RICHARDSON, Texas (July 21, 2005) – By winning the recent US Youth Soccer East Regional Championships, the FC Greater Boston Bolts Under-15 Boys team has qualified to compete in the US Youth Soccer National Championships at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex in Orlando, FL, July 26 –31.

The Campton Raptors (IL), 89 CASL Elite (NC) and the Nomads SC (CA), who won their respective US Youth Soccer Regional Championship and earned the right to compete for the 2005 US Youth Soccer National Championship, will join the FC Greater Boston Bolts at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex. Daily reports and complete results from the tournament will be available on http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org.

The US Youth Soccer Region I Championship final was the biggest game the FC Greater Boston Bolts have played to date according to Bolts Head Coach Francis Okaroh. Nerves of steel belonged to Chris Gilbert, who came out of the first half revved up, scoring the game-winning goal. The Bolts defeated the MSC Dragons (MD), 1-0.

“It was a great sense of relief,” said Okaroh referring to Gilbert’s goal in the sixty-fifth minute. “We were sleeping in the first half and finally woke up.”

The US Youth Soccer National Championships, which will feature top teams in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups, begins on Tuesday, July 26 with opening ceremonies. Round robin games will be played Wednesday, July 27 through Friday, July 29. After a day off on Saturday, July 30, the US Youth Soccer National Champions will be crowned following Final games on Sunday, July 31.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong tournament, featuring competition for boys and girls teams in Under-12 through Under-19 age groups. Overall, the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides teams the opportunity to test their soccer skills against the highest level of competition while simultaneously stressing teamwork, discipline, fitness, and fair play.

Beginning with over 129,000 players on 7,200 teams in all 55 State Associations vying for the US Youth Soccer State Championship titles, State Cup champions in most age groups are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championship events. From Spokane, Wash. to Kingston, R.I. State Champions competed for a chance to advance from the state to regional and ultimately the national championships of their sport.