Teams Earn US Youth Soccer Regional Championship Births over Memorial Day Weekend
State Champions Crowned as Teams Advance to Second Leg of Series Eight US Youth Soccer State Championships Conclude over Weekend
2005 US Youth Soccer National Champions Look to Repeat in ‘06

FRISCO, Texas (May 30, 2006) – Memorial Day weekend marked the conclusion to another eight US Youth Soccer State Championships where teams continue to earn their way to the second leg of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The weekend events bring the total number of completed 2006 US Youth Soccer State Championships to 18.

The first of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships will begin in Boise, Idaho where the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships kick-off June 18. Region IV is comprised of 14 US Youth Soccer State Associations and the home to five national champions in 2005. The recently completed US Youth Soccer Arizona State Championships advanced nine Sereno Soccer Club teams to Boise and will wrap-up state play tomorrow with the Under-19 finals where the Sereno 87 White look to make a back-to-back trip to regional play.

Arsenal FC (CA-South) is also looking to repeat, but not as US Youth Soccer Cal South State Champions as they placed their name on the state title in April. Arsenal FC now looks to repeat as national champions this summer after winning the 2005 US Youth Soccer National Championship Under-16 boys D.J. Niotis Cup over Solar 88 Soccer Club (TX-North) 2:1 thanks to a goal from Hector Jimenez in the 100th minute of play in the championship final.

On the girl’s side, the Eclipse Select 87/88 Black (IL) begin their quest to win back-to-back-to-back US Youth Soccer National Championships (2004, 2005) this weekend in US Youth Soccer Illinois State Championship play. Campton United Navy (IL) will look to dethrone the Eclipse Select in the first round of play. Eclipse Select hopes to win against Campton and in the next three matches to return to the US Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Fox Cities, WI. From there the team will face the top Under-18 teams from the 14 states of Region II.

Next weekend, June 3-4, will conclude the majority of state championship games where the more than 10,000 teams competing in this year’s series will be narrowed to just over 900 for regional play. Regional champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 age brackets will converge on the James W. Cownie Soccer Park, July 25-30, to compete in a ‘final four’ against other regional champions for the US Youth Soccer National Championship.

As youth players from across the country dream to be crowned a national champion this summer, many will advance to continue their youth dreams just as former series participants play for the world’s glory in Germany during the 2006 FIFA World Cup (June 9-July 9). Of the twenty-three players named to the 2006 FIFA World Cup roster all have ties to US Youth Soccer including captain Claudio Renya and Landon Donovan who participated in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series representing the New Jersey Youth Soccer and California Youth Soccer Association South respectively.

The 2006 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing approximately 185,000 players on 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer’s 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions for boys and girls teams in multiple age brackets.

The chronological dates and locations for the four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships and the US Youth Soccer National Championships are:

2006 US Youth Soccer Region IV (West Regional) Championships
Simplot Sports Complex – Boise, ID
June 18-25, 2006

2006 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest Regional) Championships
USA Youth Sports and Neenah Memorial Park/High School Complexes – Fox Cities, WI
June 23-28, 2006

2006 US Youth Soccer Region I (East Regional) Championships
Hampton Roads Soccer Complex – Virginia Beach, VA
June 29-July 4, 2006

2006 US Youth Soccer Region III (South Regional) Championships
Burns Park Soccer Complex – North Little Rock, AR
June 29-July 5, 2006

2006 US Youth Soccer National Championships
James W. Cownie Soccer Park – Des Moines, IA
July 25-30, 2006

For a complete list of teams advancing to the second leg of the series and the latest news, scores and more please visit http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org.