Run ends for Arkansas United

BUSA 96 (ALA.) 2, ARKANSAS UNITED 0

Justin Hawkins found plenty to be proud of Tuesday afternoon at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championship.

The coach of the Arkansas United under-19 girls team had just watched BUSA 96 of Alabama eliminate his team from the tournament with a 2-0 victory in the semifinals at Burns Park in North Little Rock, but Hawkins wasn't complaining.

Arkansas United was the only team from the state to make it out of pool play at the prestigious tournament, which sends its champions from each division to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship on July 21-26 in Tulsa.

Arkansas United went 1-1-1 in pool play to advance to the semifinals. It lost to Houston Express 96 5-0 on Friday, but rebounded to beat TSCH Hurricane Bolding of Oklahoma 4-1 on Saturday and tied BRSC 96 Alliance of Louisiana 1-1 on Sunday.

"Any club would be excited to represent their state," Hawkins said. "We are definitely one of the smaller states here at regionals. We're proud. We represented our state well."

Tori Gann and Camryn Lester scored for BUSA 96, which will face Tampa Bay (Fla.) United in the under-19 final at 9:30 a.m. today.

Gann's goal in the 13th minute was critical, BUSA Coach Andrew Brower said, considering the 97-degree temperature Tuesday. Gann, who will play soccer at the University of Alabama this fall, scored from 8 yards out past United goalkeeper Jessica McCauley.

"Getting an early goal helps," Brower said. "It helped take the air out of the game. We were able to maintain a good team shape."

Former Sylvan Hills standout Abigail Persson, who plays college soccer for Liberty University, almost tied the game in the first five minutes, but her shot was stopped by BUSA goalkeeper Lauren Roussell, who had 10 saves.

Lester made it 2-0 in the 70th minute, getting it in past McCauley again for her second goal of the tournament.

"Camryn had great composure to finish it and put it in the back of the net to secure the game," Brower said.

Hawkins said playing teams from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama was good for his team, which included former Little Rock Christian player Victoria Neblett (Central Oklahoma University), former Hot Springs Lakeside player Amanda Hamilton (Hendrix College) and former Central Arkansas Christian player Rachel Mina (Grand Canyon University).

"We got better each match," Hawkins said. "The heat and not being game fit to play that many matches in a row caught up with us in the second half. It was hard for us to chase in the second half.

"I'm proud of the girls for their effort. Their style of soccer was phenomenal this weekend."

Today's final is a rematch of the opening pool play game, which Tampa Bay United won 5-0 on Friday at Burns Park.

Brower said Tampa Bay will be a tough matchup, but his team will be ready.

"It's very rare you lose a game 5-0 in the opening round and get a chance to redeem yourself," Brower said. "They were the best team we've played, and we did some things to help them.

"They're very athletic. They're a pure U-19 team. It's fun for our kids to have the opportunity to play in the final."

Tampa Bay United advanced to today's final with a 1-0 victory over BRSC 96 Alliance of Louisiana in the other under-19 girls semifinal match as Darien Davis scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute.

Tampa Bay United went 3-0 in pool play and is the only under-19 girls team in the tournament that hasn't lost a match.

UNDER-18 GIRLS

Texas, Louisiana teams in final

AHFC 97 of Texas and 97 Louisiana Fire Navy will meet in today's final after earning semifinal victories Tuesday.

AHFC 97 beat South Carolina United Mount Pleasant 96 Elite 1-0. Emily Halal scored in the 63rd minute for AHFC, which went 2-1-0 in pool play.

Louisiana Fire Navy held off FC Alliance 97 TNSL 1 from Tennessee 4-3.

Louisiana Fire Navy led 4-0 at halftime. The team was credited with a goal after a player from FC Alliance knocked it into the net. Alexandra Thomas scored in the 17th and 28th minutes to make it 3-0, and Mia Dubroc scored in the 37th minute for a 4-0 lead.

FC Alliance got on the board in the 65th minute on an own goal by Louisiana Fire. Tecora Turner's goal in the 87th minute and Margaret Burkett's goal in the 90th minute pulled FC Alliance within 4-3, but that was as close as it could get

Today's final will be at 8:30 a.m. on Field 4 at Burns Park. Louisiana Fire defeated FC Alliance 4-2 in pool play Friday.

UNDER-19 BOYS

Oklahoma, Georgia teams advance

TSCH 96 from Oklahoma and GSA 96 Premier from Georgia will play in the under-19 boys final at 1:30 p.m. today on Field 12 at Burns Park.

TSCH 96 earned a 3-1 victory over Cajun Fire 96 from Louisiana in the semifinals Tuesday. Daniel Barone, Tyler Ridener and Michael Mitrik scored for TSCH 96. Nestor Peralta had Cajun Fire's lone goal in the 61st minute.

GSA 96 Premier beat FC Dallas 96 Premier 2-1 in the other semifinal. Ricardo Gomez and Robert Grunow scored for GSA 96 Premier. Anthony Powell had the lone goal for FC Dallas 96.

Sports on 06/24/2015