Iowa Referee Beaux Blanchard Also Selected to Officiate at National Presidents Cup
Three Iowa Soccer Association teams punched their tickets to the US Youth Soccer (USYS) National Presidents Cup after reaching the final round of the USYS Midwest Presidents Cup last week in St. Louis, Missouri. UFA DSM 2011 Girls Elite (14U Girls) and UFA DSM 2010 Boys Elite (15U Boys) raised the trophy as champions of their respective age groups, while UFA DSM 2012 Girls Elite (13U Girls) also secured a wildcard spot for the National Presidents Cup next month in Tampa, Florida.
This marks the first time in state history that two Iowa Soccer Association teams were crowned champions at the Midwest Presidents Cup, as well as the second consecutive year that three Iowa teams received bids to the National Presidents Cup. In addition to the team success in St. Louis, Iowa referee Beaux Blanchard was rewarded for his great work at the regional competition by receiving an invitation to officiate at the National Presidents Cup in Tampa.
“It is a privilege to serve on the regional committee and support the players, coaches and families at this fantastic event,” said Mike Wilson, Member Services Program Director at Iowa Soccer Association. “Our teams did not disappoint, and I was impressed with the level of competitiveness and determination exhibited on the pitch. Excited to see our teams on the national stage in a few weeks.”
UFA DSM 2011 Girls Elite opened the Midwest Presidents Cup with a pair of wins in group play, earning the top seed from their bracket to secure a bid into the semifinal round. Opposite them in that next pairing was ISC G11 United Elite (Kentucky), with UFA DSM 2011 Girls Elite recording a clean sheet en route to a 2-0 result in their favor. Next up was a meeting with Club Ohio North 11G Green (Ohio) in the championship match. After a highly competitive game, it was UFA DSM 2011 Girls Elite who found themselves lifting the 14U Girls Midwest Presidents Cup as champions.
UFA DSM 2010 Boys Elite allowed a single goal in group play, earning two victories against one defeat to win their bracket. Their exceptional play continued into the semifinal round, where they blanked Gitchi Gummi 2010 Prem (Minnesota) by a tally of 2-0. That victory set up a championship appearance against Capital East 15U Maroon 2010 (Wisconsin). Once again, UFA DSM 2010 Boys Elite was strong on both ends of the field and topped the Wisconsin side by a final scoreline of 3-1. With the 15U Boys Midwest Presidents Cup in hand, UFA DSM 2010 Boys Elite traveled back to Iowa where the team now prepares for a trip to Tampa in July for the National Presidents Cup.
UFA DSM 2012 Girls Elite enjoyed a dominant run in group play at the Midwest Presidents Cup, registering three consecutive shutouts and earning three straight wins by a cumulative tally of 7-0. That stellar showing in the opening round earned the team a spot in the semifinals, where they met eventual champion Topeka Mambas (Kansas). In an incredibly competitive battle, UFA DSM 2012 Girls Elite fell by a razor-thin 1-0 decision. However, their impressive overall run at the Midwest Presidents Cup was rewarded by US Youth Soccer with a wildcard bid to the National Presidents Cup in Tampa.
Iowa was also well represented at the Midwest Presidents Cup by members of the Iowa Referee Committee, with four officials being selected for championship matches and one receiving a prestigious bid to referee at the National Presidents Cup in Tampa. Officiating in the finals at the Midwest Presidents Cup were Aaron Blanchard, Beaux Blanchard, Jeff Blanchard, Brandon Joly and Nikki Schuppan, with Beaux Blanchard being invited to referee at the National Presidents Cup. Also serving as National Referee Coach at the Midwest Presidents Cup was Hidajet Tica, who is Iowa Soccer Association’s Director of Referees and Sportsmanship.
“It was an honor to serve as a National Referee Coach at the Midwest Presidents Cup in St. Louis, where I had the opportunity to support the growth of emerging officials, share insights from the national level, and contribute to the continued elevation of referee development in our region as well as in our state,” said Tica.
The National Presidents Cup will take place from July 11-15 in Tampa, Florida. Hosted by US Youth Soccer, the Presidents Cup provides a progressive, competitive environment for teams seeking a series of unique challenges highlighting competition, camaraderie and community.
Iowa was also represented at the USYS Midwest Presidents Cup by a variety of additional teams. In the boys divisions, participants included Des Moines SC (DMSC) 2012 Boys Red (13U Boys), DMSC 2011 Boys Red (14U Boys), United Futbol Academy (UFA) DSM 2010 Boys Elite (15U Boys), DMSC 2009 Boys Red (16U Boys), DMSC 2008 Boys Red (17U Boys), Spring Creek FC (SCFC) 2007 Boys (18U Boys), and DMSC 2006 Boys Red (19U Boys). In the girls divisions, Iowa teams included FC America Fire (13U Girls), UFA DSM 2011 Girls Elite (14U Girls), Western Iowa Surf 2010G (15U Girls), UFA DSM 2009 Girls Elite (16U Girls), FC America 2007 Girls (18U Girls), and AYSO United 2006 Girls Red (19U Girls).
To contact the Iowa Soccer Association, please call (515) 252-6363 or email admin@iowasoccer.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!