And your 2022 USYS National Champion is… Philadelphia SC Coppa Rage!
(ORLANDO, FL) Their hard work has paid off as Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Rage is the 2022 U17 US Youth Soccer National Champion! These girls are no strangers to Nationals as this was their second appearance. After an undefeated run in group play, they advanced to the semi-finals. Rage faced a tough competitor, but ultimately found success winning 2-1 against Utah Avalanche. It was a close game with a tied 1-1 score until, forward, Bella Brown took the lead on a penalty kick. PSC’s next opponent would be in the championship final versus Tonka United SA from Minnesota. At the 2021 National Championships, Rage was defeated in the finals and took home a silver medal. In hopes of a new outcome, the girls had a fire lit under them that showed throughout the whole game. The intensity that they came out with was the same they ended with, and this time around they got the gold. With a final score of 5-0, the whistle blew, and Bella Brown said she felt a sense of relief and joy, a feeling which she hadn’t felt during last year’s run. Brown also said, “I immediately was so proud of our whole team and how well we played the whole week.” She further noted how proud she was of her team for all the hard work they put into getting to this point.
“We were heartbroken last year, and we’re now elated to be National Champs!”. Bella Brown and the rest of the Coppa Rage team exemplifies how hard work pays off. They didn’t let last year’s outcome affect them in this year’s championships. If anything, it provided the motivation and tenacity the team needed. Not only did PSC Coppa Rage win, but they had 2 players make USYS U17 best 11. Coppa added Taylor Mays and Gianna Rivera to the best 11 along with a rare feat, a double golden glove win from Coppa’s goalkeepers Samantha Ridler and Kayla Kulp.
This win is beyond monumental for Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Rage and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. It’s the first championship win for PSC and the third consecutive year with an Eastern Pennsylvania team winning a National Championship. Not only are they the number one U17 team in the state, but Rage are now the top U17 team in the nation! Congratulations to a hardworking and deserving team!
Below are Coppa’s stats from the tournament:
Goals
Gianna Rivera (6)
Taylor Mays (5)
Bella Brown (3)
Emma Levin (2)
Maura Day (2)
Ava DeGeorge (1)
Mercedez Paino (1)
Assists
Bella Brown (1)
Abby Fitz (1)
Taylor Mays (1)
Mercedez Paino (1)
Elena Franklin (1)
Emma Levin (2)
Liv Linus (2)
Gianna Rivera (2)
Ella McAleer (3)