The Super Y-League U15 Northern Virginia Royals earned a berth in the US Club Soccer National Cup Championship by winning the Region E National Cup tournament held over July 4-7 in Winston-Salem, NC. The U15 Royals cruised to a 3-0 victory in the final over Coast FC, exacting revenge on the only team that had beaten them in the four-day tournament. 

 

Northern Virginia stormed out in the opening rounds of the tournament, trouncing Triangle FC 4-1 and shutting out Jamestown SC 4-0. The third straight day of matches saw the young Royals facing a sturdy Coast FC squad in a bracket cross-over match. The day would belong to Coast, as the Royals fell 2-1 in the humid heat of the North Carolina summer.

 

With the remaining games played out, the U15 Royals soon learned that they would face Coast FC again in the regional final. With the uphill task in front of them, Northern Virginia called on a stingy defense and quick counterattack to match up with Coast FC. The strategy paid off, and the U15 Royals thumped the team that had beaten them with a convincing three-goal margin for the regional title.

The U16 Northern Virginia Royals completed the season sweep of the first place Triangle FC squad with a solid 3-1 result on the road in Durham, NC on Wednesday. Three goals by Northern Virginia forward Manny Rodriguez propelled the Royals to their second consecutive victory early in their season.

 

Game day for the U16 Royals was fit to be one of challenges. A pre-dawn bus departure coupled with 5-hour bus-ride fatigue made the notion of coming away with three points all the more difficult. Set against a Triangle side with speed, size, and knowledge of the game, the match was a true test of poise and will to win.

 

Northern Virginia started off strong, gaining the majority of possession and creating many scoring opportunities through the first part of the half. Royal Chris Yantz took advantage of a free kick inside his own half and found Jacob Doyle on a slotting run from the outside.   Doyle raced at the Triangle goal, only to be met with a harsh tackle earning Northern Virginia a penalty kick. Rodriguez placed the spot kick untouched past the Triangle keeper for the 1-0 advantage.