Undefeated teams, returning champions and a revenge game all highlight this year’s Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Challenge Cup
By Kerith Gabriel
On Saturday, June 12, Eastern Pennsylvania will crown 20 new Challenge Cup champions after the dust settles on the annual event.
The finals of this open competition, which draws boys and girls teams from U9 up to U18, will take place at the Hilltop Soccer Complex beginning at 9:45 a.m. beginning with the U9 boys championship between the Lower Merion Rovers and Keystone FC Premier, who both reached the finals for the first time in their club’s history. Both teams made it to the Challenge Cup finals going undefeated in group play.
More: Click for times, schedules, field assignments and previous results by age group
Along with this 9U matchup and among a day of great championship matches, there are a few notable games that are definitely worth staying the day to check out.
FC Europa 2010 Elite will take on Warrington SC United in the 11U girls division B final (2:30 p.m., Field 8). Both teams are making their first appearances in the championship game, with Warrington SC United not allowing a single goal throughout the entire tournament.
The VE SC Timbers will play Coventry SA FC United (3 p.m., Field 3) in the 14U boys championship as the Timbers look to win back-to-back Challenge Cup crowns as the reigning champions. However, Coventry will be tough as it battled its way through quarterfinal and semifinal stages that were decided by one goal each.
FC Dallastown Black Dynamite will take on United Philly Soccer 2006/07 Fusion ( 1 p.m., Field 9) in the 15U girls final, riding an undefeated tournament record. United Philly Soccer however, hopes to take the momentum of knocking off the reigning champions in Lionville SC into the championship game.
More: Click here for directions to the Hilltop Soccer Complex in Royersford, Pa.
Also in the girl’s bracket, PA Rush 2005 will take on a tough North Union United SC 05 Fury (12:30 p.m., Field 6) which went undefeated in Group play. PA Rush one their group by just a one goal, goal differential but won its semifinal match convincingly, scoring four goals to advance. North Union also scored four in its semifinal match as well.
Finally, a major matchup will be the 18U boys championship between the Hanover SC Hurricanes and PA Classics Elite Green (10 a.m., Field 6). Both teams have combined for over 15 goals to get into this game which will be a revenge match of sorts for PA Classics. In the last meeting between these two, Hanover SC won, 5-2.
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