WILSON, N.C. (Dec. 12, 2015) — Just one more day remains in the opening weekend of the 2015-16 US Youth Soccer National League Boys season, with Sunday's matches solidifying team standings until the next meeting, Dec. 27-29 in Orlando, Fla., alongside the Disney Showcase.

The third day of league play in Wilson, N.C., tends to separate the field as teams settle in after an anxious start to the season. The top two teams in seven of the 10 divisions are separated by two points or less, and four of the divisions contain ties atop the standings.

The competitiveness of the league has been on full display through three days of play in North Carolina, as just nine teams remain unbeaten and untied. Combined with the fact that spots in the 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championships are on the line, the National League games provide college coaches the opportunity to see how players perform for their teams in an intense environment.

United FA 01 Premier (GA) knows how hard the road can be as it lost on the second day of play to Fullerton Rangers 00 White (CA-S) but bounced back on day three of play.

“My boys and I need to take all of these games absolutely seriously. It’s like we’re playing in a mini Champions League,” said United FA head coach Velko Iotov. “You’re around a ton of really technical players and players with lots of different characteristics that you need to learn from each game.”

“There are no teams that you can take as underdogs in this league. Every game is probably better than the team you played before. As you move on, you have to take the next game even more serious than the game you played today.”

National League teams earn their place in the league based on a proven track record of success in US Youth Soccer regional and national competitions and are among the nation's best. Competing for a league title and a spot in the US Youth Soccer National Championships, each and every game will play into who represents the National League this summer in Frisco, Texas.

The National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues (US Youth Soccer Region I Champions League, Midwest Regional League, Southern Regional Premier League and Far West Regional League). The National League provides an avenue for teams to play in meaningful matches against top competition from across the country for continued development and opportunities for exposure at the national team, collegiate and professional levels.

National League action will continue Sunday, Dec. 13, as the boys teams play their fourth game of the season. Complete standings, scores and schedules, including goal scorers and match information, can be found at the results page here.

Some highlights from Saturday's matches…

Under-14

Defending National Champions Baltimore Celtic Darby 01/02 remain perfect in the Red Division after defeating CASL 01 Red (NC) 5-0. SCUFC 01 Elite (SC) remain just three points back in second place after defeating Team Challenger FC 01 Black (OH-N) 1-0.

In the Red Division, two teams remain perfect as Concorde Fire Central Elite (GA) managed a 1-0 victory over Bethesda South 01 (VA). Valparaiso United Futbol 02 JG (AZ) defeated SC Waukesha 01/02 Blue (WI) 3-0 to remain on top of the table and have allowed zero goals through its first three games. Solar Chelsea 02 Red (TX-N) sits only two points back in second place with a total of seven points.

Under-15

United FA 01 Premier (GA) played a back and forth match with HMMS Eagle FC 00 Titans (PA-E) on the third day of National League Blue Division play. Neither team could score in the first half but that changed in the second half when United FA’s Zeeshan Chaudhary was taken down in the box. James Patterson stepped up and boomed his kick in for what would be the game winner. HMMS pushed for an equalizer but, with United FA controlling most of the possession, the Pennsylvania side ran out of time and United FA picked up its second win of the week and now stand alone at the top of the Under-15 Blue Division.

San Diego SC 00 Academy Navy (CA-S) was looking for its first win of the week and faced a tough McLean 00 Green (VA) side. The best chance of the first half came for San Diego as it had a shot that forced a great save from the McLean keeper. Both teams worked hard to figure out their opponent’s defense but neither side could break through in the first half. It was more of the same in the second half, as neither team could find a goal and the score remained 0-0 at the final whistle. With the tie, McLean now sits in third place in the Blue Division.

The Under-15 Boys Blue Division is a tight race, with almost every team in the division capable of topping the division on the final day of play. The Red Division is just as close with an undefeated CFA Raiders leading the way with a perfect nine points. Raiders will take on FPYC Fury (VA), one of the three teams with six points, in a day four match-up.

