Crossfire Premier Boys U-18 Soccer Team headed to the United States Soccer Academy National Championships
Greensboro, North Carolina (June 29, 2010) – Crossfire Premier’s Boys U-18 Soccer team completed a successful run in the US Soccer Development Academy National Playoffs placing them in the Elite 8 teams slated to compete for the National title at the Home Depot Center In Carson, California beginning July 10th.
The 18-man roster team from Redmond, Washington travelled across country and overcame 90-plus degree, 80 plus percent humidity as well as outstanding competition. Crossfire won Group B with two wins and a tie. The team opened with a 1-1 tie against Ohio’s Columbus Crew on Saturday afternoon. They then beat the Dallas Texans 1-0 on Sunday and closed out group play with a decisive victory over Los Angeles FC Chelsea, 4-0.
The US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs held at Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina from June 25th – June 29th featured the top 32 teams in the country competing in eight four-team brackets for the opportunity to vie for the National Title.
"This is an excellent result not only for the Academy U-18 team but for the whole club, as it demonstrates the excellence of the Crossfire Premier soccer program. I would like to thank all coaches and volunteers who are contributing to make our club a top soccer destination for all boys and girls in the Northwest" says Crossfire head coach Bernie James.
About the US Soccer Development Academy: The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an everyday environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. The Academy’s programming philosophy of increased training, less total games and more competitive games is based on U.S. Soccer’s Best Practices utilized by the U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program.
The Academy also connects National Team coaches directly with the Academy clubs to develop and identify players and coaches for future Youth National Teams. Each Academy team is evaluated by a National Team coach at least ten times each year and each Academy club receives two formal evaluations in over 100 categories each year from National Team staff.
The Development Academy is also focused on identifying and developing the next generation of elite referees. U.S. Soccer assigns up-and-coming officials to participate in Academy games at the local level and at national events.
About Crossfire Premier Soccer: The Mission of the Crossfire Premier Soccer Club is to promote the game of soccer by providing the highest possible level of technical and tactical training, skill development, competitive team play, and to provide highly skilled and capable players with an opportunity to further excel in the sport.
It is Crossfire’s goal to become and to be recognized as a consistently successful Premier Soccer Club within Washington State, within our region, and throughout the United States. Crossfire Players, Coaches, Managers and Member Families will strive to be an asset to the sport of soccer and to the community in which they live.
