USL News Release

Monday, October 27, 2008

Mid Atlantic
PDA – Group A
PDA became the only undefeated club to emerge out of the U13 boys division following their 12^th win of the season, 4-0 over NJ Rangers FC on Wednesday, July 30. That win was especially significant due to the fact that the Rangers were one of only two clubs to draw PDA on the season, 0-0 on Sunday, June 22. The other team was Match Fit Academy, who tied PDA 1-1 on Sunday, April 27.

After that season-opening draw with Match Fit, PDA reeled off five consecutive shutout wins before being shutout themselves against the Rangers. The club responded by dropping seven goals on Parsippany SC in their next match, a 7-2 win. Including that win, PDA has won seven straight heading into their North American Finals opening match with the Richmond Kickers.

Quickstrike SC – Group B
The best offensive team in the Mid Atlantic, Quickstrike reinforced their club moniker by netting 48 goals in 13 matches for a regular season record of 10-2-1. Their lone draw was o the 1-1 variety. That went to TSF Academy on Wednesday, June 4. TSF finished second in Group B to PDA.

Wednesday’s being an Achilles Heel for this side; the North American Finals (which plays no games on a Wednesday) should be a breeze. Along with the draw to TSF, Quickstrike dropped a 3-2 decision to FC Westchester on Wednesday, May 14. If any other day would be a problem, it would be Saturday, November 22, the second day of North American Finals group play in which the side will face the Northwest Champion Washington Crossfire (9-1-4). Saturday was the only other day Quickstrike lost a match, a 2-1 decision that went to Rage SC.  

Ironbound SC – Group C (From the Club)
The invitation to the 2008 U-13 Boys Super Y-League North American Finals is a just reward for the Ironbound SC Inter team, after a solid first season in the Mid-Atlantic Division. Ironbound SC finished the season with a solid 9-3-2 record. The team will be competing in a difficult group, however, its tenacious style of play will have a major impact on who will qualify from this group.

Rage SC [+] – Group C

Midwest
Chicago Magic [+] – Group C

Alliance Academy – Group B
Alliance Academy, a first-year Super Y-League club earned one of their two North American Finals qualification positions in the U13 boys’ age division (the other was in the U14 girls division), after finishing the season with a record of 9-1-0. One of the toughest divisions in the Super Y-League, Alliance was sandwiched between two of the league’s top clubs, the Chicago Magic, who have won the most titles in Super Y-League history (9) and the Kalamazoo Kingdom, who qualified more teams for the 10^th annual Super Y-League North American Finals than any other club (7).

Despite that adversity, Alliance lost only one match, 2-0 to the Magic in their last match of the season. The side found the back of the net 42 times in 10 games and allowed only five on the season. Before facing the Magic, which would only happen again should both teams reach the North American Championship match, Alliance had won nine consecutive games including a 2-0 win over Kalamazoo.   

Kalamazoo [+] – Group A

New England
MPS Boston [+] - Group D

Northern California
Diablo FC – From the Club
Diablo FC Internazionale is a team from the San Francisco, greater east bay area in California. Diablo FC was formed in 2008, so we are a new team formed as a result of the merger of two local clubs. Our team is a culturally and socioeconomically diverse group of talented athletes and fun loving kids. Our families come from Mexican, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Persian, African, American Indian and European backgrounds. 

So far this year we have won the Super Y-League Pacific Northern California Division, the 2008 U.S. Club Soccer National Cup Regional competition in Boise, ID claiming the championship after five tournament wins and the Diablo FC Summer Classic after four wins. We are hoping to make our mark on Tampa, FL in the Super Y-League North American Finals.

Juventus SC – Group B
Juventus SC took the second qualification position out of Northern California’s three-horse race between Diablo (18 points), Juventus (17 points) and the Cal odyssey (15 points). Juventus drew Diablo 0-0 in their first meeting of the season before dropping a 3-1 decision to succumb to Diablo on Sunday, June 1.

Against Cal, Juventus tied 3-3 and won 2-0. Juventus was a balanced team throughout the season, scoring 28 times, the best mark in the division and allowing 10 goals, the third-best total in Northern California. Juventus will face Quickstrike in their first match of North American Finals group play. 

Northwest
Washington Crossfire – Group A
The Washington Crossfire won the Northwest Division with a mark of 9-1-4. Mountain WFC hot on their heels throughout the season, the Crossfire needed every point to come out on top of a difficult division. In the end, the American’s bested the Canadians by the slimmest of margins, a single point, 31 to 30. Head-to-head the sides drew 1-1 on Saturday, May 31. In their second meeting of the season a week later, the Crossfire escaped Canada with a 1-0 victory.

Guided by Mike Greiner, the side began the season with a win and two draws before dropping their only decision of the season, 2-1 to Thompson Okanagan. Since that point the Crossfire has not lost in their last 10 matches. They have shut out their opponents in six of those matches for a division-best goals against average of 1.4.

Mountain WFC [+] – Group D

South Atlantic
CASL RailHawks [+] – Group C

Richmond Kickers – Group A (From the Club)
Richmond Kickers U13 boys have earned a spot in the Super Y-League North American Finals in Tampa, Florida. Coached by Leigh Cowlishaw and Mark Fowler, the boys came together this summer in their first season in the Super Y-League. The U13 boys came away this summer with a record of seven wins and three losses.

Southeast Division
Schulz Academy – Group B
Schulz Academy won Group B of the 11-team Southeast Division with a record of 12-1-1. Their only loss of the season was to Group A Champion, H.C. United, 3-1 on Saturday, July 19. The only other match in which Schulz didn’t come out with a victory was a 2-2 draw with Weston SC on Wednesday, June 11.

The side shutout their opponents nine times this season including the rematch with Weston, which went Schulz’s way, 1-0 on Wednesday, August 6. Schulz had the best offense in the division, averaging near five goals per game. Their defense was second only to H.C. United, allowing eight goals in 14 games.  

H.C. United [+] - Group D