ORLANDO, Fla. (July 25, 2024) — Thursday marked the decision day at the 2024 US Youth Soccer National Championships, presented by New York Life, in Orlando, Fla., as boys and girls teams in the 13U-19U age groups wrapped up group play and secured berths to the tournament’s knockout rounds.
Five of the eight finalists in the 13U and 18U age groups played in the National League during the 2023-24 season, and four of those five sides won their respective conference.
In the 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U and 19U age groups, the top team in each four-team group earned advancement to semifinal matches that will be played on Saturday morning. Of the 40 teams that advanced to the weekend’s semifinals in those age groups, 39 played in National League competitions during the 2023-24 season.
“We knew we had to come out today balling,” said Miami Breakers 09B (FL) winger Gabriel Perrotti after a must-win contest for advancement. “We got the win, so now we’re going through. For me, it means everything. It’s my last season here at this club, where I’ve played my whole life, and the truth is I wouldn’t want it to end any other way.”
The National Championships semifinalists include 12 teams that won the champions pool at their National League P.R.O. event, while six runners-up from P.R.O. events also advanced to this weekend’s semifinals in Orlando. Four silver pool winners and five wildcard pool winners also earned berths to the semifinals. Overall, each of the 39 semifinalists that played the National League advanced out of their respective playoff events and played at a National League P.R.O. event.
Nineteen of the semifinalists finished in first place in their regular season division within the National League, and 11 finished as regular season runners-up.
Galaxy 08B comes through in must-win game
Tied atop 16U Boys Group C with four points apiece, Galaxy SC 08B Elite 64 (IL) and AC Brea B08 (CA-S) knew one of the sides would earn the group’s spot in the semifinals.
Galaxy, which needed all three points to guarantee advancement, grabbed an early lead behind a 4th-minute goal from Oliver Brosnahan. The Illinois side maintained that lead until the 48th minute, when AC Brea’s Antonio Diaz Madrid ran on to a long ball played behind the back line and found the back of the net with his first-touch shot.
While a tied score line would mean AC Brea’s advancement, that scenario did not last long. Just five minutes after the equalizer, Galaxy regained the lead thanks to a Ryan Gervase goal. The defender’s tally proved to be the winner, as the Illinois side held on for the 2-1 win.
“All the parents knew we had to win the game. Everyone knew. The other team knew, so they were playing to tie or win,” Gervase said. “I’ve been on this team for about 10 years. It’s my first time at Nationals, and it’s a big opportunity to score the winning goal to make it to the semifinals and have a chance to win the National title.”
DASC wins battle of former champions
In the 19U Girls age group, 2023 17U National Champion DASC Black (SD) faced a must-win situation against Group A leader NOSC Blast 05G Sahara (MN), which featured several players returning from the Blast side that won last year’s 19U National title.
The experience on the biggest stage shared between both teams was evident, as the two sides battled for 90 minutes in a game that featured plenty of momentum swings.
After a scoreless first half, Elizabeth Castelli began a frantic second half by scoring in the 53rd minute to give DASC a 1-0 lead. The South Dakota side doubled its advantage around the hour mark on an Aftyn Murray strike.
NOSC replied minutes later to pull within a goal, as Meghan Przybilla ran on to a cross into the box and hit her first-time shot into the back of the net. The Minnesota side got the tying goal that had the potential to put it through to the semifinals in the 72nd minute, when Molly Burkstrand hit a shot form distance the dipped under the bar.
In the final minutes of regulation, DASC earned a series of corners that ended with Makenzie Nelson making a back post run and hammering a volley into the roof of the net. DASC held on in the waning moments to earn the 3-2 win and advance out of Group A to the semifinals.
“Playing another team that also won Nationals last year is a huge opportunity for us to even get better as a team,” Nelson said. “We came into this game needing to win and wanting to win. We had that all throughout the game. We gave it everything we could and came up with the win.”
