FRISCO, Texas (July 29, 2019) – North Texas Soccer teams Dfeeters 05 Black and Solar 02 Castro won the 2019 US Youth Soccer National Championship titles in the 14-Under Girls and 17-Under Boys age groups respectively.
The National Championships were held in Overland Park, Kan. from July 23-28. Champions were crowned in the 13-Under through 19-Under Boys and Girls age groups. In addition to the two teams that won the National Championships, 13-Under Boys FC Dallas 06 Premier, 16-Under Boys FC Dallas 03 Premier, 18-Under Boys Solar 01 Stricker, 18-Under Boys FC Dallas 01 Premier and 19-Under Boys FC Dallas 00 Boys competed at the National Championships.
This year marked the first year North Texas Soccer teams claimed multiple National Championships since 2011. Ten North Texas Soccer players were also named to the National Championships Best XI teams, with Dfeeter 05 Black keeper Celia Cerone taking home the Golden Gloves award.
14-Under Girls
DFeeters began the National Championships with a 3-0 win over LA Fire 05 Red (LA) 3-0 in a rematch of the 2019 US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championships final. Shanti Weddington’s goal was sandwiched in between a pair from Delmy Benitez. After a hard-fought 1-0 loss to NJ Stallions 05 Fire (NJ), the National League Red Champions responded on the final day of group play with a 1-0 win against Tonka Fusion Elite (MN) courtesy of Livia Dunway’s goal. Neither Pipiline Spirit Pre-academy 05 (MD) nor Dfeeters could find the back of the net in regulation or extra time of the semifinals match, as Dfeeters would ultimately win in kicks from the mark. In the finals, Weddington began the scoring just nine minutes into the match, and Theresa McCullough doubled the lead with a goal off a set-piece in the 27th minute. Lou Fusz Geerling (MO) would cut the lead to one in the 54th minute, but Dfeeters, which finished in third at nationals last year, held on for the 2-1 win and a National title. McCullough, Dunaway and Cerone were all named to the Best XI team.
17-Under Boys
Things looked to be headed to a 1-1 draw in the opening match between Solar 02 Castro and Baltimore Celtic 02 (MD) after Johnathan Sauceda scored in the 13th minute. However a flurry of goals in the final minutes from Anthony Patti and Harvey Castro resulted in a 3-2 win for Solar. On the second day of play, the US Youth Soccer National League White Champions battled National League Black Champions Washington Premier 2002 (WA) to a scoreless draw. Castro, Gabriel Rodriguez and Sauceda all found the back of the net in the third group stage match against Coral Estates Strikers (FL) as Solar secured first place in the group with a 3-0 win. Sauceda netted his third and fourth goals of the tournament in regulation of the semifinals as Solar and Michigan Jaguars 02 Green (MI) needed extra time to determine who would head to the finals. After the Michigan side struck first in extra time, Harvey Castro and Jackson Castro each scored in the second half of extra time to give Solar the 4-3 win. Jackson Castro’s 62nd minute goal gave Solar a 1-0 win over defending national champions Arlington SA 2002 Red (VA) in the finals.
13-Under Boys
FC Dallas 06 Premier fell to both teams that ultimately ended up in the 13-Under Boys finals in the first two matches. FC Dallas secured third place with a 3-1 win over Rebels SC (CA-S) in the final game of the group stage. Caleb Centeno converted a penalty-kick to begin the scoring, but Rebels would respond with a goal later in the first half. Sebastian Sastoque found the back of the net inthe second half to give FC Dallas the 2-1 win. Fabian Enriquez and Rigoberto Carrillo were each named to the Best XI team.
16-Under Boys
Regional champions FC Dallas 03 Premier found itself in a 2-0 deficit in the second half of the opening match against SLSG 2003 Elite (MO), but Emanuel Martinez would score two straight to draw things level before Timothy Ospina added a third in the final minute to give FC Dallas a 3-2 win. After again going down 2-0, this time in the opening five minutes, FC Dallas rattled off six straight goals to defeat Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W) 6-2. Martinez scored a hat trick to combine with a pair from Brandon Shuey and a goal from Ospina. Joshua Milla began the scoring in the third match against Baltimore Celtic Premier (MD), but the Maryland side responded to go up with a pair of second half goals. Slade Strarnes volleyed in a goal in the final minute to earn a 2-2 draw for FC Dallas. Martinez scored his age group-tying sixth goal 10 minutes in to the semifinals against Beadling 2003 (PA-W). However, Beadling would net two goals in the second half to win 2-1. Ayden Mendoza was named to the Best XI team.
18-Under Boys
FC Dallas 01 Premier drew eventual champions PPA KSA Pro Profile (GA) 3-3 on day one in a rematch of the Southern Regional Championships semifinals. Best XI player Orlando Castro, Jide Adesanya and Johnny Bruce all scored for FC Dallas. On the first day, Solar 01 Stricker fell to Sparta 01 Premier (UT) 2-0. Both North Texas teams earned wins on the second day of play as Samel Coad and Best XI player Ian Miller each found the back of the net for Solar in a 3-1 win. Edward Knight III scored twice before Castro and Bruce each netted their second goal of the tournament in a 4-0 win over Michigan Wolves 01 (MI). Robert Pino and Best XI player Christian Naizer scored for Solar to secure second in the group, while Byron Aguilar scored the lone goal in a 1-0 FC Dallas win over OBGC Rangers (MD). Solar and FC Dallas met in the semifinals and needed regulation, extra time and 11 rounds of kicks from the mark to determine a winner. FC Dallas went up 2-0 with goals from Knight III and Carlos Santamaria, but Solar would come roaring back with goals from Naizer and Kaleem Shabout to draw things at 2-2. Solar eventually won in kicks from the mark to advance to the finals, but the National League Red winners fell to KSA in the finals in a rematch of the 2018 Southern Regional Championship finals.
19-Under Boys
2019 Southern Regional champions FC Dallas 00 fell to LMSC Rats 1-0 to open National Championship play, but FC Dallas responded with a 2-0 win over McLean Hotspur (VA) courtesy of goals from Malik Henry-Scott and Angel Medel. Derek Norsworthy scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against Ohio Premier NL (OH-S) to secure first place in the group. In the semifinals, FC Dallas went down to Baltimore Celtic SC 00 (MD) 1-0 in the first half and were unable to find the back of the net. Logan Moore was named to the Best XI team.
