State Cup Perpetual Trophies

state cup perpetual trophies

In the spirit of legacy trophies like the FA Cup, Stanley Cup and James P. McGuire Cup, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer introduced perpetual trophies to its State Cup in 2016. Since then, thousands of youth players have competed for trophies named for Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer luminaries who embodied the mission of the state association to promote and facilitate the game of soccer for all youth at all levels of play in eastern Pennsylvania.

The Walter Bahr Cup (U19 Boys)

Current Champion: Lower Merion Soccer Club Rats

The U19 Boys trophy recognizes Walter Bahr, who assisted on the winning goal in the U.S.'s famous 1-0 victory over England at the 1950 World Cup. A Philadelphia native, Bahr grew up in the city at a time when soccer was taking off. He starred for Northeast High School and the famous Lighthouse Boys Club before joining Temple University and the national team. Bahr, a teacher by profession, turned to coaching after his playing career--with historic clubs like Philadelphia Nationals, Uhrik Truckers and Philadelphia United German-Hungarians--was complete. He led both the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals and Philadelphia Spartans and coached Frankford High School. Bahr also coached at Temple and Penn State. Some of his notable former players, at the high school, club or college level, include Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Service to Youth recipient Eddie Leigh, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Excellence in Coaching recipient Lew Meehl, Troy Snyder, Jerry Moyer and Jeffrey Maierhofer among many others who have continued to support youth soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania. Bahr is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame, the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association Hall of Fame, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame and was the Head of Delegation for U.S. Soccer at the 1990 World Cup.

Past Champions

2018: Penn Fusion SA
2017: Penn Fusion SA
2016: Montgomery United
2015: Lehigh Valley United
2014: Montgomery United

The Frank J. Olszewski Cup (U17 Boys)

Current Champion: Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Black

The U17 Boys Cup recognizes Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s longest tenured board member, Frank J. Olszewski. A Lehigh County native, Olszewski was a driving force behind bringing a soccer complex to the Lehigh Valley, known today as the Lehigh County Fields. He served as the District 6 commissioner, Vice President of Travel and was the only individual to assume the role of Executive Vice President of the association. In addition to his leadership within the state association, Olszewski was a well-respected USSF Level 6 referee, and often officiated club, high school and college matches. He also held a USSF National C Coaching License. Olszewski received Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s highest honor, the Service to Youth Award in 2004. In 2009, he was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Hall of Fame for his efforts to grow the game.   

Past Champions

2018: Future Player Academy
2017: HMMS Titans
2016: FC Europa Xtreme Crunch
2015: Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa
2014: Hershey 96 Orange Pride

The Charlotte Moran Cup (U17 Girls)

Current Champion: Lehigh Valley United Black

A tireless advocate for girls soccer, Charlotte Moran was recognized in 2016 with the naming of the U17 Girls Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Charlotte Moran Cup. She was best known for her work with the girl’s side of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) in Region I and US Youth Soccer.  Moran served as the Region I Girls ODP Administrator for 12 years and held the same position with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer for 17 years. She also served as the National Chair for four years of the US Youth Soccer Girls ODP Committee. Moran was the executive director of our state association while also chairing the Women’s Committee for U.S. Soccer. In 2014, Moran was inducted into the US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame. 

Past Champions

2018: 1776 United Xtreme
2017: Lower Merion SC Storm
2016: YMS Premier Xplosion
2015: FC Bucks
2014: FC Europa Storm

The Werner Fricker Cup (U16 Boys)

Current Champion: HMMS Eagle FC United

A soccer pioneer in the United States, Werner Fricker paved the way for the growth of the game throughout his life as a player and later as an administrator with U.S. Soccer. An immigrant to the United States in 1952, Fricker captained the Philadelphia German-Hungarians team that went on to win the 1965 U.S. Amateur Cup. He also represented the United States on the team that vied for a spot in the 1964 Olympics. Fricker helped to found Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer in 1972 and served as the association’s president for two years. During his tenure with U.S. Soccer, Fricker led the successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 1994, and served as president, vice president and executive vice president of the federation for a combined 16 years. He was instrumental in establishing the Women’s National Team, and the Under-20 and Under-17 Men’s National Team programs. In addition to being inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the USASA Hall of Fame, U.S. Soccer named its top accolade, the Werner Fricker Builder Award, in his honor in 2002.  

Past Champions

2018: Lehigh Valley United
2017: Future Player Academy
2016: Patriot FC Red
2015: Penn Fusion Elite
2014: Lower Merion SC Magic

The Robert Urban Cup (U16 Girls)

Current Champion: FC Revolution Rowdies

Known as Delaware County’s “Mr. Soccer,” Robert Urban worked extensively at the club and state level to grow the game. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and World War II Veteran, Urban helped to expand Nether Providence AA Soccer from 100 to 1,500 registered players over three decades. He served as a board member and later president of the Delaware County Soccer League, and volunteered his time as camps administrator with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. In 2002, the Philadelphia Union honored Urban with the Hometown Hero award, for his dedication to protect and serve our country. Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer was proud to honor Urban in 2016 with the naming of the U16 Girls Robert Urban Cup.  

Past Champions

2018: Lehigh Valley United
2017: 1776 United Xtreme
2016: FC Pennsylvania Strikers
2015: FC Bucks Storm
2014: Penn Legacy 97 Black

The Richard Groff Cup (U15 Boys)

Current Champion: PA Dominion FC

A Bucks County native, Richard Groff recognized the power of our sport as a player and coach and worked tirelessly to help grow the game in America. Groff was instrumental in promoting the U.S. Men’s National Team games, and brought the team to Philadelphia to play in front of 43,000 fans at Franklin Field in 1989. He served as treasurer for U.S. Soccer in the early 1990s, and was an advocate for the women’s side, helping to launch the inaugural Chiquita Cup International Women’s Tournament. In 1994 Groff was named commissioner of the American Professional Soccer League, helping to build the USL, the second tier of American professional soccer. Most recently, he served as the president of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association (2010-2014), and in 2014 received U.S. Soccer’s most prestigious honor, the Werner Fricker Builder Award.

Past Champions

2018: Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals
2017: Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals
2016: Lower Merion SC Sabertooth Rats
2015: LDC United Crushers
2014: Penn Fusion 98

Betty D'Anjolell Cup (U15 Girls)

Current Champion: Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Swarm

Betty D’Anjolell, a Lansdowne native, was a key figure in establishing women’s soccer both in Pennsylvania and the United States as a whole. D'Anjolell began as a coach and later became president of the Lansdowne Girls Club and took on a leadership role with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. In the early 1980’s, D’Anjolell worked to get women’s soccer accepted by the U.S. Olympic Committee, which led to the creation of the U.S. Women's National Team. The USWNT played its first match in 1985 and six years later won the inaugural Women’s World Cup. During this time, D’Anjolell served as the national chairperson of the U.S. Youth Soccer Girls Olympic Development Program. In 1995, D’Anjolell became the first female vice president in the history of MLS, when she joined D.C. United as vice president of operations, a role she held until 1998. She was named MLS Executive of the Year in 1997 as D.C. United won its second consecutive MLS Cup.

Past Champions

2018: Keystone FC Premier
2017: Lehigh Valley United
2016: Lower Merion SC Storm
2015: FC Pennsylvania Strikers
2014: YMS Premier Xplosion