USL News Release

Friday, September 17, 2009

TAMPA – Two teams are headed to the Super Y-League U13 North American Finals with unblemished records: West Pines United of the Southeast Division (12-0-0) and the Mid Atlantic Division’s Ironbound SC (14-0-0). Separated by over 1,100 miles, one thing the teams have in common is their ability to score goals. West Pines averaged 5.6 goals per game while Ironbound netted 5.28.

Despite their lofty goal scoring numbers, West Pines was challenged right from the start, winning 2-0 over Schulz Academy on Saturday, June 20. They outscored their next four opponents by a combined 24-0 before facing Schulz a second time on Saturday, August 8. The score was different but the outcome was the same as West Pines took a 3-1 decision.

U13 Boys North American Finals Bracket [+]

West Pines again went on a tear after facing Schulz. They outscored their next four opponents 27-4 before facing Florida Rush on Saturday, August 22. The closest game of the season, West Pines beat the visiting Rush, 2-1.

Leading the way for West Pines, defender Vinson Samuel jumped up into the attack to contribute 10 goals and four assists on the season. Midfielder Darren Rios also added five goals and four assists but it was another midfielder, Romerio Bernard, who found the back of the net most often. He nailed 11 goals and assisted on two others.

The team will play out of Group D at the North American Finals. Other inhabitants of that group include the Indiana Invaders (5-0-1), Coastal WFC (11-1-0) and Match Fit Chelsea (10-3-1).

Accounting for one of Match Fit’s losses on the season is the second team playing out a perfect season – Ironbound SC.

Match Fit and Ironbound met on the same day West Pines first met Schulz Academy – Saturday, June 20. The date was Ironbound’s closest call of the season. They slipped by Chelsea, 2-1 at Ironbound Stadium in Newark, New Jersey.

Equally impressive as Ironbound’s 74 goals in 14 matches, the team’s defense allowed only five goals on the season for a goals against average of 0.357.

Ironbound opened the season with a pair of shutout wins over the Reading Rage and New Jersey Stallions before conceding a pair of goals to Quickstrike SC in a 4-2 win. The defense regrouped and allowed a single goal against their next three opponents before beating Match Fit.

Ironbound will face NOVA FC (10-1-1), the New Hampshire Phantoms (6-3-1) and the Long Island Rough Riders (9-4-1) in Group A at the U13 North American Finals. Ironbound shut out the Rough Riders in their meeting earlier this season.

Ironbound will look to Chris Salazar and Kazari Trought to continue elongate their season an extra day or two in Tampa come November. The pair combined for a ridiculous, 30 goals and eight assists through their first 14 matches.