The US Youth Soccer National Championships Presented by New York Life recently concluded at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, with Kononia Lady Fire Memphis 2009/10s (16U Girls) and Chattanooga Red Wolves (17U Girls) finishing the competition as national semifinalists. Tennessee State Soccer Association was well represented at the USYS National Championships, with a total of eight teams advancing to the national tournament.
Kononia Lady Fire Memphis 2009/10s arrived at the USYS National Championships after recently capturing the USYS 16U Girls Southern Regional Championship earlier this month in Dallas. They kicked off the National Championships by winning their group on a cumulative 2-0-1 record and 7-4 goal differential over three matches. The team then advanced to a semifinal pairing with Elmbrook United 09G Elite 64 (Wisconsin), where they capped off a tremendous postseason as national semifinalists.
Chattanooga Red Wolves 08G also lifted the trophy for their age group at the USYS Southern Regional Championships, and they carried that momentum to the national stage. They opened the competition with three consecutive victories in group play, only allowing a single goal on an 8-1 differential. After winning their group, they faced Ambassadors FC 2008 Girls (Ohio) in the semifinal round. In a hard-fought contest, Chattanooga Red Wolves 08G eventually fell by a razor-thin 2-1 decision, completing their deep postseason run as national semifinalists.
Also representing Tennessee in Orlando were TSC 2011 Girls (14U Girls), Chattanooga FC 10G Navy (15U Girls), One Knox 09G (16U Girls), Chattanooga FC 11B Navy (14U Boys), Pateadores SC Nashville 08B Blue (17U Boys), and NUSA 07 Boys Maroon (19U Boys).
Hosted by US Youth Soccer, the National Championships Presented by New York Life is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The competition provides winners from each state with the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.
To contact the Tennessee State Soccer Association, please call (615) 590-2200. Also make sure to follow us on social media!