ROCK HILL, S.C. – Elon University women’s soccer players Marissa Russo and Mel Insley are headed to Rock Hill, S.C., this week for the United States Youth Soccer Associated National Championships with their respective club teams. Russo’s U-19 Scorpions Elite squad and Insley’s U-18 FC Pennsylvania Strikers team begin competition today in their respective divisions.
Russo and the Scorpions Elite team captured the Region I title with a 2-1 victory over the Bethesda SC Dragons squad from Maryland. Russo’s team went a perfect 5-0 in the previous three rounds, outscoring its opponents, 27-4. They begin competition today against the CCSC SOL squad from Florida who captured the Region III title.
Insley, an incoming freshman for the Phoenix, and the U-18 FC Pennsylvania Strikers were nearly as dominant against Region I competition, as the team outscored its opponents 20-3 en route to the title. The Strikers went a perfect 5-0 as well, capturing a 4-1 victory in the championship match. Insley and her squad already won their opening match at the National Champions after handing the Region IV champions LaRoca PT (Utah) squad a 4-2 setback. The Pennsylvania Strikers will play tomorrow, July 26, at 9:30 a.m. against the Cincinnati Soccer Alliance Elite (Ohio) team that won the Region III title.