Three Philadelphia-Area Teams Competing in 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships Beginning Today in Phoenix, Arizona

Plymouth Meeting, PA – July 27, 2011 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, which has worked throughout Eastern Pennsylvania to promote, foster and perpetuate the game of soccer to the region's youth since 1972, has three Philadelphia-area teams competing in the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships, to be held at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Arizona beginning today, July 27, and continuing through Sunday, July 31.
The three teams are the Under-17 Boys Penn Fusion Celtic (from Westtown, PA), the Under-18 Boys YMS Thunder (from Morrisville, PA), and the Under-17 Girls FC Pennsylvania Strikers (from St. David’s, PA). All three have made it through the Pennsylvania State Cup Championship and US Youth Soccer Region I Championship (held earlier this summer in Lancaster, PA) tournaments to qualify for the most prominent youth soccer tournament this country has to offer.
“Out of 10,000 teams competing for a spot in the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships tournament, only 48 teams nationwide are able to make it to this point, and the fact that three teams from our region have advanced to our National Championship stage is a testament to their hard work, as well as to the overall excellence of the youth soccer programs in our region,” said Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Office of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. “We congratulate Penn Fusion Celtic, YMS Thunder, and FC Pennsylvania Strikers on their terrific season and for making it all the way to the National Championship tournament. This is an amazing accomplishment, and we are counting on them to show the rest of the nation what Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is all about.”
The teams will play matches Wednesday, July 27 through Friday, July 29 to determine who will advance to play for the national titles. Round robin match times are scheduled for 8 a. m., 10 a.m., and 8 p.m. Teams will earn three points for a win, one point for a tie and no points for a loss. The top two teams with the most points at the conclusion of Friday's play will advance to play for the national championship on Saturday, July 30 or Sunday, July 31. Complete coverage of the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships is available online at http://tournaments.usyouthsoccer.org/events/2011-National-Championships.
About Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer:
Since 1972, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer has worked throughout Eastern Pennsylvania to promote, foster and perpetuate the game of soccer to the region's youth. Through competitions, educational programs, workshops and coaching clinics, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer impacts the lives of more than 130,000 youth soccer players from ages five to 19. Additional information is available at http://www.epysa.org.

Media Contact for Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer:
Jim DeLorenzo, Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations,
Cellphone: 215-266-5943, E-mail: jim@jhdenterprises.com