ORLANDO, Fla. (March 25, 2021) — Two teams from the US Youth Soccer Midwest Conference were victorious in the USYS National League Playoffs over the past two weekends, progressing to the 2021 USYS National Championships as a result. 16U Boys Libertyville FC 1974 Elite-05 Boys (IL) won its group at National League Greensboro, and 15U Boys SC Wave Juniors 06 Boys (WI) will join Libertyville at the USYS National Championships after winning its group at National League Orlando.
Competing March 12-14 at National League Greensboro, Libertyville FC 1974 Elite-05 Boys (IL) finished atop its group, ahead of Olympiacos FC Academy B05 (CA-S) on goal difference. The two teams played to a scoreless draw in their opening matchup. Libertyville FC followed that game with a pair of 2-0 wins, while Olympiacos managed to win both of its games by one goal apiece.
Memo Marín, coach of the B16U Libertyville FC team, acknowledged his team’s great preparation on defense, as it didn’t concede any goals across the weekend.
“We knew we were going to confront an opponent with fast attackers and with great physical strength. Therefore, it was required that in the defensive transitions our team had to be rapid physically and mentally,” Marín said. “The team had to come out and give their very best, not allow goals against, and to be effective in their options of goals that our team created in our favor.”
Meanwhile, SC Wave Juniors 06 Boys (WI) were dominant March 19-21 at National League Orlando, as the Wisconsin side won all three of its games and scored 14 goals in the process. A goal-filled 5-3 win in SC Wave’s opening game was followed by a 3-1 win over eventual runner-up FC Dallas Youth 06B Central Red (TX-N) and 6-0 win in the final game when only a draw was needed to clinch first place.
The coach of the B15U SC Wave team, Ian Bennett, was transparent on what he tells his team in training.
“These boys work hard in every training session and I always tell them, ‘You can’t celebrate or dance if you don’t score goals,’” Bennett said. “So, I think the boys were up for it last weekend.”
These teams join the victors from the first National League Playoff event in North Carolina, 17U Girls Galaxy SC 2004 Blue (IL), 18U Girls Nationals Union 03 Girls Black (MI), 17U Boys SLSG 2004 Elite (MO), 18U Boys Kingdom SC 03 Red (MI) and 19U Boys SLSG 2002 Elite (MO) in punching their tickets to the USYS National Championships. Read a Midwest Conference Recap of the first National League Playoff event in North Carolina here.
Both teams are currently playing in the Boys Club vs. Club Division during the Spring 2021 season of the Midwest Conference. To read more about the Conference and view results and standings for the Midwest Conference, click here.
