RI) 1
Semifinals - Mon. July 1: Loudoun 2, FC Somers Razors (E-NY)
Finals - Tues. July 2: Loudoun vs. Penn Fusion SA 98 (E-PA), 10 a.m.

More on the win over Bethesda

The returning 2012 U-13 US Youth Soccer Region I Champions Bethesda SC Blue PL (MD) cruised through day one with an 8-0 win. They looked primed for another big victory with two early first half goals from Thomas Hansan against their day 2 opponents Loudoun 98 Red (VA).

Loudoun showed some great resilience and scored 5 unanswered goals, including a hat-trick by Giovanni Vasquez, to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Vasquez's hat-trick was complemented by goals from Emin Kari and Ryan Pyszka in the 20th and 52nd minutes.

Finding themselves with only nine players late in the game Bethesda pushed for a late comeback but came up short. They managed a consolation goal from Matthew Di Rosa to bring the final score to 5-3 in favor of Loudoun.

“The kids love the atmosphere here and we knew coming in that Bethesda is the best team here. We play them a lot. To come in here and be two-nil down and come back means a lot to the guys,” said Loudoun coach Mark Ryan. “We’ve got to stay focused and we want to win it. It’d be fantastic to make it to the National Championships.”

“We work really hard and obviously to come here and play against this level of opposition it’s fantastic. It’s an incredibly high level of competition here. These are the best teams up and down the east coast.”

2013 Region I Championships 
Finals Match-ups - Tuesday, July 2

Boys
U12: PDA Donovan (NJ) vs. TSF Academy (NJ)
U12 (8x8): Lehigh Valley (E-PA) vs. NHPSA Classics Elite (NH)
U13: Patriot FC Red (E-PA) vs. FSA FC Boys Navu (CT)
U14: Loudoun 98 Red (VA) vs. Penn Fusion SA 98 (E-PA)
U15: Lehigh Valley United (E-PA) vs. Arlington SA Impact Red (VA)
U16: Arlington SA Strikes Red (VA) vs. Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal (E-NY)
U17: OBGC Ranges (MD) vs. PDA McGeough (NJ)
U18: PDA Harkes (NJ) vs. Lake Grove SC United (NY-E)
U19: Lehigh Valley United 93 (PA-E) vs. SA of Columbia United Premier (MD)

Girls
U12: PDA Splash (NJ) vs. CFC Arsenal (CT)
U12 (8x8): Delaware Rush Nike 00 (DE) vs. Alleycats Ocicats 00/01 (E-NY)
U13: FC Stars of Massachusetts 99/00 vs. NEFC Elite PL (MA)
U14: PWSI Courage 98 Red (VA) vs. Yardley Makefield Soccer Xplosion 98 (E-PA)
U15: PWSI Courage 97 Red (VA) vs. Empire Revolution SYR Blue 97/98 (NY-W)
U16: Toms River FC Elite 96/97 (NJ) vs. PSC Baltimore (MD)
U17: Beading SC Thunder (PA-W) vs. Aztec Soccer Premier (MA)
U18: Connecticut FC (CT) vs. Scorpions (MA)
U19: Buffalo Invaders (NY-W) vs. FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E)