August 1, 2012
NATIONAL CHAMPS
Fire U-18s win Champions Cup

The Chicago Fire U-18 Youth Academy team was crowned U.S. Club National Champions after winning the final of the National Premiership League Champions Cup Tuesday afternoon in Waukegan, Ill.

Led by head coach Paul Cadwell, the Fire U-18s defeated the MPS Bulldogs 3-0 Tuesday with goals coming from Anthony Cetera in the 35th minute, Mitch Reavis in the 51st minute and Greg Healy in the 63rd minute.

The U-18s advanced to the championship match after defeating Parsippany SC (NJ) 4-2 on July 27, MPS Bulldogs (MA) 5-3 on July 28, and drawing the Ft. Wayne Fever 0-0 on July 29.

In addition to the U-18s, the Chicago Fire Academy was represented at the U.S. Club Soccer National Premiership League Champions Cup at the U-15 and U-14 levels. Both teams fell in the quarterfinal match of their respective age groups.

The U-15s went 2-1-1 in weekend play. They opened the weekend with a 4-2 win over VSI West Florida Flames July 27, a 3-2 loss to MPS Bulldogs (MA) on July 28, a 2-2 draw with the New York Cosmos on July 29 and a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on July 30.

The U-14s also went 2-1-1. They opened with a 4-0 win over HBC Fusion (NY) on July 27, a 1-0 win over South Carolina United Battery on July 28, a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on July 29 and a 0-0 draw with CFK Kraze Black (FL) on July 30.