2005 Region II Championships; June 24-29; Sioux Falls, SD

Champions Crowned at Midwest Regional Championships
Illinois Wins 5 Titles, Michigan Wins 4; Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Ohio South Each Win 1

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota (June 29, 2005) – The 2005 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Champions were crowned today and heard chanting, “We’re number one" or “We’re going to Nationals, we’re going to Disney World”, as they paraded out of Yankton Trail, clad in medals and kisses from mom. The Under-14 through Under-19 Champions are headed for the US Youth Soccer National Championships at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex in Orlando, FL, July 26-31.

Of the 14 state associations in the Midwest region, Illinois (5), Michigan (4), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Missouri (1), Wisconsin (1), and Ohio South (1) took home the titles. Though 12 of the 14 divisions had an Illinois team in the final, the rest of the region stole 7 Championships from the leading state.

Defending National Champion – Eclipse Select (Illinois) Under-17 Girls – scored 3 goals in the first half dominating Bangu Tsunami (Minnesota) and never looked back, the game ended with a 7-0 score. Jackie Santacaterina, the Eclipse captain, scored in the 70th minute, but played the entirety of the game after suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration in yesterday’s 4-3 overtime performance against Carmel United Premier (Indiana).

Wednesday was a day for heroics. Four games were decided by penalty kicks. Chicago Magic (Illinois) Under-14 Boys shut down Ohio FC Mutiny (Ohio) in PK action. “Josh Lambo, our goalkeeper, is a man-child,” said Magic coach Mike Matkovich of his captain. “He gives us lots of confidence (going into Nationals).”

Coach Rob Harrington of FC Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Under-18 Boys said of his team’s 2-1 (PK) victory over the Eclipse Select (Illinois), “dramatic is an understatement.” Both teams had chances but remained scoreless until overtime. In the 111th minute, FC Milwaukee’s Michael Ratka scored on a cross from the right but Dynamo Katner’s Craig Shrack struck back 9 minutes later to send it into overtime.

“We had 11 healthy guys,” said an ecstatic Harrington. “With 16 to 17 healthy players for Nationals, we’ll be even healthier.”

But it was the Carmel United (Indiana) Girls-19 team who wore their emotions on their sleeve this week. In a near fatal accident in a team van in Colorado in June 2004, the team made their goal to win the 2005 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Playing solid defense, keeping the ball on the ground with the wind and playing out of the first defensive push, Carmel took the Championships, 5-0, defeating the Sockers FC Chicago (Illinois) in the finals.

Between the wind, prairie dogs, and chants of “We’re going to Disney World”, the Championships showcased dramatic soccer and gutsy individual performances, but awarded the crowns to the deserving teams who now have the title US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Champion.

More than 210 top boys and girls US Youth Soccer teams from 14 state associations competed for the Regional title, June 24-29, at the Yankton Trail and Tomar Parks in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Daily reports and complete results from the tournament will be available on www.USYouthSoccer.org.

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2005 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 26-31, in Orlando, FL at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex.

Complete scores from today’s action are below.

Under-13 Boys
Chicago Magic Chelsea (Illinois) 3, Bangu Tsunami (Minnesota) 1

Under-13 Girls
Vardar (Michigan) 5, CIS Knockouts (Illinois) 0

Under-14 Boys
Chicago Magic (Illinois) 2 (PK), Ohio FC Mutiny (Ohio South) 1

Goal Scorers: Chicago Magic – Bob Novak (3rd minute)
Ohio FC Mutiny – Rainer Duzan (33rd minutes)

Under-14 Girls
Ohio Elite (Ohio South) 2, Illinois Premier (Illinois) 1
Goal Scorers: Ohio Elite Emily – Cardell (2nd minutes), Caitlin Bresnahan (62nd minute)
Illinois Premier – Lee Battaglia (55th minute)

Under-15 Boys
Campton Raptors (Illinois) 1, Chicago Sockers (Illinois) 0
Goal Scorers: Campton Raptors – Seth Stockley (6th minute)

Under-15 Girls
St. Louis Soccer Club (Missouri) 5, KC Comets (Kansas) 0
Goal Scorers: St. Louis Soccer Club – Blake Miller (18th minute), Allison Dragues (21st, 62nd minutes), Julie King (22nd minute), Chealsey Russell (31st minute)

Under-16 Boys
Vardar (Michigan) 1, Chicago Magic (Illinois) 0
Goal Scorers: Vardar – Kenny Simon (74th minute)

Under-16 Girls
Michigan Hawks (Michigan) 3 (OT), Eclipse Select (Illinois) 2
Goal Scorers: Michigan Hawks – Emily Esbrook (70th, 83rd minutes), Danielle Toney (108th minute)
Eclipse Select – Erica Iantorno (40th minute), Kerry Broderick (110th minute)

Under-17 Boys
Vardar (Michigan) 1 (PK), Chicago Sockers (Illinois) 0

Under-17 Girls
Eclipse Select (Illinois) 7, Bangu Tsunami SC Sota (Minnesota) 1
Goal Scorers: Eclipse Select – Lauren Switzer (10th,44th minute), Brittany McCoy (25th minute), Michele Weissenhofer (50th minute), Brittany McCoy (54th minute), Jackie Santacaterina (70th minute), Liz Holby (90th minute)

Under-18 Boys
FC Milwaukee (Wisconsin) 2 (PK), Dynamo Katner (Indiana) 1
Goal Scorers: FC Milwaulkee – Michael Ratka (111th minute)
Dynamo Katner – Craig Shrack (120th minute)

Under-18 Girls
KC Dynamos (Kansas) 2 (PK), Eclipse Select (Illinois) 1
Goal Scorers: KC Dynamos – Lauren Isenhower (69th minute)
Eclipse Select – Vyenishi (33rd minute)

Under-19 Boys
Sockers FC Chicago (Illinois) 2, Thunder SC (Ohio South) 0

Goal Scorers: Sockers FC Chicago – Anthony Marsico (57th minute), Dirk Pearson (63rd minute)
Under-19 Girls
Carmel United Commotion (Indiana) 5, Sockers FC Chicago (Illinois) 0
Goal Scorers: Carmel United Commotion – Kristen Harnest (38th minute), Susan Pinnick (78th minute)
Stephanie Dunning (82nd minute), Jill Sarbaugh (83rd minute), Molly Kruger (86th minute)

For more information please log on to USYouthSoccer.org or http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org.