MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA – While most of the 120 teams coming to the area for the US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup had distances to travel and state lines to cross, 17 teams from Eastern Pennsylvania aren't traveling all that far this year.

Sixteen of the teams kicking off their first games in group play on Friday won state Presidents Cup titles on May 20 at United Sports Training Center and a 17th team - Steel United PA - was a finalist in the Eastern PA version of the competition, which is celebrating its 15th year. 

PA Classics and West Mont United each have two teams competing but a total of 15 clubs from Eastern PA will be represented in games being played at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting.

Keystone FC boys and West Mont United's 12U girls team will be competing just for a regional title but the other 15 teams have their sights set on a trip to the National Presidents Cup final in Wichita, Kansas next month. 

Iron Valley United Thorns and North Union United each won national championships at the National Presidents Cup last year when it was in Greensboro, N.C. 

Vereinigung Erzgebirge SC Gunners are the lone team from Eastern PA with a chance to repeat as Eastern Presidents Cup champions. VE Gunners, Lancaster Elite Sprinters and Hulmeville SC Dortmund all repeated as state Presidents Cup champions.

Steel United PA 2009 Girls were state Presidents Cup champions a year ago but lost a hard fought 1-0 game in the final on May 20 to Warrington SC Storm. Steel United received an invite to join the field after a slot opened up from a team from another state withdrawing.

Five teams will be playing their three group games at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and the other 12 teams will be at The Proving Grounds. After group play is completed Sunday all of the action for the semifinals on Monday and finals on Tuesday will be at The Proving Grounds.