Nebraska Girls Looking to Make an Impact at Nationals
OMAHA, Neb. (July 15th, 2021) - Sporting Nebraska FC will represent the state of Nebraska at the US Youth Soccer National Championship, July 19th - 25th held in Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida. The U18/19, 2002/2003 Girls Premier team advanced to Nationals after going 5-0 at the 2021 Midwest Regional Championships. They outscored their opponents 31 to 3 to claim the Region II U19 title.
“It is with great pride we watch the 02/03 team go on to Nationals. Many of the players came together in our Academy program during our initial club merger between Gladiator and Arsenal, back when they were eight and nine years old. As coaches we can see how years of commitment to each other, and the game has taken this group to the very top. I want to personally thank the endless number of coaches and players that have been instrumental in the development of this team over the past eight years. From the club and I, we wish the girls the absolute best of luck at Nationals.” – Alex Mason, Girl’s Director of Coaching
[The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing approximately 185,000 players on over 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline, and fair play.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions for boys’ and girls’ teams in multiple age brackets as teams earn their way from the top teams in their state to the regional championship tournaments. US Youth Soccer State Champions and selected wildcard teams through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues in most age groups are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the 13U through 19U age brackets from each regional event will converge in July for the US Youth Soccer National Championships.]1
“This year our goal was to compete for a regional title and make an impact at nationals. We believe we are ready for the last step in our journey. This group is so easy to work with, they show up, hold each other accountable and take instruction. They are a unique combination of skill, athleticism, and a collective desire to compete and be successful. The next week should be an amazing experience. Thanks to the coaches that have come before and all the hard work these girls have put in, they have a chance to put an exclamation point on their legacy at Sporting.” - Sean McCoy, Head Coach
The 02/03 Premier team is a powerhouse of talent. Each senior attending Nationals has committed to play at the collegiate level. This star-studded team made waves this past year going 26-1, scoring 137 goals and only allowing 13 against. From club to high school our girls took the field running, helping four of their teams make it to the state championships. These girls also earned high school All-Conference awards in both Nebraska and Iowa. Sarah Weber, heading to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is a two-year Gatorade Player of the Year award winner and was selected to the United Soccer Coaches 2020-2021 High School All-Americans.
The team will set off for Florida this weekend with their first match beginning July 20th. The girls will play in a three-game bracket against teams from California, Florida, and Texas. The top two finishers from each bracket will advance to the semi-finals on July 24th. Winners of the semis go on to the National Championship game on July 25th.
Follow the girls on their journey through Nationals at https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/3562, and on Sporting Nebraska FC's social media platforms (Twitter, Insta, and Facebook): @SportingNE_FC.
1 https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/national-championship-series/
