3 Coventry Athletes to Play in National Championship Soccer Tournament

Three Coventry athletes will soon be competing in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series - part of the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament.

The event is coming to the University of Rhode Island in Kingston from June 27 to July 2, 2013.

Coventry resident Ryan Morel and his Under-12 boys state championship team from Bruno United Soccer Club will be up against the best competition and players in the Eastern United States. Sydney Poole and Liz Kenney, also of Coventry, will also be representing Rhode Island with their Under-13 girls state championship Bruno United team.

The championships are a competition of US Youth Soccer State Champions from 15 Eastern states, including the recently crowned Rhode Island state champions. Following individual state championship tournaments, the regional championships are the second step of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. Winners of the tournament advance to the National Championships in Overland Park, Kansas.

The tournament will attract more than 260 boys and girls teams, ages Under-12 through Under-19, from the 15 Eastern US Youth Soccer State Associations (Connecticut, Delaware, Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York West, Pennsylvania West, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia).

With more the 17,000 youth soccer players in Rhode Island, Bruno United Soccer Club attracts and trains the best players in the area. The club’s director, John Tomlinson of Portsmouth, is confident the Bruno teams will be successful at the tournament.

“This is what we work for all year," he said. "Our players are well prepared and really excited about facing off against some great teams.”

Tomlinson encourages Rhode Islanders to come out and support local players and their competitors from across the East Coast. 

Schedule

University of Rhode Island
Opening Ceremony: June 27
Round Robin: June 28-June 30
Semis: July 1
Finals: July 2