West Virginia Futbol ClubƵs Addison Smith (from left), Angela Li, Cali Ellis, Sophie Lawson, Aurelia Kirby, Molly Weber, Ella Green, Mya Webb, Emma Cipoletti, Rylee Morris, Reece Oliver, Shelby Tharp and Deryn Doamekpor celebrate after defeating Erie FC for the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional championship at Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
West Virginia Futbol ClubƵs Addison Smith (from left), Angela Li, Cali Ellis, Sophie Lawson, Aurelia Kirby, Molly Weber, Ella Green, Mya Webb, Emma Cipoletti, Rylee Morris, Reece Oliver, Shelby Tharp and Deryn Doamekpor celebrate after defeating Erie FC for the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional championship at Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
July has been a busy month for the West Virginia Futbol ClubƵs under-18 girls squad.
ƵFC defeated a club from Erie, Pennsylvania, on July 2 at the Shawnee Sports Complex to win the U.S. Youth Soccer Eastern Region tournament. and by Monday all the players had made it to Orlando, Florida, where they will represent the state in the national championship yournament.
That tournament begins on Tuesday, with ƵFC facing three games in its four-team pool, from which it will try to earn its way into the elimination tournament.
ƵThe top two teams advance,Ƶ said Aurelia Kirby, one of the players on the team.
Kirby said Monday was scheduled with player events, including an introduction of the teams participating in each group. The day will conclude with a catered dinner, she said.
On Tuesday, itƵll be down to business.
Pool play begins at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday with ƵFC taking on North Carolina FC Youth Elite. All ƵFCƵs pool games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
Day 2 of pool play will have the West Virginians playing Illinois-based Wheaton United Soccer Club at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
On Thursday, pool play will conclude for ƵFC against Bulls 2006 NLSC from South Carolina.
If ƵFC is one of the top two teams in its bracket at the conclusion of pool play, it will play in the championship round with the 18U bracket, finishing on Saturday.
Like ƵFC, each team won its respective region to qualify for the USYS national championship series.
Kirby and many of her teammates have played in games like this before. The Charleston Catholic player also scored one of ƵFCƵs three goals in the Eastern Region final against Erie.
The same age group of girls, including Kirby, played in the National Presidents Cup tournament in 2022, but this tournament comes with more prestige, she said.
ƵThere are some nerves,Ƶ Kirby said, Ƶbut itƵs nothing that we havenƵt been in before. WeƵre prepared for the pressure.Ƶ
Kirby also said the tournament will be bittersweet. ItƵs the final youth soccer event that many of them will play as they will start their senior year of high school in August, then go their separate ways for college.
The tournament will conclude on Sunday with the national championships in boys and girls age groups from 13U to 19U.
Members of the ƵFC team are Kirby, Emma Cipoletti, Deryn Doamekpor, Cali Ellis, Ella Green, Trinity Hodge, Sophie Lawson, Angela Li, Molly Messer, Rylee Morris, Reece Oliver, Molly Payne, Zailee Roberts, Addison Smith, Shelby Tharp, Mya Webb, Molly Weber and Mara Winter.
Rick Elmore covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-5122 or relmore@hdmediallc.com. Follow @ElmoreSports on Twitter/X.
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