Javanon U16 Rocks Rockford!

The cream of Louisville's youth soccer crop descended on Rockford, Illinois for the US Youth Region II Championships from June 20-25. Having won the Kentucky State Open Cup in their respective age groups at the end of May, 14 teams --11 from Louisville--were rewarded with the opportunity to play in the regionals, where they did battle with the best teams in the Midwest. Some 210 teams and 4,000 players participated from 14 state associations, including Indiana, Ohio North/South, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, South/North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota. Javanon traveled with a strong hand after once again dominating at this year's state finals. The Red picked up eight titles, while two went to United 1996, and one to Mockingbird. And Javanon's U17s also got a ticket to Rockford on account of winning the prestigious Midwest Regional League this season, bringing total Louisville representation to 12 teams. Success at the regionals would see the winners from U14 to U19 go on and play at the US Youth Soccer National Championships at Burns Park Soccer Complex in Little Rock, Arkansas from July 22-27. So with our representatives full of hope, and some with cautious optimism, how did they do? Boys Pride of place goes to Javanon's U16s, newly crowned regional champions after a 3-1 victory against powerhouse Eclipse Select of Illinois in the final. Javanon got off to great start when Brandon Causey put them 1-0 up after five minutes. Tyler Riggs doubled their lead on the half hour mark, before Eclipse pulled one back two minutes later. However, a third from Will Vitalis in the second half after 72 minutes clinched the deal for coach Tim Chastonay's heroes. Team manager Terri Bruner, whose son Trevor plays on the team, says, "This is the eighth year this team has been together--several have been together from season one and that's half of their lives. Loyalty, hard work, and determination has led this team to where they are today--not to mention great coaching, Tim Chastonay and Derek Willis." Javanon made it to the final after finishing top of their bracket, beating Vardar West of Michigan 5-1 and PSA United (Ohio North) 5-2. A narrow loss in between to KCFC Strikers of Kansas 2-1 almost put an end to their hopes, but they squeezed through thanks to a superior goal difference. They then went on to beat Vardar Red of Michigan--a team they lost to earlier in the season--3-1 for a place in the final. They fell behind in the 15th minute, but fought back with goals from Tyler Riggs (31), Cole Page (53) and Jack Goblirsch (80). One of the most fascinating brackets at the championships was at U17 level, where Kentucky champions United 1996 were drawn with local rivals Javanon, whom they beat 2-1 in the final. The pair were drawn in the "Group of Death" with Michigan Wolves, last year's regional winners and national runners-up, and Ohio North's Pacesetter Premier. And it didn't disappoint. United 1996 coach Braco Jusufovic said before the tournament that he believed the experience his team gained from last year, when they lost to powerhouse Chicago Magic in a thriller, would stand them in good stead. So it proved, as the Louisville outfit powered through its group, beating Pacesetter Premier 5-1, Michigan Wolves 1-0 and Javanon 5-3. It was the game against rivals Javanon that decided the bracket, with the matchup seeing Javanon take a 3-1 lead, before United made a thrilling comeback with four goals without reply. In the semi-final against Scott Gallagher (MO), United's Austin Decker scored in the 22nd minute to void Brian Schultz's goal in the 12th. However, a 57th minute goal and a stout Gallagher defense resulted in heartbreak for 1996. The third Louisville team to win its bracket was Javanon's U18s, who overcame FC United (IL) and Cup Red (Ohio South), while tying with Arsenal Hibernians (NE) 2-2. However, Graham Merryweather's troops lost at the regional semi-final stage for the third time in five years, being pipped by Shattuck St Mary's from Minnesota in an exciting 3-2 encounter. Javanon U13s came close to qualifying, losing out narrowly on goal differential. Joe Williams' boys got off to a great start on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Michigan Elite, but hit a flat spot on Sunday when going down 4-0 to CASA of Ohio. Undeterred, the boys put in a good performance against Bangu Tsunami Blue of Minnesota (3-1) to finish on a high and place second in the bracket. Javanon's U14s lost to FC Milwaukee 2-0 (WI), Cleveland 3-1 (Ohio North) and Michigan Jaguars (3-2), while United 1996's U19s lost to FC Milwaukee (WI), Arsenal Bluejays (NE) and KC Wizards (KS). Girls Best of the girls was Mockingbird's sole representatives at the tournament, the U16s, who went through the whole competition unbeaten, but lost out agonizingly on goal differential. Larry Raible's girls tied their first game against FC Milwaukee Blue (eventual bracket winners), and then beat South Dakota 2-1 and JUSC Premier of Iowa 3-0. Javanon's girls' technical director, Dave Griffiths, believed the club's U13 outfit had the best chance of its four representatives on the girls' side to make the breakthrough to the semi-final stages, but felt the team's inexperience might undo them. It seems he was proven right, as coach Bahram Felli's troops lost its opening day game to KCFC Force from Kansas by a lone goal, but bounced back to beat Rushmore of South Dakota 4-1, and then Toro Booyah of Nebraska 2-1. Only a tiebreaker prevented them from going any further. Griffiths is also coach of the U19s, a team crammed full of college players and one which traveled to its seventh straight regional championships. It tied with PSA Gunners (MN) and FC Milwaukee (WI), before losing to Eclipse Select (IL). The Javanon U17s found Fort Wayne Fever of Indiana, FC Milwaukee Blue and CASA (Ohio North) too good, while the U18s lost to St Louis (MO) and Ohio Elite Academy, before playing to a tie with Dynamo FC of Indiana.