A pair of Wisconsin girls teams are ringing in the new year in Florida, as they close out play in the 2016-17 U.S. Youth Soccer National League.
The SC Waukesha Blue 18-and-under team went into Saturday's action in Kissimmee in fifth place in the Blue Division. Coach Pat White's side went 1-1-2 during its first four National League matches Dec. 1 to 4 in Rocky Mount, N.C., posting two shutouts and getting two of its four goals from Haddie Carlson.
Meanwhile, the North Shore United Blue 17U team coached by Joe Hammes took a 1-3-0 record into its final three Red Division games. Hailey Block scored twice for the team during the first stretch of matches, including the opener in a 2-0 victory over Maryland's Premier Strikers on Dec. 2.
The top finishers in each division in each age group earn spots in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, which are July 24 to 30 in Frisco, Texas. This weekend's games are being held in conjunction with the Disney Soccer Showcase.
17-AND-UNDER
Red Division
North Shore United Blue (1-3-0)
Coach: Joe Hammes
At Rocky Mount, N.C.
Dec. 1: Lower Merion SC Storm (Pa.) 3, North Shore United Blue 2. Goals – Hailey Block, Sydney Robinson.
Dec. 2: North Shore United Blue 2, Premier Strikers (Md.) 0. Goals – Hailey Block, Grace Taylor.
Dec. 3: Scottsdale Blackhawks Taylor (Ariz.) 1, North Shore United Blue 0.
Dec. 4: FC Pride Elite (Ind.) 3, North Shore United Blue 1. Goal – Charmaine Dee.
At Kissimmee, Fla.
Dec. 31: United Futbol Academy Premier (Ga.)
Jan. 1: Dallas Kicks SC (Texas)
Jan. 2: FC United Select 1 (Ill.)
18-AND-UNDER
Blue Division
SC Waukesha Blue (1-1-2)
Coach: Pat White
At Rocky Mount, N.C.
Dec. 1: SC Waukesha Blue 0, L.A. Galaxy San Diego Elite (Calif.) 0.
Dec. 2: Tennessee SC Showcase 5, SC Waukesha Blue 0.
Dec. 3: SC Waukesha Blue 2, Cleveland FC (Ohio) 2. Goals – Own goal, Haddie Carlson.
Dec. 4: SC Waukesha Blue 2, Eastside FC Red (Wash.) 0. Goals – Haddie Carlson, Mackenzie Schill.
At Kissimmee, Fla.
Dec. 31: Beadling SC (Pa.)
Jan. 1: Syracuse Development Academy (N.Y.)
Jan. 2: Oklahoma FC Hampton
The three state teams opened National League play with four games Dec. 8 to 11 in Rocky Mount, and will wrap up the competition in March in Las Vegas.
SC Waukesha Blue won its first three matches in 15U play before dropping a 2-0 decision to New York's Syracuse Development Academy in its finale. Coach Giuliano Oliviero's team is in fourth place in the eight-team Red Division, and faces the top three sides in their final matches March 10 to 12 at the Players College Showcase. Bennett Pauls is tied for fourth in the division with four goals, having scored in each of SC Waukesha Blue's victories.
The other two Wisconsin teams are in the 18U competition. Milwaukee Bavarians (1-2-1) stand sixth in the Blue Division, while Elm Grove SC (0-2-2) is last in the Black Division. However, some teams in their divisions have already played all seven league matches, meaning the state sides have three games in hand.
David Reyes scored two of the five goals for coach Kyle Zenoni's Bavarians, who posted a pair of clean sheets and saw both of their losses come by one goal. Coach Troy Dusosky's Elm Grove side got goals from five players and dropped a one-goal decision to current division leader Dallas Texans Red.
15-AND-UNDER
Red Division
SC Waukesha Blue (3-1-0)
Coach: Giuliano Oliviero
At Rocky Mount, N.C.
Dec. 8: SC Waukesha Blue 2, Baltimore Celtic SC (Md.) 0. Goals – Bennett Pauls 2.
Dec. 9: SC Waukesha Blue 5, Delaware Rush 1. Goals – Nicholas Piraino 2, Enzo Bova 2, Bennett Pauls.
Dec. 10: SC Waukesha Blue 2, Capital Area Soccer League Red (N.C.) 1. Goals – Johnny Daniels, Bennett Pauls.
Dec. 11: Syracuse Development Academy (N.Y.) 2, SC Waukesha Blue 0.
At Las Vegas
March 10: St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC Elite (Mo.)
March 11: Midwest United FC Royal (Mich.)
March 12: United Soccer Academy Mount Pleasant Premier (S.C.)
18-AND-UNDER
Black Division
Elm Grove SC (0-2-2)
Coach: Troy Dusosky
At Rocky Mount, N.C.
Dec. 8: Arlington SA Red (Va.) 4, Elm Grove SC 1. Goal – Calvin Pearson.
Dec. 9: Elm Grove SC 1, North United Premier (Pa.) 1. Goal – Michael Jensen.
Dec. 10: Dallas Texans Red (Texas) 3, Elm Grove SC 2. Goals – Nicholas Cheung, Dominic Briggs.
Dec. 11: Elm Grove SC 1, Ambush Red (Ga.) 1. Goal – Alex Mirsberger.
At Las Vegas
March 10: Strikers FC North (Calif.)
March 11: El Camino Real Pumas (Calif.)
March 12: Ohio Premier Green
Blue Division
Milwaukee Bavarians (1-2-1)
Coach: Kyle Zenoni
At Rocky Mount, N.C.
Dec. 8: Braddock Road YC Elite (Va.) 2, Milwaukee Bavarians 1. Goal – David Reyes.
Dec. 9: Milwaukee Bavarians 0, Baltimore Celtic SC Christos (Md.) 0.
Dec. 10: Milwaukee Bavarians 2, Solar Chelsea Sawyer (Texas) 0. Goals – David Reyes, Evan Donini.
Dec. 11: United Futbol Academy Premier (Ga.) 3, Milwaukee Bavarians 2. Goals – Mark Durand, Trey Goodnetter.
At Las Vegas
March 10: La Roca South CS Premier (Utah)
March 11: L.A. Premier FC (Calif.)
March 12: Sporting St. Louis McMahon Ford (Mo.)