The fall season continued with week three in the USYS National League Conferences, Managed by EDP Soccer. With the first month of the season in the books, teams are looking to separate themselves at the top of the table. The National League Conferences provide competing teams the opportunity to qualify for the 2022 USYS Eastern Regional Championships through league play and also a chance to earn their place in the 2022-2023 season of the USYS National League P.R.O. competition.
JUMP TO: Mid Atlantic | New England | North Atlantic | South Atlantic
North Atlantic Conference
In the 13U Boys Academy Division, two of the three undefeated teams met Sunday in Danbury, Conn., when AC Connecticut 2009 hosted DUSC 2009.
In a very evenly played match, DUSC got on the scoreboard first when they scored near the end of the first half. After some halftime adjustments, AC Connecticut managed to come from behind and tie the game at 1-1 when Dylan Dawes scored the equalizer on a strike from outside the box. AC Connecticut coach Kevin Malta said his team was challenged by DUSC’s speed of play in the opening half but a change of formation for his team in the second half helped to balance the game.
"DUSC 2009 Boys were an outstanding team, they showed everyone, especially in the first half, the way the game should be played. Great players playing some incredible possession,” said Steven Carneiro, Director of Youth at AC Connecticut. “Our coach and boys made the proper adjustments at halftime and created some great opportunities to eventually equalize the match. Great match to watch and be a part of."
In the 13U Girls Premier I Division, the top of the table clash saw Met Oval Academy 2009 Girls host Manhattan SC Revolution, with both teams entering with a record of 2-0-0.
Met Oval got off to a fast start with a goal in the 4th minute by Kayla Mannix, assisted by Sabrina Curcio. Mannix contributed to Met Oval’s second goal, when she provided an assist on Maya Harrison’s 15-minute strike that doubled the lead. Manhattan SC found its rhythm and had the better of the play and got a goal back when Valeria Cruz scored in the 28th minute. The second half started with Manhattan pressing hard and creating some opportunities, but it was not able to capitalize on its chances. Met Oval settled down and created some chances of its own and put the game out of reach in the 68th minute with a great build up from the back and a nice through ball on the right side from Loradana Paletta to free up Sabrina Curcio, who scored on the short side to seal Met Oval’s 3-1 win.
“Manhattan played an organized high press game, which was hard to break, but our girls were disciplined in sticking to our style of building out the back,” Met Oval coach Alain Paletta said. “We were able to overcome some errors and the game was ultimately decided by us being able to finish more chances than our opponents.”
“We are happy to get the win against a really good team,” Met Oval’s Ava Barberio said. “It was a complete team effort today.”
In the 13U Girls Academy Division, NJ Premier FC 2009G traveled to Greenwich, Conn., to take on Chelsea Piers Shoreline SC Nice in a battle of two 1-0-0 teams. Chelsea Piers Shoreline SC was able to continue its great start to the season, as it came away with a 4-2 victory.
All scores for the North Atlantic Conference can be found here.
Mid Atlantic Conference
In the 14U Boys Academy Division, three teams entered the weekend with a 2-0-0 record. Two of those teams faced off when PDA Hibernian Matthaus hosted Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 08B Black on Sunday.
The game was evidence of just how tight it is at the top of the table, with neither team being able to find the back of the net as it ended in a scoreless draw. Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals’ backline was solid all game long, with goalkeeper Fran Semon, center back Julian Dean and outside back Nathan Fellah standing out on the day. For PDA Hibernian, Nick Angiolino, Christian Tharney and Jayden Geleta were some of the top performers in the matchup.
In the 13U Boys Premier I Division, STA-MOSC 2009 looked to continue its fantastic start to the season and stay top of the table when it hosted Yardley Makefield Soccer 2009 Boys Warriors on Saturday afternoon. The YMS Warriors came out on top. 5-3, in a high-scoring game.
After a competitive start to the game, Ajnur Curevac of YMS scored a free kick from outside the 18-yard box, putting his side in the lead. Fellow YMS Warriors Owen Hanrahan, Dylan Kawalek and Matthew Cole added to YMS goal count to put them ahead, 4-2, at halftime. STA-MOSC scored its third goal in the second half to pull within one goal of YMS, but some incredible saves by YMS goalie Nathan Cole and a final goal by Matthew Cole assured YMS of the win.
“Both teams fought hard, but I feel we played some good soccer and were fortunate to finish our chances,” YMS head coach Rich Finneyfrock said.
