The final day of U.S Youth Soccer’s National League Player Showcase had plenty of drama, as division championships and bids to play in June’s National Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

NJ Stallions Dynamite U17 3-0 JFC Storm 

NJ Stallions Dynamite (3-1-3) capped off a successful weekend in Las Vegas with a 3-0 shutout win over JFC Storm (1-5-1). Dynamite finished the weekend with a record of 2-0-1, gaining 7 points in division play and finishing 3rd overall in the Blue division. Dynamite scored early and often against JFC, getting two goals from Tomison Kennedy in the first 16 minutes, and another from Delaney Suarez in the 31st minute. The three goals seemed to catch JFC, out of Florida, off-guard, but also cause the team to play inspired and urgent soccer in the second half.

JFC’s Jordan Lewis and Morgan Patton were able to get several second half shots off against Dynamite, but keeper Kelly LaMorte turned them all away. As Dynamite players began to look fatigued in their attempt to maintain a shutout, midfielder Sarah Kelly encouraged teammates to stay aggressive. JFC’s Jordan Lewis created one last opportunity to score in front of the goal, but kicked the ball directly to LaMorte. LaMorte and her Dynamite teammates finished the three day tournament only allowing one goal.’

Beach FC Academy U18 1-4 DMCV Sharks Elite

Beach FC Academy (5-1-1) came into their game with 1st place in the U18 Blue division already secured, but DMCV Sharks Elite (5-2-0) had the opportunity to jump from 5th to 2nd with a win, and that’s exactly what they did in their 4-1 win over Beach FC.

Beach FC midfielder Nicole Phillips and defender Carolina Velez had a long morning battling the attacking DMCV forwards, and worked well together in the first half to weather the storm. Phillips and Perez deflected countless shots, stepped in front of several crosses, and continuously won battles for possession until DCMV was able to break through with their first score on a Samantha Staab throw in that Gianna Montini headed backwards over the Beach FC defense and into the net. 

In the second half, DCMV got their second goal when Riley Dixon crossed the ball the ball to Julianne M De Armas for the score. Beach FC responded on the ensuing kickoff with their only goal of the game by Michelle Reed in the 51st minute. For the remainder of the game, DCMV pressured the ball upfield and continued to test Beach FC’s defense, resulting in additional goals by Crystal Cordova and Shelby Lee. The 4-1 DCMV win brought their weekend record to 3-0, while outscoring opponents 11-2.

Legacy 97 Red U18 3-0 YMS Premier Wildcats

Legacy 97 Red (2-4-1) out of Arizona got a 3-0 win over YMS Premier Wildcats (1-6-0) in the final U18 contest of the U.S. Youth National League Players Showcase. Legacy forward Lamaya Williams used her speed to get by YMS defenders over and over again, but errant shots and errors near the end line kept the game close until the 43rd minute of the first half, when Legacy’s Kylie Miniefield broke the tie the first of two goals she’d have in the game. 

In the second half, YMS, which only had one option off the bench, seemed to grow fatigued under the hot sun, and spend the majority of the contest defending their own goal. When YMS did manage to clear the ball, Legacy defender Ashlyn Collier pushed the ball ahead to Jaimie Salas and Williams for additional shots on goal. In the 52nd minute, Williams outran YMS defenders and put a ball into the net from just right of center, 20 yards deep. Later in the half, Miniefield added her second goal by lifting the ball form 30 yards out and putting the ball just over the outstretched hand of keeper Girannys Santiago, who played extraordinary defense outside of the Legacy goals that seemed unblockable. Legacy’s win over YMS meant that at least one team would experience victory in Vegas, as Legacy went 1-2 and YMS went 0-3. 

YMS Premier Xplosion 98 U16 1-1 Andromeda FC 99

All YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (4-0-3) had to do to secure the U16 Blue division title was beat Andromeda FC 99 (1-2-4), but Andromeda’s late goal and impressive keeper play resulted in a 1-1 tie, and kept YMS form a division title. 

In the 8th minute, YMS midfielder Mary Webb fed Caroline Foley from the right end line for a goal in front of the right post. While YMS kept that same pressure up the entire game Andromeda keeper Taylor Plate buckled down and made things difficult on the attacking YMS forwards, namely Andrea Amaro. To start the second half, Amaro intercepted a pass, beat her defender, and had a clear shot blocked by a diving Plate. Plate blocked three more Amaro shots in the second half, and also sent shots by Abby Johnson, Murphy Agnew and Mary Webb. 

Plate’s play in goal gave Andromeda a chance to catch up, which they did on their very first clean look of the game- a scramble in front of the YMS goal that Mackenzie Hamilton poked through to make the game 1-1. Andrea Amaro had two more shots to give YMS the championship in the final minute, but her shots missed left, and the game ended in a tie, Andromeda’s fourth of National League play.