Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Two Las Vegas youth teams advance to soccer’s national championship game

Heat FC boys, LVPSA girls looking to become first Nevada team to win at nationals

Heat FC 2004

Courtesy photo

Heat FC 2004 boys soccer team is playing a squad from St. Louis for the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas.

They started playing together at a time when youth soccer was more about orange wedges at halftime and postgame juice boxes.

But even in those days of recreation, when the players were just starting grade school, coach Esad Morina sensed he was building something special.

“We wanted to be one of the best teams in the country,” Morina said. “The only way to do that was developing the culture of how we approach the game — to be technical at another level and understand the game at a higher level.”

The Heat FC 2004 boys, with many players from those initial days six years ago, will play Saturday for the under-13 title at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas. They’ve already beaten the opponent — St. Louis Scott Gallagher Pre-Academy — 2-0 earlier in the tournament.

And they aren’t the lone Las Vegas team playing for a championship. The Las Vegas Premier Sports Academy '03 girls, another squad where players have been teammates for years, will play Nationals Union 03 of Michigan for the under-15 title.

It is believed a team from Las Vegas has never won nationals. Saturday, two will take their crack at history.

“Competitive soccer has come a long way since I played (as a kid),” said Mike Madrid, the LVPSA coach. “We have a lot more quality coaches in Nevada. Our clubs are into teaching and developing the girls.”

Both teams won the Nevada State Cup and then the Far West Regionals in Seattle for a spot at nationals. Along the way, there’s been challenging games, and even defeats.

Heat FC lost to a team from Arizona in pool play of the 13-team regionals but beat it in the finals. LVPSA lost to a California team regionals and also avenged the defeat with a championship-game victory.

“The chemistry with these girls is the difference. They have been playing together since they were 7,” Madrid said. “They are dedicated. They come to practice and they work hard.”

Mikey Vela and Ryan Leininger scored goals for Heat FC in the first game against St. Louis at nationals, and Ryan Riley, Collin Anderson, Gavin Miller and Eden Houle contributed defensively to the shutout. DJ Kiernan, who had 11 goals in the regional, led the way in a 2-1 victory against an opponent from Oklahoma in the tournament opener.

“Most of the teams at nationals are way tougher than the teams we have played all year,” said Vela, who has scored in every game at nationals. “We played a great style of soccer. We just don’t kick the ball long and hope for a miracle.”

For LVPSA, Jackie Hillegass and Olivia Garcia lead the team with two goals apiece at nationals. Other goals have been scored by Samantha Nieves, Alexis Blue, Arianna Vigil and Alexa Fehlman. Madrid raves about how unselfish his players are, especially his defense of Daniella De La Torre, Kayla Barto, Avery Skinner and Morgan Guelas.

Regardless of the outcome Saturday, both local clubs have made a splash on the national stage — a fact not lost with team officials.

“A parent came up to me and asked, ‘Do you remember six years ago? I thought you were crazy, but we are here now,’” Morina said of his intentions to build a dynasty. “For me, it has been absolutely outstanding watching the faces of the kids and how they are enjoying the experience.”

LVPSA plays at 5:15 p.m. Saturday; Heat FC is at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast online.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21