ST. GEORGE — Two girls youth soccer clubs from Southern Utah played for titles at the 2023 National Presidents Cup earlier this month, and one of them returned home as champions.
The four-day championship event was held in Wichita, Kansas from July 7-11. The yearly tournament brings together the best of the best soccer clubs from around the country.
Even getting to the tournament is an impressive achievement as teams have to qualify through state and then regional tournaments to make it to Wichita.
The Ignite FC/Rebel Elite 2009 squad (ages 13 and 14) from St. George won its championship game and brought the Presidents Cup home to Utah.
“We’re a St. George-based team from the whole valley, with a couple of players from Cedar,” assistant coach Andy Yergensen told St. George News after returning from Wichita last week. “We’re the first girls team from Southern Utah to win a Presidents Cup.”
The Rebel Elite 2006 team (ages 15, 16 and 17), meanwhile, also made it to the championship game before falling 1-nil in an agonizing, hard-fought battle on the pitch.
“Our girls programs are just taking off,” Yergensen said. “We had multiple college coaches coming around to watch, asking questions. It’s a really neat opportunity that our girls are getting at national events. It shows you how great our soccer community is in St. George.”
Both clubs won West Regional championships in Boise, Idaho to earn the chance to play for the Presidents Cup.
“It’s never happened before. It was a coincidence year when we had two powerful teams part of the same club get to the championship round,” Yergensen said. “We almost pulled off the double.”
Yergensen described the tournament in a document written for St. George News.
He wrote that the younger Rebel Elite 09 team faced Midwest Regional champion Empire FC from Illinois in the finals in Wichita, an adversary that had previously beaten Rebel Elite 1-nil in pool play.
The teams were scoreless after battling through 70 minutes of regulation play and 20 more minutes of extra time and the contest was decided in a penalty kick shootout.
Goalkeeper Kennedi Yergensen started things off by stopping Empire’s first PK. Chloe Morris then scored for Rebel Elite and Anna Taylor netted her PK in the upper corner of the cage and the Utahns led the shootout 2-0.
Kennedi Yergensen then came out of the box and booted home the Cup-clinching PK in the third round of the shootout.
“Kennedi slotted the ball into the net, securing the championship and setting off the celebration for this team that is lovingly called ‘the minis’,” coach Yergensen wrote.
Yergensen posted a YouTube video of the shootout that has footage of the triumphant celebration that ensued after the win.
The older Rebel Elite 06 team, Yergensen wrote, fell 1-nil to the Kansas Rush in its championship game.
“While the loss was disappointing, their remarkable journey and display of athleticism, aggressiveness and skill throughout the tournament serves as a source of pride for the team and their supporters,” Yergensen wrote.
“Rebel Elite girls dual accomplishments exemplify the club’s commitment to fostering talent and nurturing young athletes,” he added. “Their success serves as an inspiration to young girls across the region, encouraging them to pursue their dreams in the beautiful game.”
The head coach of the Rebel Elite 09 team was Holly Yergensen, Andy’s wife, with assistant coach Anthony Morris. Head coach Devin Twede directed the Rebel Elite 06 team and Chris Brown served as assistant coach.
The following photos for the St. George News were courtesy of Andy Yergensen.
2023 National Presidents Cup Champions – Ignite FC/Rebel Elite 09
Front Row left: Kilee Alexander, Chloe Morris, Kyla Johnson, Kayla Parrish, Hadley Hinton, Brinley Steere
Back Row left: head coach Holly Yergensen, CJ Clark, assistant coach Andy Yergensen, Kate Dunkely, Anna Taylor, Kennedi Yergensen, Jayda Alofipo, Hadley Phillips, Hunter Blackner, Sammi Smith, assistant coach Anthony Morris
2023 National Presidents Cup Finalist – Rebel Elite 06
Front Row left: manager Calindy Twede, Quinci Smith, Peyton Perry, Brooklinn Carnley, Dottie Bethers, Lillia Erickson, Moxie Smith, Ashley Leavitt, Lindsey Park, Kamri Yergensen, Maya Dalley
Back Row left: head coach Devin Twede, Kiley Droubay, Claire Lefevre, Kate Garrett, Fiona Strong, Kortney Shewell, Hailey Nelson, Maddie Card, McKenna Twede, Sam Park, Carly Knudsen, Hailey Brown, assistant coach Chris Brown
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