RICHMOND, Va. – The boys edition of one of the East Coast's most prestigious youth tournaments kicked off on Friday, as the Jefferson Cup began in the greater Richmond area.

Hundreds of teams from the eastern seaboard and beyond descended on the area to test themselves against different opponents.

Cincinnati CUP Crew Juniors Gold 3, Bethesda Blue SC 0

The reigning U.S. National Champions came out on fire in this contest, scoring 3 minutes into the game as Cincinnati CUP Crew Juniors rolled past Bethesda SC in their Jefferson Cup U16 Championship division opener.

Outside back Christian Lytle played a ball over the back line of Bethesda where Luke Treadway ran onto it and eventually chipped the Bethesda goalie from 25 yards out.  The rest of the first half was a dogfight in the midfield.  Neither team giving an inch, and possession seemed shaky at times for both teams.  Bethesda put the Cincinnati team on there heals with pressure from forward Jared Nozick, but he was unable to find the back of the net.

The second half started very similar to the first, with Cincinnati striking first yet again.  A scrum in the box turned into a man taken down and the CUP Crew Juniors gold were given a penalty kick.  Treadway placed it low and hard into the corner for his second goal of the game.  Minutes later Treadway would add a third with his hard work and determination to steal the ball from the Bethesda defense then beat the goalkeeper near post for the hat trick.

The CUP Crew Juniors Gold showed why they were deserving of a 2012 national championship with the convincing win tonight against a tough Bethesda Blue team. 

Other Jefferson Cup Friday results:

U16

Upper Freehold/Allentown Strikers 2, ASA Milan Black Hawks 2
Oklahoma Football OFC 2, NC Fusion Elite 0
Lower Merion Lightning 3, Carolina Elite SA 0
Classics Eagles Red 3, CASL 96 Elite 2
Century United 2, East Meadow Arsenal 2
Black Watch Premier Rangers 5, Penn Fusion SA 0
TSF Academy Blue 2, Excalibur SC 0

U17

TSF Academy Ginga 2, Ambassadors FC 0
Classics Eagles Red 1, Penn Fusion SA 0
Lehigh Valley United 2, Carolina Elite SA 1
OBGC Rangers 2, Cincinnati Cup Crew Jrs. Gold 1
CASL Elite 2, FSA FC 1
Crusaders United (MA) 1, Bethesda SC Revolution 0
Cincinnati Cup Crew Jrs. Black 2, North Meck SC Red 1

U18

Montgomery United SC Black 4, Valparaiso United Futbol 2
Lake Grove SC 2, FC Frederick 1
Bethesda SC AC Bethesda 4, FSA FC Navy 0
Jersey United Spartans 2, United FC adidas 2
FC Florida 3, TSF Academy Diablos 1
Charlotte United FC 3, Lower Merion SC Panthers 1
Auburndale Scream 0, Cherry Hill FC Hammerheads 0
Hockessin SC Delaware Rush 2, Black Watch Premier Cabers 1