Beachside U-17s Fall In Regional Semis; U-12s Win It All
Alan Reiter and Brendan Lesch’s Beachside U-17 team went 3-0 in US Youth Soccer Region I championship group play in West Virginia — and did not give up a goal. But their run at the national Final 4 ended with a 2-1 semifinal defeat, to Seacoast United. Lesch scored on a volley from 20 late in the match, after a penalty kick and keeper error gave the Maine side the lead. Seacoast lost 2-0, in overtime, in the regional finals.
The U-14s, featuring rising sophomores Aaron Liu, Jake Malowitz and Taylor McNair, lost to reigning champ Dix Hills Thunder (3-2) and drew with Western New York’s Empire United (1-1). Their final 1st round match was rained out.
Beachside’s U-12 squad — with future Staples hopefuls Griffin Garner, Jordan McNair, Johnny Osorio and Kyle Zajec — brought home the club’s 1st regional title ever. They were 3-0 in group play — outscoring opponents 12-1 — before dispatching nearby rival FC Westchester 3-1 in the semifinals. The final, played this morning, was a thrilling 1-0 victory over Manhattan Kickers.
Congratulations to all 8 Westporters, and to Beachside Soccer Club!
Kyle Zajec, Jordan McNair, Griffen Garner and Johnny Osorio pose with their U-12 hardware. (Photo by Carl McNair)
