Sporting Iowa 15U Girls are National Champions!
2019 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (July 14, 2019) – Iowa Soccer member Sporting Iowa 15U Girls, winners of the 15 Girls US Youth Soccer Midwest Region Presidents Cup Championship in June, converted today on its chance to win a national title. Today’s thrilling 3-2 win over Beach SC (Cali.) secured the team’s place in Iowa Soccer history as a National Champion as it defeated each of the three champions from the East, South and Far West US Youth Soccer Regions.
The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is designed for teams seeking additional challenges to play for a national title. The Cup provides a progressive, competitive experience that starts by winning the state-level Presidents Cup. State Champs then go on to compete at their respective regional championship, with each of the four regional champions qualifying for the national Presidents Cup competition. At the 2019 National Presidents Cup, 20 different states advanced from four Regional Championships in the 13U through 18U age groups.
With Iowa’s spring high school season, the older age group club teams compete for the Iowa Presidents Cup Championship in the fall preceding regional and national advancement. The Sporting squad’s journey to a national championship started last October by winning the Iowa Presidents Cup and picked up again at the regional competition in mid-June in Overland Park, Kan. where it went 2-1 in group play. In a semifinal match that went through 11 penalty kickers on each team, it was Thomas who scored the game-winner. Sporting earned its Regional Championship by defeating KC Legends (Kan.), 2-0.
At the National Presidents Cup Championship, the squad again went 2-1 in group play, beating teams from Pennsylvania and North Carolina and advancing to the Final before the third group game was even played. Saturday’s 2-0 group game loss to Beach SC set the stage for a dramatic rematch that met expectations.
Championship match goals were scored by Avery Korsching, Brissa Parra and Isabel Davis. In net throughout their regional and national title runs was Braelyn Thomas who preserved the team’s championship by saving a penalty kick in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time. The team is coached by Iowa native Whitney (Sharpe) Lewis.
Front row, left to right: Isabel Davis, Brissa Parra, Grace Smith, Jocelyn Bice, Braelyn Thomas, Hannah Kehoe, Reagan Teut, Grace Wolford, Anna Van Wyngarden
Back row, left to right: Avery Korsching, Sydney Slycord, Shay Polson, Lydia Zaragoza, Brookelyn Buttolph, Mara Watkins, Kate Anthofer, Allyson Hoffa, Coach Whitney Lewis
Not pictured: Mallory Goldstein
##IowaSoccer##