The Empire United SA Rochester Boys U17 Blue team captured the US Club Soccer National Championship last week with a 1 – 0 win over North Stars (PA) in the Premier Division final on Monday, August 2^nd.  After going 3 – 0 through group play at Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Empire United was the top seed headed into the final.  In the final, Eduardo Figueroa scored in the 80^th minute in a dominating performance which was delayed by torrential rain earlier in the day – Neil Allen was credited with the assist.  Overall at the National Finals, the EUSA Rochester BU17 Blue went 4 – 0 while outscoring their opponents 8 – 2 over the four days.  On their way to claiming the National Championship, they recorded victories over SYA (Virginia), Orlando FC QPR Academy (Florida), and Colorado Storm (Colorado), before knocking off North Stars in the final. 

Three weeks earlier, Empire United earned their spot in the National Finals by capturing the US Club Soccer Regional Championship in Pittsgrove, New Jersey.  At Pittsgrove, they recorded a 3 – 0 – 1 overall record including a 2 – 0 – 1 record through group play before capturing the Regional Championship with a convincing 4 – 2 victory over Delran United, a State Cup semi-finalist from New Jersey.

The National Championship capped off an incredible season for this group, after being crowned champions at five tournaments/showcases throughout the season (US Club Soccer National Championships, US Club Soccer Regional Championship, MAPS/MSSL Boys College Showcase, Baltimore March Madness, and Virginia Beach Rush Cup on the Coast), and finishing as a semi-finalist at the Potomac Memorial Tournament and and runners-up at the Empire Cup. 

The Empire United SA Rochester BU17 Blue team members are: Cody Winter, Brandon Winn, JP Fauchet, Alex Palermo, Jake Zito, Eduardo Figueroa, Neil Allen, Ryan Lotzar, Andy May, Davis Craig, Joey Plummer, Andrew Otiso, Chuckie D’Imperio, Trevor Blackwell, Andrew Prister, Steve Stewart, James Ingram, Josh Klein, Tyler Wood, and Michael Vincelli, Head Coach Jeff Oliver and Assistant Coach Jack Burgasser.

Congratulations boys!!