The National League is a collection of some of the best teams in the nation, who gain entry into the league through various qualifying state tournaments. The 1st and 2nd placed teams in the National League gain entry into the National Championships which will be held in Frisco (TX) this summer.
Last weekend, our GU16 & GU18 Elite teams jumped onto buses and made the long journey to Las Vegas to participate in the final weekend of the 2016 USYS National League. Both teams headed into the weekend in pole position after strong performances and results from the first half of league play in Raleigh (NC).
Our GU16 Elite team (pictured left) beat Gold Cup (OH) 3-2 in the first game during a very exciting encounter. After being 1-0 down with ten minutes to go, our girls managed to claw back the second game and tie Sparta United (UT) 1-1, leaving them requiring a victory in the final league game to take the title. In the penultimate game our 16s played local rivals Albion and put them away 3-0 to claim the team’s second National Title and qualify for the National Championships for the third year running.
GU16 Elite Coach and LAGSD Director of Girls, Carl Higham, commented, “The GU16 Elite team have gone unbeaten in the National League for the last 3 years, winning it twice and finishing 2nd last year. This is a tremendous achievement and is fitting validation for all the hard work the players put in to prepare for the league. This achievement, along with the eighteen’s success, sets very high standards for all the younger players in the club to strive towards and aspire to. Thank you to all the parents for supporting the players and coaches. Without your commitment these achievements would be impossible.”
Our GU18 Elite team (pictured right) had a big scare in their first game against a strong Tennessee SC team. Our girls found themselves 2-0 down within ten minutes but managed to somehow turn things around and come out with a 2-2 tie. During the second game, our 18s tied joint league leaders KHA (OH) 0-0 despite dominating the game and creating lots of chances. In the final game our girls wrapped things up and secured their 4th National League title (in a row) with a convincing 2-0 win over SoCal rivals Legends. This fourth title makes these young ladies the only team in USYS history to win four national titles and yet again sends them to the National Championships this summer.
Elite Coach and GU14-19 Head of Player Development (HOPD), Courtney Drummond, commented, “I couldn’t be more proud of this group of young ladies. To accomplish what they have is truly amazing. The character qualities that every player showed in the first game, after going down 0-2 in the first 7 minutes, never giving up, never putting their heads down, and then coming back to tie the game 2-2, was incredible. To come away with another National League title, to make it four in a row, is a tremendous accomplishment. This group is very special; they work incredibly hard and deserve everything they have achieved. I’m looking forward to preparing them for a National Championship and College.”
GU18 Elite Coach & LAGSD Director of Operations, Michael Duggan (pictured left along with Courtney Drummond & Carl Higham), proudly added, “From a club perspective, it is always a great accomplishment to win a National League title. To win eight is incredible, unheard off in fact, and we now have won more titles than any other club in the history of the competition. For me, it is validation for all the hard work that has been put in by the players, coaches and directors. From a national standpoint, this achievement has firmly put our club on the map and will further the college coach interest towards our players. I am very proud of everyone involved.”
Both the GU16 & GU18 Elite team will hope to follow last year’s U18 Elite girls and win the National Championships (click here to read more) this summer in Frisco, Texas.
GU16 Elite 2016 National League video report: https://youtu.be/HrGwwfVh3Bg?t=3m16s
GU18 Elite 2016 National League video report: https://youtu.be/HrGwwfVh3Bg?t=4m55s
For further info on the National League and National Championships please visit:
http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/40_of_96_teams_punch_tickets_to_the_2016_us_youth_soccer_national_championships_in_frisco_texas/
