Local soccer players competing in national tourney
Waterloo is well represented in one of the country’s premier youth soccer leagues during a national competition this weekend.
Philip Most, Ben Huels, Ryan Stites, Tyler Grob and Griffin Lenhardt of Waterloo are all part of the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro– the Illinois branch of the St. Louis Club– U14 Pre-Academy team. This team is comprised of 26 Illinois boys from Bethalto to Carbondale and Collinsville to east of Vandalia, according to Philip’s father, Gary Most.
SLSG Metro participates in the Midwest Development League as a part of the National Premier League. The NPL is made up of more than 70 teams from all across the country.
The SLSG Metro just received a bid to play in the NPL Championship Cup tournament in Aurora, Colo., July 18-22, and they are recognized as one of the top 16 teams in the league.
“When all that talent converges on Aurora Sports Park, it will signal one of the premier weekends for youth soccer, as teams vie for national glory and players seize chances to play in front of scouts and college coaches,” the NPL describes on its website.
Most, Huels, Stites and Lenhardt rostered for the tournament as four of the 20 players on the team for the national competition.
The SLSG Metro team finished the year beating rivals including the SLSG St. Louis team, Chicago Fire and Minnesota Thunder, all on the way to earning themselves a bid in the NPL Champions Cup tournament. Opponents in the first three rounds of the tourney include teams from Washington, Florida and Colorado.
To learn more about the tournament, visit nationalpremierleagues.com/.
Thursday Update:
The SLSG Metro U14 boys won, 4-0, against the Wenatchee Fire of Wash., with goals by four different boys including, one by Most.
The team will play Friday at 8:30 against Weston F.C. from Florida.
Friday Update:
SLSG U14 boys pulled off a come-from-behind effort to tie the Weston FC (Fla.) club, 1-1, in a tough and physical match.
The quest for the National Premiere League Champions Cup continues Saturday morning with the final match of pool play against the tough Colorado Rush team.
Saturday Update:
The SLSG Metro U14 boys are heading to semifinals. The team pulled off another come-from-behind victory today to beat the Colorado Rush, 2-1.
The boys will now face the New York Red Bulls in the semifinals on Sunday.
Sunday Update:
The SLSG Metro U14 Boys continued their remarkable chase for the National Premiere League Cup Championship today with a 2-1 overtime win against the New York Red Bulls.
They now move the NPL Champions Cup Finals which will be played Monday, 7/22 at 9AM MT.
Monday Update:
Congrats SLSG Metro U14 boys, NPL National Champs. They defeated Dallas FC 3-1 in the finals!
