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FRISCO, Texas (July 25, 2018) – Six North Texas Soccer teams combined for three wins, one draw and two losses on the second day of play at the 2018 US Youth Soccer National Championships held at Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco Texas.
13-Under Girls Liverpool 05 Elite, 14-Under Girls FC Dallas 04 Blue, 15-Under Girls Liverpool 03 Elite and 16-Under Girls Sparta FC 02 Elite all earned their respective spots in the National Championships by claiming US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championships titles last month, while defending National Champions Solar 02 Stricker reserved the right to defend its national title by winning the 2017-18 US Youth Soccer National League White title in December. 2018 North Texas Soccer State Cup finalists in the 19-Under Girls age group, Invictus SC 99 rounds out the field of North Texas teams .
Group play will take place July 24-26, while semifinals in the 14-18 Under age groups and finals in the 13-Under and 19-Under age groups will occur July 28. The remaining champions will be crowned July 29. Boys and girls teams in multiple age groups earn their way by competing against the top teams in their state and region. US Youth Soccer State Champions and selected wildcard teams are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the 13U through 19/20U age groups from each regional event will converge in the finals with the National League teams.

13-Under Girls
Samantha Lumpkin put Liverpool 05 Elite up early with a goal on the second day of the National Championships against KHA 05 (KY), and Katarina Campbell fired in a shot from outside the box to give the North Texas side a 2-0 lead before the break. However, the second half would belong to KHA as the Kentucky team scored two goals of their own to put the final score at 2-2. Liverpool controls its own destiny and can clinch a spot in the finals with a win against San Diego Surf 05 (CA-S) on the final day of group play.

14-Under Girls
FC Dallas Blue is headed to the National Championship semifinals after a second straight 1-0 win in group play. After a scoreless first half against Nationals Union 04 (MI), Mary Grace Henninger curled in a cross from the left flank onto the far post, where Alena Ultes got on the end of it to give FC Dallas the lead. FC Dallas keeper Taylor Richards and the FC Dallas back line help strong to preserve its second shutout and ultimately secure a spot in the knockout stage. FC Dallas will finish group play tomorrow against Michigan Jaguars 04 (MI), which also earned a spot in the semifinals with a win today.

15-Under Girls
Liverpool 03 Elite surrendered the opening goal of the match in the 19th minute, but forward Amanda Walsh responded just six minutes later when she capitalized on a LVPSA 03 Red (NV) defender’s mistake, dribbled past the keeper and found the back of the net for a second time in as many games. However, the second half belonged to LVPSA as the defending champs scored three unanswered goals to put the finals score at 4-1. Liverpool will play its final group play game against Cleveland FC 03 (OH-N) tomorrow.

16-Under Boys
Defending champs Solar 02 Stricker played Washington Premier 2002 Black (WA) in a battle of National League champions. Richard Garcia began the scoring in the 36th minute when his free-kick from distance slipped past everyone and found the side netting. Mason Monroe doubled Solar’s lead in the 56nd minute after he headed home Harvey Castro’s corner-kick. In the final minutes, Johnathan Sauceda found Nicolas Nee, who calmly slotted his shot past the keeper and into the back of the net to finalize the 3-0 win. With the win, Solar clinches first place in the group and a spot in the semifinals. Solar will play its final group play match tomorrow against Tuzos Academy 02 (AZ) in a rematch of the 2017 National Championships.

16-Under Girls
After a scoreless first half, Maycie Massingill’s corner-kick found its way into the back of the net to put Sparta FC 02 Elite up 1-0 against North Shore United 02 Blue (WI) four minutes into the second half. Margaret Tepera would double Sparta’s lead in the 74th minute after Nevaeh Johnson’s cross from the left flank found her at the box. Tepera rifled a shot to the far post and into the back of the net to put the score at 2-0. North Shore would get one back just a few minutes after Sparta’s second goal, but the North Texas side would hold on for the 2-1 win. Sparta will hope to earn a spot in the semifinals when it plays National League White champions Legends FC 02 (CA-S) on the final day of group play.

19-Under Girls
Invictus SC 99 fell to Utah FC 99 Black (UT) on the second day of play and will play its final match of the National Championships tomorrow against AFC Lightning 99 Elite (GA).