The 2023 US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships have officially concluded in Loudoun County, Virginia, with the State of Connecticut making a strong showing at the regional event. A pair of Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) teams advanced to the semifinals of the tournament, with CT Rush Select 2006 reaching the 17U Boys Final. CT Rush Select came up just short in that championship match on Thursday to Dix Hills SC Ultimatum B2006 of New York East.
“We are extremely proud of all the teams and referees that participated in the East Region Championships,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “Connecticut was represented very well on and off the fields.”
In the semifinals of the Eastern Regional Championships, which features the most accomplished US Youth Soccer teams in the Eastern Region, CT Rush Select was joined by fellow CJSA club Danbury AC Connecticut B09 (14U Boys). The tournament run for Danbury AC Connecticut came to a close on Wednesday following a narrow defeat to FC Europa 2009 Elite of Eastern Pennsylvania. Earlier this week, 10 CJSA teams advanced past group play and into the quarterfinals of the competition.
In addition to the accomplished play on the field by CJSA teams, the State of Connecticut also saw great performances from its referees who officiated at the Eastern Regional Championships. Four members of the Connecticut State Referee Program (CSRP) received assignments in the tournament finals. Amanda McGeehan (Referee for 14U Girls Final), Alex Rusu (Fourth Official for 14U Girls Final), Dejvi Mucka (Assistant Referee for 15U Girls Final) and Johnny Kassay (Assistant Referee for 13U Girls Final) all officiated on the last day of the regional competition, while Rusu, Christo Jamu and Travis Huzina (Alternate) were each selected to referee at the USYS National Championships in July at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The USYS 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.
