The New Jersey Youth Soccer State Cups (15U-19U) Round of 16 is now in the books, with teams battling for advancement into the Elite 8. The Round of 16 offered much excitement and intensity as teams inch closer to their goal of being crowned State Champion.
Let’s look back at the action from the Round of 16…
PRESIDENTS CUP 15UG
2007 Old Bridge Impact White had a strong showing against Lacey Fury, winning 8-0. Goal scorers Amanda Gaynor (2), Lyssi Penn, Alexis Vaccaro, Kammi Hausser, Kayla Barbato, Abby Cangelosi and Prianna Lazerson all chipped in to help their team cruise to the next round of the competition.
“The girls made a pact before the season that they were going to band together and rise to the level they know they were capable of competing at,” stated William Gould, Old Bridge head coach. “This 8-0 win verifies what has been a fantastic spring for the girls, winning all eitgh of their matches played to this point. The girls are playing for each other on another level, and the chemistry is leading directly to results. To get a big win like this early in the State Cup Tournament is important as each match gets tougher and tougher, and having some confidence in these one and done games is crucial.”
PRESIDENTS CUP 18UB
A 4-0 victory over Vineland SA Union propelled Liverpool FC Academy into the next round of competition. LFC Academy extended their winning streak with a second clean sheet in a row. Goalkeeper Pim Van Hilten and the LFC Academy back line have coined themselves with a nickname of “The Clean Sheet Crew” during the streak.
"The boys are putting it all together at the right time, and we are playing as a unit,” said Van Hilten. “The goal is to win it all!”.
PRESIDENTS CUP 19UG
North Jersey FC advanced to the Presidents Cup semifinals with a 3-2 victory over NJ Knights. Goals from Brianna Fasoli, Alyssa DeVita and Samantha Dakake, who scored the game winner from 30 yards out with eight minutes remaining, catapulted their team to the victory. Although the NJ Knights closed the gap to 3-2 with less than two minutes remaining, their comeback fell just short. The NJ Knights goalkeeper kept the team competitive throughout the match, making a multitude of acrobatic saves.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 19UB
RUSA came out strong in this match, building a 2-0 lead against SJEB. While SJEB fought back, scoring a late penalty, RUSA was able to hold onto the lead and eventually defeat SJEB by a score of 2-1. Goals from Ryan Gale and Matt An proved to be enough to move RUSA onto the semifinals.
“Great team effort to get the win,” said Scott Baker of RUSA. “Max Hawk balanced the attack with the midfield play. Cole Hayman, Ari Barreto, Nick Salazar and Giorgio Tasiopolos controlled the midfield. Aiden McGuigan, Juni Smith, Matt Price and Shane Byrne shut down the Baron’s attack. Jamel Yasin played great in goal all game.”
ABOUT NJYS STATE CUPS
The National Championship Series is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing winners from each state the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.
The Presidents Cup provides a progressive, competitive environment to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie and community.
The Challenge Cup, formerly branded as the Commissioners Cup, is the NJYS State Cup designed to create a challenging and enjoyable event for teams outside of the National Championship Series and Presidents Cup.
To contact New Jersey Youth Soccer, please email [email protected]. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer
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