New Jersey Youth Soccer has been very well represented at the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships, with nine affiliated teams advancing past group play and onto the next stage of the regional tournament. New Jersey teams that punched their tickets to the elimination rounds include The Football Academy Black (12U Girls), The Football Academy Black (13U Boys), Torpedoes Red (13U Boys), Torpedoes Red (14U Boys), Torpedoes Red (16U Boys), Ironbound SC NAL Raiders (17U Boys), Princeton Barcelona (18U Boys), Medford Strikers (18U Boys) and Cedar Stars North Elite 64 (19U Boys).
The Football Academy Black (12U Girls) won all three of their group play matches to earn the top spot in their bracket, finishing with nine points (3-0 record) and a 12-2 goal differential. Joining their clubmates in the elimination rounds are The Football Academy (13U Boys), who won their group on nine points (3-0 record) while outscoring the opposition, 11-3. Also moving forward in that age group is Torpedoes Red (13U Boys) after going unbeaten in the opening round, registering seven points (2-0-1 record) and a 5-2 goal differential.
Also advancing to the next stage is Torpedoes Red (14U Boys), who finished on top of their table with nine points (3-0 record) after outscoring their opponents by a tally of 8-1. Additionally, Torpedoes Red (16U Boys) booked their reservation in the next round after winning their bracket, ending group play with nine points (3-0 record) and a dominant 15-1 goal differential. After earning nine points (3-0 record) and an 8-1 edge in goals during group play, Ironbound SC NAL Raiders (17U Boys) are also moving onto the quarterfinals on Sunday.
New Jersey Youth Soccer will also have two representatives in the 18U Boys Semifinals on Monday after Princeton Barcelona and Medford Strikers both won their brackets in group play. Princeton Barcelona earned seven points (2-0-1 record) on a 6-3 goal differential, while Medford Strikers went undefeated (3-0 record) and shut out all three of their opponents by a collective tally of 11-0. Also punching their ticket to the next stage of the tournament is Cedar Stars North Elite 64 (19U Boys), who recorded nine points (3-0 record) while outscoring their opponents in group play, 15-4.
NJ Youth Soccer teams that advanced to the USYS Eastern Regional Championships but unfortunately saw their run end after group play include PDA Pre-MLS Next Blue (12U Boys), Match Fit Academy Mercer (13U Girls), Jersey Shore Boca Jetties (13U Girls), JAE Academy (14U Boys), PSA North (14U Girls), PSA Monmouth Elite 64 (14U Girls), STA Mount Olive Soccer Club (15U Boys), Wall Spirit (15U Girls), CJFA Juventus (16U Boys), Future Elite 64 (17U Boys) and STA Mount Olive Soccer Club (17U Girls).
Winners at the USYS Eastern Regional Championships will move onto the USYS National Championships in July at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The USYS National Championships Presented by New York Life is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The competition provides winners from each state with the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.