NATIONAL CHAMPIONS


FC United Wins 14U Girls National Presidents Cup Title
FC United 2003 Predator earned the US Youth Soccer 14U Girls National Presidents Cup title in a hard fought match against Eagles SC 2003 of Cal South that needed kicks from the mark to determine the National Champion.

The two sides traded a flurry of goals early in the game. FC United's Vivian Ventura opened the scoring in the opening minute of play with Eagles' Caighley Espardinez equalizing just four minutes later. FC United regained the lead after three more minutes on a Roxana Zieba goal but the score was again brought level, this time by Eagles' Jaydin Marucut.

FC United's Zieba scored the second of the game just before halftime to give the Illinois side the lead going into the second half. Eagles scored the lone second half goal thanks to Sawyer Dumond, and both teams' defenses held strong to send the game into overtime.

After a scoreless overtime, the game went to kicks from the mark, and in the final rounds, FC United's Taylor Brocato made a huge stop and then Molly Sipe stepped up, making the final kick to earn the win.

After hoisting the team trophy, six FC United players, Roxana Zieba, Kaitlyn Kurtz, Margy Porta, Ryann Lucas, Madison Kim and Danielle Barzowski, earned individual honors being named to the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Top 18.

Congratulations to the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup Champions: FC United
Shea Ackman, Danielle Barzowski, Taylor Brocato, Lillian Denk,
Julia Holton, Madison Kim, Kaitlyn Kurtz, Morissa Lambert, Ryann Lucas, Katherine Ohlwein, Margy Porta, Katerina Sellas, Katherine Paige Sheridan, Molly Sipe, Sarah Sollinger, Cecilia Troglia, Vivian Ventura, Roxana Zieba, Craig Snower



 
Illinois Fusion Finish As National Finalists
After fighting back from an early 1-0 deficit, Illinois Fusion fell short in PK's in the 17/18U Girls National Presidents Cup title match. Both Surf and Fusion scored their goals early in the first half with Surf notching the first goal. Surf's Fiona Woodside found the back of the net in the 4th minute to give her team the lead. Just three minutes later, Lauren Shanks equalized, bringing the score to 1-1. The goal made Shanks the leading goal scorer in the 17/18U Girls age group.

8 rounds of PK's were needed with Surf outlasting Fusion to win the National title.

Because of their tremendous effort at the event, Meredith Johnson-Monfort was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player while Rebekah Nielsen was chosen as the Most Outstanding Goalkeeper for the 17/18U Girls division.  Johnson- Monfort and Lauren Shanks were named to the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Top 18.
 
4 Rockford Raptors Earn Individual Honors
 A tough loss in their final group play match eliminated  the Rockford Raptors from advancing to the 17/18U Boys National Presidents Cup final, but for their eff orts four players were selected to the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Top 18: Zeus Huerta, Michael Kozlowski, Alexis Robles & Giovanni Villa.