Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s YMS Thunder under 18 Boys Team Wins 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championship in Phoenix

Plymouth Meeting, PA – August 8, 2011 – The under 18 boys soccer team YMS Thunder, representing Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and Yardley Makefield Soccer Club, captured the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona last weekend, winning the U18 Boys Andy Stone Cup.

With the victory, the Under-18 Boys YMS Thunder (from Lower Makefield, Bucks County, PA) has reached the highest level of competitive youth soccer in the United States. YMS Thunder was one of three teams from Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer that earned the right to compete in the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships, including the Under-17 Boys Penn Fusion Celtic (from Westtown, PA), and the Under-17 Girls FC Pennsylvania Strikers (from St. David’s, PA).

“Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is proud of the accomplishments of the players and coaches on YMS Thunder, and we congratulate them for winning the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championship in the under 18 boys Andy Stone Cup,” said Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. “Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is lucky to be represented so well at national events by great teams like the YMS Thunder. We look forward to these players being leaders in the future whether on the soccer field, the classroom or the community.”

YMS Thunder’s road to the title began in the keystone state, with Coach Albert Prickett’s squad winning the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer State Cup on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19th in West Chester, PA, and then winning the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships on Tuesday, July 5th in Lancaster, PA.

In Phoenix, YMS Thunder opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, July 27th over KCFC Rangers 92/93 representing Kansas. KCFC scored first as Thomas Schermoly found the net in the 22nd minute. In the second half, Kyle MacDonald leveled the score on a 63rd-minute strike for YMS. His second goal of the day came in stoppage time and proved the game winner, lifting his team to the 2-1 victory.

Day two (Thursday, July 28th) found YMS Thunder finishing up with a 1-1 tie against Palo Alto (CA) Blue. The next day (Friday, July 29th) YMS Thunder again finished up with a 1-1 tie against Alpharetta (GA) Ambush 93 Red.
The same two squads, YMS Thunder and Alpharetta Ambush 93 Red, faced off again in the National Championship finals on Sunday, July 31st. An 89th-minute penalty kick from Kyle MacDonald (who will be playing at Penn State this fall) proved to be the game winner in YMS Thunder’s 1-0 victory over Alpharetta Ambush 93 Red. The strike gave MacDonald top scorer honors over the Ambush's Karl Chester, and MacDonald was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“We have the upmost determination, will, and strength to never quit,” said YMS Thunder defender Vincent Herrmann after the National Championship game.
“Our team is very laid back when approaching the game. We just like to have fun,” said Colin Sulpizio, YMS Thunder goalkeeper. “I could have never been on this team and made it to where I am now without the help of my coaches and fellow players. They have helped my family and me so much financially to get me through to these big games and tournaments.”

Sulpizio received the Golden Glove Award for the best goalkeeper at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in the U18 boys’ age group.
YMS Thunder will be honored during the Saturday, August 13th Philadelphia Union game against FC Dallas at PPL Park, and is sure to receive additional recognition during the course of the next few weeks in the region.

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 Contacts:
Jim DeLorenzo, Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations, 215-266-5943, jim@jhdenterprises.com
Rob Brown, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, 610-238-9966, communications@epysa.org