State champs off to regionals

Three local teams are headed to the United States Youth Soccer Association Region III Championships in Oklahoma City after winning state titles.

By BRANDON WRIGHT
Published June 27, 2007

PALM HARBOR - The club season started with more than 10, 000 teams nationally, but it will be paired down this weekend to the final 48 when three Pinellas County state champions compete in the United States Youth Soccer Association Region III Championships in Oklahoma City.

The Clearwater Chargers under-15 girls, Countryside Lightning (U-19 girls) and Strictly Soccer (U-14 boys) all won Florida Youth Soccer Association titles last month, automatically qualifying for regionals. The Countryside U-17 girls team also advanced to regionals after a runnerup finish in the Region III Premier League.

The U.S. Soccer Federation established youth championships in 1935, and the USYSA expanded the tournament by 11 divisions in 1974. The USYSA is the largest youth sports organization in the nation.

Of the four local teams, the Countryside U-19 girls have the most at stake. Countryside reached regionals last season, but for a team that essentially grew up together on a soccer field, this is its last chance at a national title.

"There is no U-20, so this is it, " Countryside coach John Planamenta said. "I'm not sure if it has hit the girls yet, but I imagine it will during this weekend."

Club teams tend to disband following the U-18 year due to college and summer obligations, but Countryside wanted one more crack at the national title. Case in point is Meggie Ford, a former star sweeper for St. Petersburg who played her freshman year at Columbia last season. She is cutting short a European vacation to play again with her club team.

"Meggie is in Spain right now for a pre-scheduled vacation with her family to visit her brother, " Planamenta said. "After we won state all the girls went up to Mr. and Mrs. Ford and said, 'So Meggie's coming back from vacation early, right?' "

After losing in the 2006 State Cup semifinals, the Clearwater Chargers' U-15 girls won it this season. The Chargers are an offensive-minded group that features a pair of dangerous strikers up top in Mary-Ann Krlin (Osceola) and Sam Newhaller (Palm Harbor).

"We play a very risky style, " Clearwater coach Sergei Stopek said. "We lay it out there, but we have the talent to play that way."

Strictly Soccer's U-14 boys lean on their solid defense. Strictly Soccer plays a European-style flat-back four with five midfielders and depends on the physical play of right back Phil Vitrano and the decision-making of center attacking midfielder Robert Menke.

"Philip is just a strong kid who's an absolute beast back there, " Strictly Soccer coach Hans Burt said. "Robert is like our quarterback out there who we count on to push the attack and distribute the ball."

All four teams open Friday and will compete in three-team pool play through Sunday. For complete schedules and results, visit http://southernregionals.org.

Contact Brandon Wright at bwright@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2216.

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 00:29:59]