The polar vortex has engulfed Kansas City in a deep freeze, but the Sporting Kansas City Academy caught fire this weekend at the US Youth Futsal Central Regional Championships in Overland Park, Kansas.
The Sporting KC U-12s and U-15s stole the show as Central Regional champions, thereby qualifying for the US Youth Futsal National Championship from July 9-12 in Northeast Kansas. The U-13s and U-14s also competed at the event, which marked the first competitive action of the year for the Sporting KC Academy.
The U-12s cruised to four consecutive victories, outscoring opponents 35-8 in the process. The U-15s were equally impressive en route to their first-place finish, dispatching three group stage opponents before knocking off Sporting Blue Valley in the championship.
The U-14s went unbeaten in their three-game group stage, posting a 2-0-1 record before falling to eventual U-14 champion Cadence SFC in the semifinals. The U-13s won one of their three matches throughout the weekend.
US Youth Futsal Central Regional Championships
Sporting KC Academy Results
Sporting KC U-12s: Champion (4-0-0 record)
- Feb. 13: W 11-1 vs. TSG Futsal
- Feb. 13: W 9-1 vs. Soccer Nation 816 SFC Premier
- Feb. 13: W 9-4 vs. Sporting Blue Valley
- Feb. 14: W 6-2 vs. OC Premier Academy Futsal
Sporting KC U-13s: Third Place (1-2-0 record)
- Feb. 12: W 17-0 vs. Panthers 08
- Feb. 13: L 9-3 vs. Cadence SFC
- Feb. 14: L 7-4 vs. Sporting Blue Valley
Sporting KC U-14s: Fourth Place (2-1-1 record)
- Feb. 13: T 3-3 vs. Best 07
- Feb. 13: W 4-3 vs. Sporting United
- Feb. 14: W 11-4 vs. Sporting Blue Valley
- Feb. 14: L 8-5 vs. Cadence SFC (semifinals)
Sporting KC U-15s: Champion (4-0-0 record)
- Feb. 13: W 6-4 vs. Sporting Blue Valley
- Feb. 13: W 11-3 vs. Best 06
- Feb. 14: W 11-7 vs. European Soccer Institute
- Feb. 14: W 11-2 vs. Sporting Blue Valley (championship)