With the opening weekend of the US Youth Soccer National League around the corner, we preview all of the North Texas Soccer teams competing in the competition.
Solar Chelsea 99
Age Group: Under-18 Girls
Schedule/Roster
The Breakdown
Solar Chelsea 99 enters its first season of the US Youth Soccer National after completing its most successful season last year, when the former Andromeda side won a US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Premier League (SRPL) West division title and won the 2016 US Youth Soccer North Texas State Cup. Despite failing to advance out of the group stage of the 2016 US Youth Soccer Region III Championships, Solar will look to use the experience as it begins its journey in the National League.
Player Accolades
North Texas ODP: Kylie Hampton, Morgan Hirosky, Sydney Hurlburt, Emma Ito, Casady Jenkins, Lauren Mackey, Victoria Troop, Natalie Wodka
Region III ODP: Kylie Hampton, Lauren Mackey, Natalie Wodka
The Opponents
FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E)
Solar will get a highly contested introduction into the National League as they take on National League veteran and 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships semifinalist FC Penn Strikers. The two-time US Youth Soccer Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup champs and 2015 US Youth Soccer Region I Champions have twice placed third in the National League and will look to win its first National League division title to return to the National Championships.
Kings Hammer Academy Red (OH-S)
Solar will face-off against fellow National League newcomer Kings Hammer Academy in its second match of the weekend. Kings Hammer is no rookie to highly competitive leagues as the 2016 US Youth Soccer Ohio South State Cup champ has used the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League (MRL) to qualify to the Region II Championships twice, but have failed to advance out of the group stage in three attempts.
FCKC Academy Blues Elite 99 (MO)
Solar will take on another team with National League prowess when they play 2015-16 National League Red Division runner-up FCKC Academy. The four-time US Youth Soccer Missouri State Cup winners have also won the last two Region II Championships and will look to build off a semifinals appearance in the 2016 National Championships.
South Carolina United FC 99 Elite (SC)
Rounding out the weekend for Solar will be a team that has been moving its way up the Region III totem pole in South Carolina United FC. The two-time US Youth Soccer South Carolina State Cup winners reached the finals of the 2016 Region III Championships in 2016 after making it to the quarterfinals in 2015. SCUFC is also currently in first place of the 2016-17 SRPL East standings heading into its first National League season.
National League Schedule, Scores & Standings
Live Stream Schedule
National League Homepage