Under-16

La Roca South CS 99/00 (UT) defeated Sporting KC Academy (KS) 7-1 to and is now alone at the top of the Under-16 Blue Division. The first half started with a flurry of goals with LA Roca’s Agustin Asensio starting the scoring in just the 2nd minute and teammate Walter Henriquez adding a second in the 6th minute to give the Utah side a 2-0 lead. Sporting’s Jonathan Munoz cut the lead in half six minutes later but La Roca’s Jose Pizano scored almost immediately to resume La Roca’s two goal advantage. Agustin Asensio added his second of the game in the 23rd minute to give La Roca a 4-1 lead going into half. La Roca didn’t take its foot off the gas as it added three more goals in the second half. Isai Mendoza was the recipient of a gift as the Sporting keeper spilled a shot and Mendoza tapped it in for a goal. Teammates Sebastiaan Van Thiel and Shadrach Preece finished the scoring for Utah in the 68th and 73rd minutes.

Fullerton Rangers White (CA-S) was searching for its third straight win but ran into a disciplined Arlington Eagles Red (VA) side. Fullerton had the best chance of the first half when Oliver Mesa hit a shot across the face of goal but Arlington’s Hugh Curran made a great diving save to his left to push the shot wide. The back and forth action didn’t result in any goals in the first half and the teams entered halftime tied 0-0. Neither team found a goal in the second half and both pick up a point with the 0-0 final result.

La Roca is the only team that remains perfect in either of the Under-16 divisions but sit only two points ahead of Fullerton Rangers White (CA-S) in the Blue Division. The Red Division still remains a tight race with United FA Premier (GA) and Dallas Texans 00 Red (TX-N) tied with seven points going into day four of games.

Under-17

Reigning National Champions Baltimore Celtic 98/99 (MD) sit tied in points at the top of the Under-17 Blue Division after defeating Scottsdale Blackhawks 99 Davidson (AZ) 2-0 on the third day of National League Play. Celtic pressured Scottsdale from the opening whistle and found its first goal in the 10th minute of play. After a great interchange of passing up the right side of the field, a heel flicked pass found Dominic Duncan in the box who made no mistake slotting his shot near post passed a diving Scottsdale keeper to give his side a 1-0 lead. Celtic continued to press, with Scottsdale countering but no more goals came in the first half and it finished 1-0 at halftime. Celtic added an insurance goal late in the second half when Daniel Hart found the back of the net in the 77th minute to bring the final score 2-0 in favor of the Maryland side.

Both Under-17 divisions remain some of the tightest played games across the National League. Sporting St. Croix (MN) sits tied with Baltimore in points at the top of the Blue Division with seven points, with CESA 98 Premier (SC) holding the top spot in the Red Division after a 2-1 victory over Albion SC Garton (CA-S).

Under-18

FC Golden State Platinum (CA-S) stayed perfect on the week with its 4-1 win over FC Alliance 98 Black (TN). Golden State grabbed a 2-0 halftime lead with first half goals from Ezequiel Silva and Joel Costa in the 14th and 28th minutes respectively. Golden State continued to pressure in the second half and grabbed a third goal when a long ball over the top fell to Jesus Granados. The Alliance keeper came out but the ball squirted passed him and Granados poked home his goal. Alliance scored its lone goal of the match in the 83rd minute on a set piece when Stephen Bailey hit a low into the back of the net to bring the score to 3-1. Joao Lopes added the last goal for Golden State in the 88th minute to bring the final score to 4-1. The win keeps the Cal South side tied with nine points with Santa Barbara SC White (CA-S) atop the Blue Division.

In the Under-18 Blue Division, Lehigh Valley United 97 (PA-E) remained perfect on the week with a 2-0 win over Fullerton Rangers White (CA-S). FC Dallas 98 Premier (TX-N), Arlington Impact Red (VA) and Ohio Premier Green (OH-S) all sit just three points back at six points each with the Virginia and Ohio South sides scheduled to meettomorrow on the fourth day of play.