BLACK DIVISION
With six wins from its seven games, PPA KSA 04 Pro-Profile (GA) managed to secure the 16U Boys Black Division title during play in Tampa. The Georgia side began its season with four straight wins in Panama City Beach, including three consecutive shutouts to wrap up its opening week of play. KSA held off a couple of challengers in Tampa to get to 18 points in the standings and claim first place.
The teams with games to play in Las Vegas have the opportunity to move up the table and improve their place in the final standings. United PDX 04B Premier (OR) enters the March contests with six points in the standings, including a win over second-place PA Dominion 04 (PA-E). If United PDX is able to win all three of its matches in Las Vegas, it can catch PA Dominion and finish in second place due to the head-to-head win. Should that happen, the Oregon side would earn the automatic qualification into the National League for next season that comes with the top-two finish in the division.
Game to Watch
March 13, JB Marine (MO) vs. United PDX 04B Premier (OR)
This Friday game matches up two of the top teams with games remaining in the Black Division. As mentioned above, United PDX has an opportunity to climb its way up the standings and into a second-place finish, but it will need to pick up all nine points in Las Vegas. That pursuit will start in this match against JB Marine, which played several tight matches to begin its season. The Missouri side opened its campaign with a narrow 2-1 loss to the eventual division winner, KSA, as it showed it can compete with any team in the Black Division.
BLUE DIVISION
All four 16U Boys Blue Division teams competing in Las Vegas are within three points of current group leader Germantown Legends 04 Black (TN). It’s only a matter of time before they overtake the Tennessee side, and each remaining game will be crucial in deciding which side finishes the season on top of the standings.
SLSG 2004 Elite (MO) picked up three wins and a draw to start its season — with the tie coming in a back-and-forth game against Germantown. With 10 points in the standings after that strong start to the season, SLSG is just one point behind Germantown entering the final weekend.
Averaging four goals per game, Sparta Premier JK (UT) rebounded from a loss to Germantown in its season opener to win its last three matches in Panama City Beach. With nine points in the standings, the Utah side is currently even with Nationals Union Black (MI) ahead of the Las Vegas games. Nationals used strong defense — conceding just two goals through four games — to position itself in the middle of the division title hunt.
With two wins and two draws, Sound FC B04A (WA) joins SLSG as the only unbeaten teams remaining in the group. The Washington side is right behind its fellow contenders in the table and is capable of making a run at the Blue Division title during the final weekend of the season.
Games to Watch
March 14, Sound FC B04A (WA) vs. SLSG 2004 Elite (MO)
March 14, Sparta Premier JK (UT) vs. Nationals Union Black (MI)
It’s possible the Blue Division comes down to the final day of action, but it’s even more certain that the Saturday matchups will provide a little more clarity in the title race — whether that’s actually crowning a winner or simply laying out the title-winning scenarios for Sunday. Sound FC and SLSG each head to Las Vegas without a loss but will both be aiming to take all three points from this matchup. Meanwhile, Sparta’s high-scoring attack will meet Nationals Union’s stout defense in their contest.
RED DIVISION
After finishing its season with six straight wins, Pipeline Pre Academy (MD) is in waiting mode to see if its 18 points are enough to secure the 16U Boys Red Division title. The Maryland side used a mix of high-scoring offensive performances and strong defensive outings to pick up its string of victories and put itself in a good position when it concluded its season in Tampa.
The lone team to beat Pipeline was Downtown LVSC 04 Gold (NV), which picked up a 2-0 win when the teams met in their season opener. With three games left to play, the Nevada side is nine points back of Pipeline — meaning Downtown LVSC has an opportunity to win the division. In order to do so, it will need to win all three of its matches during the final weekend of the season.
Midwest United FC 04 Royal (MI) and SC Del Sol 04 Boys Team 1 (AZ) have seven points and four points, respectively, which means each side is still alive for a second-place finish and the automatic requalification for the National League. They’ll each need to pass Downtown LVSC and hope for some help in other matches to accomplish that feat.
Game to Watch
March 15, Downtown LVSC 04 Gold (NV) vs. SC Del Sol 04 Boys Team 1 (AZ)
Downtown LVSC has a couple of tough matchups earlier in the weekend, but if it’s able to come away with wins in both of them, this game would decide if it’s able to catch Pipeline in the standings and win the division. Should it drop any points in its first two games, this match against SC Del Sol could still hold significance in determining which team finishes in second place and gets the requalifying spot into the National League for next season.
WHITE DIVISION
With three games left to play, defending National Champion Real Jersey FC (NJ) is the leading contender to claim the 16U Boys White Division title. However, it still has work to do and must hold off some challengers during the Las Vegas weekend.
Real Jersey is currently in first place thanks to a 4-0-0 start to its season in which it has outscored opponents, 10-to-1. If it can continue its smothering defensive efforts, Real Jersey will make it difficult on all of the opponents looking to catch it in the standings. The top challenger playing in Las Vegas is FRAM 04 Chovkovy (CA-S), which picked up three straight wins in Panama City Beach after dropping its season opener. FRAM is just three points behind Real Jersey in the standings, so it has the ability to make up that gap with a single win.
Players 04 Elite (NV) is another team in the title hunt, as it enters the final weekend with seven points in the standings. The Nevada side will need to string together some wins to make up the gap between it and the top of the group, but Players 04 has the benefit of playing in its hometown.
Game to Watch
March 14, FRAM 04 Chovkovy (CA-S) vs. Real Jersey FC (NJ)
Real Jersey has a Friday matchup against local side Players 04 Elite that will be a tough early challenge, but this matchup against FRAM has the potential to have division title-clinching possibilities. The two teams combined to win seven of eight games during the first event of the season in Panama City Beach. If they can continue that form, this will be a fun game to watch. FRAM may need to push for the win to catch Real Jersey in the standings, which could open up the game and add some end-to-end action. If FRAM can get a result, it may add extra intrigue to the final day of the season.