Waukegan soccer teams qualify for nationals
The North Central United U13 Girls and U14 Boys soccer teams captured the win at the Midwest Regional Tournament in Libertyville and Waukegan this past weekend. The victories advance the teams to the U.S. Club Soccer 2017 National XVI Cup Finals tournament next month.
The teams will compete against Midwest champions from the other four region tournaments.
This is the second consecutive month that North Central United teams have done well at a Midwest Regional Competition. Earlier in June, the U15 Boys team competed in Overland Park, Kansas for a shot at the US Youth Soccer Nationals, but were defeated in the semi-finals after extra time in a penalty shootout.
North Central United U13 Girls clinched their regional championships with a dominating 3-0 victory over the REV Soccer Club in the final game on Monday, June 26. NCU Boys held onto their 1-0 victory the same morning, edging out the South Suburban Academy SC at the Waukegan Sports Park.
NCU is the select travel program of Heart of the City, a Lake County nonprofit changing the trajectory of young lives through soccer.
Teams from NCU are made up of players mostly from Waukegan. They are coached by Sal Gloria and Jose Gomez, who serve as the Director and Assistant Director of Soccer Operations respectively for Heart of the City.
"Participating at the finals is a great accomplishment. We hope it provides both teams with a rewarding experience for all their hard work," shared Gloria.
The US Club Soccer National Cup XVI will take place July 21-24 in Grand Park, 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis. With 31 soccer fields and sports facilities spanning more than 400 acres, it is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience that the teams will not soon forget.
About the Heart of the City
Since 2014, Heart of the City has provided an opportunities youth in the Lake County area to participate in recreational and competitive soccer activities. Teaching players to be competitive on the field, successful in the classroom, and productive in the community, the organization is a charitable nonprofit organization based in Waukegan. For more information, visit Heartofthecitysports.org or email info@heartofthecitysports.org
About US Club Soccer
A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible developmental environment for players of all ages. Anchored by Players First and its five pillars of Club Development, offers registration, league, and cup-based competition platforms. US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and supported by LaLiga through a technical partnership.