June 8, 2012
FILLING THE BRACKET
Three Eclipse Select teams in U-14 state cup semi's

The 2012 Illinois State Cup wraps up this weekend for the U-14 level at Sportscore 2 in Rockford, Ill., while the upper age groups begin their round of 16 play.

From the Eclipse Select Soccer Club point of view, most eyes are on the U-14 Girls bracket as three of the remaining four teams come from the club. With three of the final four teams in the bracket including an Eclipse Select team, it is assured that the club will have some sort of presence in this Sunday's championship.

On one side of the bracket's semifinal stage, Eclipse Select North Black faces Eclipse Select East at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Eclipse Select Tri-Cities team takes on FC United on Saturday at 10 a.m. The winning teams advance for the U-14 State Cup championship at 10 a.m. Sunday at Sportscore 2.

Last Sunday, the East U-14s topped GLSA 1974 by a 2-1 score and the North Black U-14s shut out Tri-Cities Premier Black, 3-0, to reach the semifinals. The Tri-Cities U-14s blanked Oak Brook Blue, 2-0, in the quarterfinal stage to move into this weekend's semifinals.

Eclipse Select U-15s, U-17s begin round of 16 in State Cup: Three more Eclipse Select teams come into the Illinois State Cup picture this weekend as they begin round of 16 play.

The Eclipse Select East U-15 team faces the NSA Panthers at noon on Saturday at Sportscore 2. The winner advances to the quarterfinals at noon Sunday against either FC United Select or Chicago Inter of Homer Glen. The Select U-15 team takes on Heat United SC at noon on Saturday, with the winner facing either FCX North Black or Midwest United Select on Sunday in the quarterfinal stage. The U-15 semifinals and championship are June 16 and 17, respectively, at Sportscore 2.

The Select U-17 team prepares for Strikers FV DuPage at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Round of 16 at Sportscore 2. The winner moves on to the quarterfinals against either NSA Premier or Chicago Inter. Should Eclipse Select advance through the weekend, it would look forward to the semifinal stage on June 16 and potentially the championship on June 17 at Sportscore 2.