In the 14U Girls Premier I Division, the top of the table is congested as six teams entered the weekend with 4 points of each other. On Saturday morning, FC Revolution Eclipse visited Lancaster Elite Atoms, as both teams looked to separate themselves from the pack.
Kamryn Runkle and Sariah Dixon both scored in the second half for Lancaster Elite Atoms to put the side up 2-0. FC Revolution pulled a goal back in the 69th minute, but it was unable to find an equalizer in the dying moments.
“We started the game strong, creating a couple great scoring opportunities, but we were unable to finish,” Lancaster Elite coach Chay Nguyen said. “Our ladies continued to move the ball and stuck to the game plan in the second half. We finally were able to combine and score two goals to win the game against a very competitive team.”
All scores for the Mid Atlantic Conference can be found here.
South Atlantic Conference
In the 13U Boys Premier I Division, Broadneck SC 2009 Bandits Premier hosted Total Futbol Club 2009 Gold on Sunday morning, with both teams looking to catch first-place Baltimore Union SC Elite, who had the weekend off. The game was a thrilling back-and-forth match that ended tied at 3-3.
Broadneck SC’s Erik Akhtar scored on a direct free kick from about 25 yards out that went just over the keeper's head. Teammate Cole Owen scored when he got around the defender and finished from the right side. The team’s third goal came from Wilson Banwell, who found the back of the net after receiving a pass through the middle third and beating the center backs.
“Total Football is a fantastic team and well coached,” Broadneck coach Darrell Marshall said following the game. “One of the best teams we played. They are skilled and gritty. They were a great challenge.”
In the 14U Girls Premier I Division, Penn FC Youth 2008F Black traveled to Maryland State Cup champion Maryland Rush SOMD Rush 08G Kraken in a battle of two of the division's top teams.
Penn FC won the tightly contested match 1-0 on a Hannah Sanson goal.
All scores for the South Atlantic Conference can be found here.
New England Conference
In the 14U Girls Premier I Division, Ole Impact FC Regional had a huge weekend that propelled it to the top of the table. On Saturday, Ole defeated MA Rush North 2008 Girls in a high-scoring game, winning by final score of 4-3. On Sunday, it secured one of the biggest early upsets in the fall season, as Ole defeated USYS Eastern Regional Champions and first-place conference side New England Surf State Navy by a convincing 3-0 score line.
“What a game. We chose a defensive and counter-attack strategy versus a very strong New England Surf team, which resulted in an early goal,” said Rodrigo Nunes, Director of Ole Impact. “Our fast and skilled strikers, Ella McGuee and Amelia Stephens, broke their defensive line and created good opportunities. Julia Nunes, Teagan Badja and Jillian Borgia battled in midfield against their skilled opponents and goalkeeper Kara Leandres made a few key saves.
“Overall, it was a great team effort where everyone contributed a lot. This is an amazing 3-0 result for the G2008 Olé Impact FC team and for the club, and certainly a game to remember.”
In the 13U Boys Academy Division, Juventus Academy Boston EDS N 2009 Boys visited Seacoast United Bedford 2009 Elite Boys on Sunday at Back River Sports Complex. Juventus Academy Boston won the match, 3-1, keeping the team within 2 points of the top of the table.
Seacoast kicked off and within 15 seconds found itself down by a goal. An errant pass was intercepted by striker Adan Spivak, who finished strongly past goalkeeper Ollie Ayers. The game was equally poised with both teams playing very well until Juventus went up, 2-0, on a goal from Luigi Marangiello from inside the penalty area — a well-struck shot to the near post.
Seacoast controlled possession through its center midfielders in the center of the field. However, its high rate of possession was offset by Juventus’ ability to capitalize on the counter attacks, as the Boston side created plenty of scoring chances.
The second half began with Seacoast having much of the ball, but it was unable to break into the final third of a well-organized Juventus defense. The third and decisive Juventus goal came from a Seacoast attack deep in the Juventus half when a blocked tackle resulted in the ball finding its way to the speedy striker, Marangiello, who was lurking on the halfway line. He outpaced the defenders and finished to increase the Juventus lead to 3-0.
Seacoast scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot from midfielder Caden Santerre after Willem Pierce was brought down.
"The physical presence of the Juventus group was a problem for the Seacoast smaller technical players and the pace of Marangiello was always a threat,” said Seacoast coach John Price. "As much as we had the ball, we couldn't break down in the final third and get any forward momentum."
All scores for the New England Conference can be found here.