Girls

The 15U-19U Girls continued competing in thrilling games at USYS National League Florida on Sunday at the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay and Ellis-Methvin Park.

The girls showcase teams played their final games of the weekend, while the National League P.R.O. sides competed in their second of three weekend matches. Sunday saw a lot of exciting matchups that resulted in more teams earning qualifying spots to the USYS National Championships.

Nermin Dautovic, head coach of Chicago Inter 05 Red (IL), talked about what it takes to win at National League P.R.O. after his team earned a qualifying spot at the National Championships with its win today.

MORE: U.S. Youth Florida National League Friday Recap | Saturday recap

“It’s quite the challenge,” said Dautovic. “It depends on where you are playing, which teams are coming from which states, who’s coming off their high school seasons, so you never know what to expect. Thankfully are girls had a strong fall and we were ready for National League P.R.O. and we had a really strong go at the first event and the girls were just full of confidence and continued to work hard and were able to get it done.”

Dautovic also talked about what it means for the team to qualify for the National Championships.

“It means the world to the players,” said Dautovic. “They have been working so hard for years and with COVID-19 and other obstacles they didn’t get the chance to go to regionals, but this year we are going to regionals in June as State Cup Champs, but knowing that we will advance to the National Championships is huge for them. The players will be full of confidence and as long as we stay healthy we will be working hard and I think that we can make some noise. Playing in competitions like National League P.R.O., we have learned that we can step up in games that mean something. There’s a difference between playing a friendly and then playing games in a national competition where you lose and you’re out. So you can really see the girls’ character and see how the competition is good for building character.”

Some notes on the National League P.R.O. Groups:

15U Girls

Group A: Dynamite 2007G (NJ) and Evolution 07 Girls Mercurial (IL) are both currently sitting at the top of the group’s standings with 13 points each. Monday’s game between the two teams will prove exciting as both look to secure bids to the National Championships.

Group B: Solar South 07G FDL Adames (TX-N) holds the top spot in the group’s standings with 11 points.

16U Girls

Group A: Chicago Inter 2006 Red (IL) has earned 13 points and sits on top of the group’s standings

Group B: Libertyville FC 1974 Elite 06G (IL) has secured a qualifying spot at the National Championships after its win today. The group’s top spot is still up for grabs, so Monday’s games will carry high importance for these teams.

Group C: LMSC Impact (PA-E) and KC Athletics Academy Premier 06G (KS) both have 13 points and sit at the top of the group’s standings after Sunday’s games.

17U Girls 

Group A: Chicago Inter 2005 Red (IL) earned a qualifying spot into the National Championships with its win on Sunday. The side’s 16 points have it currently leading the group’s standings.

Group B: Real Jersey FC 2005 (NJ) and 05 Lady Lobos Rush Premier (TN) both have 10 points after Sunday’s games and sit at the top of the group’s standings.

Group C: DKSC 05G Weir FDL (TX-N) holds the top spot in the group’s standings with 16 points after picking up a win Sunday evening.

18U Girls 

Group A: Legends FC 04 Girls Black (MI) earned a qualifying spot in the National Championships with its win on Sunday. The group’s top spot is still up for grabs with Monday’s games yet to be played.

Group B: Galaxy SC 2004 Blue (IL) currently holds the top spot in the group’s standings with 16 points.

Group C: Team Chicago SC 2004 Elite (IL) has earned a qualifying spot into the National Championships with its win today. First place within the group as well as the second qualifying spot to Nationals is still up for grabs.

19U Girls 

Group A: North Shore United 03/04 Girls Blue (WI) clinched first place in the group’s standings with its win Sunday evening.

Group B: The group’s four National Championship Qualifiers have emerged with Michigan Jaguars 2003 NLC (MI), Chicago FC United Girls 2003 Pre-Academy Red (IL), NY Surf G03 Academy (NY-E), and Nationals Union 03 Girls Black (MI) earning those spots.

National League P.R.O. games will continue for the girls age groups on Monday as more teams will compete for the top spots in the standings. 

Boys

National League Florida continued on Sunday, as the showcase teams wrapped up their games, while many of the National League P.R.O. sides played their second games of the weekend took place at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Top-finishing National League P.R.O. teams (12 per gender age group) earn direct advancement to the USYS National Championships, and many of the results in Florida will determine which teams punch their tickets.

Take a brief look at where the National League P.R.O. boys teams stand after Sunday’s matches…

15U Group A – FC Bucks Dominion 07 Boys (PA-E) picked up a 1-0 win against SC Vistula Garfield 07 Lewandowski (NJ) to move into first place and inch closer to securing a spot at the National Championships.

15U Group B – Libertyville FC 1974 Elite 07B (IL) secured its second shutout of the weekend on Sunday to move to 6-0-0 and sit in firm control at the top of the group.

16U Group A – A close 2-1 win on Sunday allowed LFA Mueller 06 (MO) to remain the top side in the group, while four teams are currently within one point of second place and a berth to Nationals.

16U Group B – Shutout victories by KC Athletics Academy Elite 06B Galacticos (KS) and Dix Hills EST Ultimatum (NY-E) pushed each team to 13 points atop the standings. KC Athletics extended its goal differential advantage thanks to four goals in its Sunday win.

16U Group C – A 1-0 win helped FC Westlake 06B Elite (TX-S) move past Augusta Arsenal 06 Gold Boys (GA), as the South Texas side has 13 points at the top of the standings. Nationals Union 06 Boys Black (MI) is tied with Arsenal on 12 points, but Nationals has a game in hand. 

17U Group A – A second 3-1 victory in Florida helped Phila Ukrainian Nationals 05B Black (PA-E) maintain a perfect record and a 3-point cushion at the top of the standings.

17U Group B – After a draw on Saturday, BVB International Academy Pittsburgh 05B Premier (PA-W) fought to earn a 1-0 win on Sunday to maintain keep its 1-point lead in a close race for the group title.

17U Group C – Libertyville FC 1974 Elite 05B (IL) kept a 2-point lead over Galaxy 2005 Boys Blue (IL) in the standings after both sides won their matches on Sunday. The seventh game between the two Illinois sides later this spring could be needed to determine the group winner.

18U Group A – Slammers 04B Maroon (NY-E) picked up a big 6-3 against previous group leader McLean 04 Boys (VA) to jump to the top of the standings. Group A is extremely tight, with the top six teams separated by just four points.

18U Group B – Ohio sides CUP 04 Gold (OH) and Team Challenger FC B04 Black (OH) are both 5-0-0 and will decide the first-place finisher when they meet in their seventh game.

18U Group C –  CSA Newark 2004 NL (NJ) and FC Bucks Dominion 04 Boys (PA-E) are tied atop the group with 13 points, but three other teams are within three points of them.

19U Group A – FC Dallas Premier 03B (TX-N) picked up a 1-0 win to remain in first place, just ahead of Ohio Galaxies FC 03 Elite (OH) — who also won by a one-goal margin. Ohio also has a game in hand on FC Dallas.

19U Group B – Century Boys 2003 Gold (PA-W) came back from a goal down to win, 4-3, against Phila Ukrainian Nationals 03B Black (PA-E). A 1-1 draw between LVU-FPA 03B Black Gorni (PA-E) and Nationals Union 03 Boys Black (MI) allowed Century to take sole possession of first place in a tight title race.

National League Florida will wrap up on Monday, as the National League P.R.O. teams compete in their final games of the event.