Strikers headed to Vegas

The FC Pennsylvania Strikers are heading to Las Vegas tomorrow morning and will compete for a national title starting Friday in the US Youth Soccer National League Championships. Three players and the head coach hail from right here in Bucks County.

Pennsy team to compete for a national title

By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor

The US Youth Soccer National League Under-15 and Under-16 Girls and Under-17 Boys and Girls teams are set to resume play Friday, March 13 in Las Vegas.
One of those teams vying for a championship is the FC Pennsylvania Strikers, which got its start right here in lower Bucks.
Formerly known as the FC Bucks Strikers, the squad now draws players from as far away as Harrisburg.
Three of the players currently manning positions on the squad, which is headed out to Vegas Thursday morning, are from right here in lower Bucks. The head coach is from here, too.
Defenders Kelly Boyce and Kaitlin McNamara hail from Feasterville and Washington Crossing, respectively. Carly Black is an all-around player from Horsham.
McNamara is a Council Rock North freshman who also competes for the Lady Indians track & field team. She's also a top defender for the Strikers.
"We're fortunate to have her; she's a terrific defender," said Strikers head coach Dave Shaw, also of Washington's Crossing. "She's very hard to beat one-on-one."
A Neshaminy sophomore, Boyce grabbed a starting post last season--her first--with the Lady Redskins. A left-footed player who plays outside back for the Strikers, Kelly has been a Pennsylvania State ODP player since 2005 and a Regional ODP pool player for two years.
"Kelly is a gifted athlete who brings size, strength and speed to the Striker team," commented Shaw.
Black is a freshman at nearby Villa Joseph Marie Academy in Holland. A player with numerous skills, Black can play a post just about anywhere on the playing field, said Shaw. She was recently recruited by the U-15 US National team, and is currently listed among 34 players gathered nationwide for that squad. Black has plans to attend a U-15 US National team camp in mid-April.
The reigning Eastern Pennsylvania State Champion, the tournament trophies captured by the Strikers last year are too numerous to list. In addition to the Eastern PA title, the girls captured the Region 1 Premier League Championship. Additionally, the Pennsy team took home the WAGS Tournament trophy and the Las Vegas College Showcase Championship.
"It's a pretty special group of kids," says Shaw.
The tourney starts Friday and continues through Sunday, March 15 at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex.
Established in 1976, the National Championships provides the opportunity for teams to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation.
"The National League provides players the opportunity to develop and test themselves in meaningful matches, and this final weekend of play for the National League Girls and Under-17 Boys will be no different as three champions will be crowned, joining the ranks of champions in the Under-17 Girls and Under-16 Boys age groups," said Paul Luchowski, US Youth Soccer National League Commissioner. "Each game will hold great significance as teams play for a League title, a chance to return next season and the opportunity to compete in the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Lancaster, Mass., July 21-26."
At last year's tourney, National League teams secured seven of the eight finals slots. National League teams went on to claim the Under-15 Boys (Baltimore Casa Mia Bays) and Girls (Dallas Texans 93 Red Dallas) as well as Under-16 Boys (Dallas Texans 92 Red) and Girls (Dallas Texans Red 92) national titles.