A record 17 British Columbia-based Pacific Northwest Division teams are in Tampa, Florida, this weekend for the 2009 United Soccer Leagues (USL) Super Y-League North American Finals.
This year's event begins this Friday, November 20, with the first set of group matches. Group stage action will continue through Saturday and Sunday, with playoff and consolation games set for Monday, November 23. The Super Y-League North American championship matches are scheduled for Tuesday, November 24.
The most experienced Super Y-League clubs lead the way, with Coastal WFC sending their U-13, U-14, and U-16 Girls, as well as their U-13 and U-16 Boys, while Mountain WFC will send their U-13, U-15, and U-16 Boys and their U-15 Girls. Vancouver Island's West Coast Capitals are sending teams to the Finals for the first time, as their U-14, U-15, and U-16 Girls teams each finished second in their respective divisions.
Newcomers Coquitlam Metro-Ford are sending two teams after their U-14 Boys won their division, while their U-13 Girls finished as runners-up.
For the first time in Super Y-League history, Thompson-Okanagan will send a team to Florida, as the U-14 Boys claimed second place in their division. Abbotsford Mariners qualified their U-15 Boys after they finished second in their division, while Surrey WFC round out the BC contingent by matching their 2008 total, as they send one side after their U-16 Girls won their division.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC and BC Soccer congratulate all the BC Super Y-League teams and wish them success in Florida.
Please view our championship preview below.
Visit our Super Y-League Finals page by clicking here for the latest news and results
USL SUPER Y-LEAGUE GROUP PREVIEWS
U-13 GIRLS
Group A - Coastal WFC
Pacific Northwest Division winners Coastal WFC are facing three tough competitors in Group A. MPS Renegades finished second in the New England Division, while New Jersey's Parsippany SC finished first in the Mid Atlantic Division. Another New Jersey club in Match Fit Chelsea Academy from the Mid Atlantic Division round out the Group A competitors.
Group B - Coquitlam Metro-Ford
Newcomers Coquitlam Metro-Ford finished second in divisional play, reeling off four wins in their last five matches. They are drawn in Group B and will face Kings Soccer Academy from Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region after they finished as Midwest Division winners. Also in the group are powerhouse Northern Virginia Majestics and Washington Freedom, who were second-place finishers in the Mid Atlantic Division.
U-13 BOYS
Group C - Mountain WFC
After finishing top of the Pacific Northwest Division, Mountain WFC will play in Group C and face Indiana's Fort Wayne Fever, who finished second in the Midwest Division. Florida Soccer Alliance from the Southeast Division and New Jersey Stallions from the Mid Atlantic Division round out the four-team group.
Group D - Coastal WFC
Finishing in a tie for first with Mountain WFC in the Pacific Northwest Division, Coastal WFC will play in Group D and face Florida's West Pines United, who went undefeated in the Southeast Division. Indiana Invaders and New Jersey's Match Fit Chelsea Academy complete a tough-looking group.
U-14 GIRLS
Group A - West Coast Capitals
The Vancouver Island outfit face a tough test in their inaugural trip to the North American Finals. In Group A, the Capitals will face Mid Atlantic Division winners Washington Freedom, Chicago Magic from the Midwest Division, and New England Division side MPS Renegades.
Group C - Coastal WFC
Pacific Northwest Division winners Coastal WFC battle Midwest Division champions Kalamazoo Kingdom, Southeast Division winners Schulz Academy, and TSF Academy from the Mid Atlantic Division in a very challenging Group C.
U-14 BOYS
Group A - Thompson-Okanagan
Finishing second in the Pacific Northwest Division, Thompson-Okanagan will play New York's Quickstrike FC, MPS Bulldogs from Massachusetts, and Long Island Rough Riders in competitive-looking Group A.
Group B - Coquitlam Metro-Ford
Considered a team to look out for in the U-14 Boys tournament, Coquitlam Metro-Ford will square off against fellow Canadian club Ottawa Fury, Ironbound SC from the Mid Atlantic Division, and South Atlantic Division winners Alpharetta United in Group B.
U-15 GIRLS
Group A - West Coast Capitals
Making their first trip to the Finals, the Vancouver Island side will play in Group A and face Mid Atlantic Division powerhouse Quickstrike FC, South Atlantic Division winners Richmond Kickers, and West Pines United from the host state of Florida.
Group C - Mountain WFC
Sporting an unbeaten record of 9W-0L-3D, Pacific Northwest Division winners Mountain WFC will play fellow unbeaten side Alliance Academy of the Midwest Division, South Atlantic Division side Alpharetta United, and Florida's Plantation FC in Group C.
U-15 BOYS
Group B – Mountain WFC
After winning the Pacific Northwest Division with an 8W-0L-2D record, Mountain WFC will need to overcome the likes of Brooklyn Knights, Alpharetta United, and MPS Portland Phoenix in Group B, if they are to achieve their goal of claiming a North American championship title.
Group D – Abbotsford Mariners
Finishing as runners-up in the Pacific Northwest Division, Abbotsford Mariners are sure to be tested in Group D. The Fraser Valley team take on three very difficult opponents in Kalamazoo Kingdom, Schulz Academy, and New Jersey Stallions this weekend.
U-16 GIRLS
Group A – Surrey WFC
The Pacific Northwest Division winners will look to maintain their unbeaten record in Group A against three accomplished clubs in Washington Freedom, Northern Virginia Majestics, and Massachusetts' MPS Renegades.
Group B - Coastal WFC
Despite being a third-place finisher in the Pacific Northwest Division, Coastal WFC will face Canadian rivals Ottawa Fury, Florida Soccer Alliance, and the highly-touted Quickstrike FC from New York State.
Group C – West Coast Capitals
Runners-up in the Pacific Northwest Division, the Capitals will look to leave their mark on Group C when they battle South Atlantic Division club Alpharetta United, Black Watch Rhode Island, and South Jersey Banshees in Florida this weekend.
U-16 BOYS
Group B – Coastal WFC
Led by former Whitecaps men's team striker Jason Jordan, Coastal WFC head to Florida with an undefeated record of 11W-0L-1D as winners of the Pacific Northwest Division. In Group B, Southeast Division champions HC United, New Jersey's Parsippany SC, and Pennsylvania's Super Nova FC await the team from BC's Lower Mainland.
Group D – Mountain WFC
Runners-up in the Pacific Northwest Division, Mountain WFC will play two other Canadian clubs in Group D. Ottawa Fury and Toronto Lynx are set to take on Tony Francisco's side in what are sure to be some heated all-Canadian battles this weekend. New Jersey Rangers will have the chance to test their abilities against all three Canadian clubs in the group.
Visit our Super Y-League Finals page by clicking here for the latest news and results
