With just one weekend left to go in each age group, North Texas Soccer teams FC Dallas 02 Premier, Solar 02 Castro and Solar 01 Stricker lead their respective US Youth National League divisions.
Nine North Texas teams have completed National League play, with boys teams most recently competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla De. 29-31, while the girls teams just wrapped up play in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. from Jan. 26-28. North Texas teams combined for 17 wins, eight losses and two draws in Florida.
The remaining seven teams will play the final three games in Las Vegas, with the boys teams playing March 8-10, while the girls teams competing March 15-17.
The National League provides a pathway for four teams per gender age group to qualify for the US Youth Soccer National Championships, sending the top finishers in each division of the 14U through 19U Boys and Girls age groups to compete for the National title. The four National League representatives will join the four regional champions at the 2019 US Youth Soccer National Championships, July 23-29 at the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.
Division Recaps
15-Under Boys
Dallas Kicks Selecao 04 began play in Orlando with a 4-3 win over JB Maring-Gober (MO) in a back-and-forth thriller. Milton Lopez began the scoring just six minutes into the match, but the Missouri side would equalize just moments later. Lopez netted his second goal of the game just before halftime, and Oscar Martinez and Donovan Puente would extend the Kicks lead to 4-1. JB Marine would mount an impressive comeback attempt with goals in the 68th and 79th minute, but that would be as close as they get as Kicks would hold on for the victory. Samuel Benavidez and Zackery Betzinger scored first-half goals against Bethesda Blue 04 (MD) to give Dallas Kicks a third consecutive National League victory dating back the first weekend. Betzinger struck first against VHSC Steamers 04 Black (AL), but the defending Southern Regional Champions would find two goals in the second half to ultimately win 2-1. Kicks finish its first National League season with a 3-2 record, which currently puts the North Texas side in second place in the Blue Division.
17-Under Girls
Defending Southern Regional Champions Sparta FC 02 Elite made a statement in their first game in Florida with a 5-0 win against Michigan Jaguars 02 Green (MI). Grace Jordan, Graycen Rasmussen, Savanna Riggs, Reagan Easter and 2018 National Championships Best XI player Kayla Smith all found the back of the net in the win. On the second day, Sparta fell 1-0 in a hard fought match against defending National Champions and eventual National League Red Division Champions SJEB Rush 02 Academy Blue (NJ), but the North Texas side rebounded on the final day of play with a 2-1 win against NCFC 02 Elite (NC) courtesy of goals from Smith and Riggs. Sparta currently sits in second place with a 4-2-1 record in the Red Division.
17-Under Boys
After a less-than-ideal start in its debut National League season, FC Dallas 02 Premier responded in a big way by rattling off three straight wins in Orlando. FC Dallas began the weekend with a 3-2 win over Lehigh Valley United 02 Black (PA-E) as Porter Pomykal, Roman Torres and Seanpaul Negron all found the back of the net. FC Dallas would earn its first National League shutout in a 4-0 win over LGN United 02 (NY-E) courtesy of Shane Anderson’s brace in addition to goals from Ayden Nocus and Negron. FC Dallas would wrap up its first National League season with a 4-2 win against NCFC 02 Elite (NC). Nocus and Negron gave FC Dallas a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes, but the North Carolina side would knot things us with two goals of their own. Anderson and Torres would put FC Dallas up for good to finish the weekend with a 3-0 record. FC Dallas currently sits in first place in the Black Division, but will need some help from the games in Las Vegas to keep that spot.
Not to be outdone, Solar 02 Castro also went 3-0 on the weekend while winning their three games by an average of five goals. Harvey Castro and Jordan Munoz netted braces to go with goals from Gabriel Rodriguez and Anthony Patti as Solar won 6-2 against Brausa 02 Blue (MD) on the opening day of play. In the second match, it was Jackson Castro’s turn to find the back of the net twice, while Harvey Castro and Johnathan Sauceda also scored for Solar to earn a 4-0 win against YMS United 02 (PA-E). Solar finished the National League season on a strong note with a 7-0 win against Libertyville FC 1974 Elite (IL). Sauceda scored four goals in the final match, while Harvey Castro added two and Patti also got on the board with a goal. Solar currently sits at the top of the White Division and will await the results of the games in Las Vegas to see if they will claim the White Division title and secure a spot in the National Championships.
18-Under Boys
Solar 01 Stricker went down 2-0 in the first 22 minutes against Javanon 2001 Black (KY), but the National League veterans responded in a big way as Eduard Shehu scored right before halftime, and Christian Naizer netted two goals in the second half, his second in the final minutes to give Solar the 3-2 win. Solar would tie a former National Champion for a second time this season when Robert Pino and Carson Prestridge scored in a 2-2 draw against McLean Green 01 Athletic (VA). Solar finished up the National League season with an 11-0 win over 01 CSA North Elite (NC). Solar currently leads the Red Division with a 3-0-2 record and like FC Dallas 02 and Solar 02 Castro, will await the games in Las Vegas.
FC Dallas 01 Premier handed current group leaders OBGC Rangers Blue 2001 (MD) its only loss this National League season as Javier Solis and Alejandro Tellez both found the back of the net for the 2018-19 National League Frontier Conference Champions. Bryan Aguilar struck first for FC Dallas against Tampa Bay United (FL), but the 2017 National Champions would mount a comeback to ultimately win 2-1. FC Dallas would finish its first National League season on a strong note with a 4-0 win against OBSC 2001 Blue (IL). Orlando Castro, Edward lll Knight, Jide Adesanya and Marco Delvecchio all found the back of the net as FC Dallas finished with a 3-2 record.
Todd Fuller netted a goal as Solar 01 Sawyer earned its first National League points in a 1-1 draw against Lake Grove Newfield United (NY-E). Solar would fall to defending Southern Regional Champion PPA KSA 01 Pro-Profile (GA) on the second day of play, but Solar finished up National League on a strong note with a 2-1 win over Rise SC 01 Elite (TX-S) thanks to goals from Fuller and Brycen Drew.
19-Under Boys
Joel Ameke looked to have secured a 1-1 draw in FC Dallas 00 Premier’s first game of the weekend with his goal in the 85th minute, but LMSC Rats (PA-E) scored a goal in the 90th minute to win 2-1. FC Dallas would fall in another thriller on the next day. Despite going down 3-0, Kevin Kim and Ameke scored in the final minutes, but a comeback ultimately fell short when FC Dallas lost 3-2 to CUP 00 Gold (OH-S). FC Dallas would earn points in its final game as Kim scored two goals to go with goals from Roman DeLeon, Luis Pacheco and Samuel Cox in a 5-1 win against NCFC Elite (NC).
FC Dallas 00 Boys followed similar suit as the National League Frontier Conference champions lost 1-0 to Lehigh Valley United 2000 Black (PA-E) and 3-2 to Ohio Premier (OH-S) despite goals from Angel Medel and Malik Henry-Scott. However, FC Dallas would end the National League season on a high note with a 7-1 win against CTC South Florida FC 2000 (FL)you