After three days of exciting preliminary round play, the field of the USYS Eastern Presidents Cup has narrowed to one final and 28 semifinals, which will all be played on Monday at The Proving Grounds.

Sunday marked the final day of competition at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School as the competition shifts entirely to The Proving Grounds and must-win format.

The 19U Girls will final will be decided on Monday at 8 a.m. between West Mont United (PAE) and Kearny Thistle United (NJ). The 18U girls will have two more days of games to complete in round robin play with the first and second place finisher in the standings qualifying for nationals.

Among the teams advancing to the semifinal was Century United (PAW) teams in the 14U and 15U girls divisions.

“We’ve gone from not even qualifying to winning (the state) Presidents Cup and now advancing to semifinals,” said Jocelyn Alfera, head coach of the 2008 girls team. “It’s been incredible growth just not even on the field but off the field as well. They’ve really come into their own and it’s been a privilege just being part of that."

For Dad

As Father's Day gifts go the one Zofia Beers delivered for her dad and coach Josh Beers is going to be pretty hard to top.

Zofia recorded a hat trick in Lancaster Elite Sprinter's 6-2 win over Velocity Premier on Sunday.

The photo of her dad's reaction to her completing the hat trick (captured by Ashley Goon) says it all.

“There’s a little bit of emotion now just because it’s been an incredible joy,” Josh Beers said in an interview on Saturday. “I ask my kids every year if they want me to coach and I’ve told them I’m happy to step aside because it’s their experience, not mine. That they’ve said yes each year and that they’re so coachable has been so refreshing and so enjoyable.”

Out But Not Down

Coaches don’t often talk about how much fun they enjoyed watching their team play when they lose and get knocked out of a tournament but that’s exactly what Dennis Ahebwa after his West Virginia FC team was officially out of the USYS Eastern Presidents Cup with a 3-2 loss to FC Arsenal of Pittsburgh on Sunday.

“It’s been a very tough weekend in terms of numbers; we started with 12 boys on Friday and we lost one and then yesterday we had two more injuries and we ended up with nine,” Ahebwa said. “I’m really proud of the boys; they worked really hard this weekend.”

Down two players from the opening whistle on Sunday, West Virginia FC did not hesitate to push forward and was able to get a pair of goals, the second in the second half worthy of inclusion in a highlight reel for the competition.

“They came to play and they were excited to play even down two players,” Ahebwa added. “They gave everything.”

By the Numbers

 17 teams won all three of their group games to collect 9 points.

The 17 teams to accomplish the feat:
NJ Stallions 11 ManU Blue 12U Boys (NJ) BVB International Academy Pittsburgh 13U Boys (PAW) FC Stars New Hampshire 14U Boys (NH) Takoma Park SC 14U Boys (MD) Naugatuck Youth Soccer 15U Boys (CT) Kearny Thistle United 16U Boys (NJ) Den of Lions Strikers 17U Boys (NJ) Bethesda SC Green 18U Boys (MD) Team America 19U Boys (VA) Farmington SC 13U Girls (CT) Warrington FC Storm 14U Girls (PAE) Century United Red 14U Girls (PAW) Loudoun SC Red 15U Girls (VA) Allegheny Force 16U Girls (PAW) PA Classics 17U Girls (PAE) Torpedoes SC 17U Girls (NJ) West Mont United 19U Girls (PAE)

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