Filling out Group B is Mid Atlantic number two, TSF Academy, who will look to use the strength it received from a tough Mid Atlantic schedule to start off strong in Tampa. TSF finished with a commanding 9-2-1 record and only surrendered 10 goals in those 12 games. After losing their first game of the season, TSF rolled off five straight wins.

Parsippany SC will look to build on their strong club tradition when they take the field this November. Led by a stingy defense that propelled them through Mid Atlantic play, that back line will again look to carry the side at the North American Finals. Parsippany only allowed seven goals in their 12 games to lead the Mid Atlantic Division. Their 9-2-1 record and tough style of play will create problems for the other teams in Group C.

The South Jersey Barons come into the North American Finals with a record of 8-2-2. The team’s greatest asset is their scoring ability, which tied for third-best in the division with 35. The team’s defense allowed 15 goals on the season, fifth-best in the division. Although the Barons finished fourth in the division, they fared well against quality competition downing Rage SC, 4-1 in their only meeting of the season.

Midwest
The Fort Wayne Fever rose to the top of the Midwest Division and will hope to rise to the top again this November. The Fever went undefeated through seven games this season and went 1-0-1 against the two other Midwest Division teams joining them in Tampa. Like many other teams that have qualified for the North American Finals, the Fever was led by a powerful offense that averaged more than four goals a game.

The Toronto Lynx finished in second place in the Midwest Division. Toronto is club who has already experienced success in the 2008 season with their PDL club making the playoffs in July and their Super-20 League team making it to the North American Championship game in August. The U17 Lynx will try to finish the deal and bring home a title to cap off what has been an impressive campaign.

Trying to take out Diablo FC and the rest of Group B will be the Kalamazoo Kingdom, who finished third in the Midwest Division. The Kingdom finished the season with two strong victories, one of which was against the fourth place Chicago Fire. The win sealed Kalamazoo’s advancement to the North American Finals. The Kingdom will rely on a strong offense that averaged more than three goals a game, the side will have to continue finding the back of the net if they hope to have success in Tampa this November.

New England
The Ottawa Fury, champions of the New England Division, cruised to the title with a record of 11-1-2, 11 points clear of second place. Ottawa’s offense implemented their dominance by scoring more than six goals in three of their first five games. The Fury finished the season by outscoring their opponents by a margin of 54-23.

Coached by Andrew Prosser, the U17 Cape Cod boys had a lot of new faces come into the team for the 2008 season. After a difficult start due to injuries, the boys gelled and gained respect and belief for one another. As the season went on and confidence grew in each player, the side got stronger and stronger. A dedicated, positive set of boys who have had their highs and lows throughout the season, the Crusaders have come out stronger then they began.

South Atlantic
The Northern Virginia Royals, who are very familiar with postseason play and the ’91 Rage SC boys, who they were paired with in last season’s U16 tournament. That match ended 3-2 in favor of the Rage. A year later, these Royals went through the 2008 season undefeated, finishing with a record of 8-0-2 and will be looking to build on that success against tougher competition in the North American Finals.

Southeast
Kendall SC won a difficult Southeast Division with a combination of their second-ranked offense (32 goals for) and defense (8 goals against). They finished the year with an 8-3-2 record, winning Group B of the 10-team division. Coached by Francisco De Asis and Luis Calix, the side accounted for fellow qualifier Miami Strike Force’s only loss of the season, an entertaining 3-2 win that took place at Miami’s Three Lakes Park.

Miami ended their season with a record of 7-1-3. Their three draws were all by a 1-1 score. They came against West Pines United, Orlando FC and their second battle with Kendall. The side had the best defense in the Southeast Division, allowing on average 0.54 goals per game. Coached by Donovan Lee-Sin, Javier Prenat and Gustavo Aragolaza, the team has shutout their opponents in six of their seven wins including five in a row midseason.