Eastside FC girls set to defend national title The 98 Red girls soccer team from Eastside FC is set to defend its national championship, and will meet a field of the best U15 girls soccer teams from around the nation with another title on the line.

Eight teams, including last year’s runner-up from YMS Premier Xplosion, will vie for the crown of U15 national champion in Boyds, Md., with the title game scheduled for Sunday, July 27.

Eastside FC and YMS Premier Xplosion both begin in Group B, along with Alliance Academy Black (Mich.) and Legends FC Sanchez from California.

Coach Tom Bialek’s Eastside FC team followed its 2013 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship with a state crown to start 2014. The 98 Red team outscored four opponents 19-0 to dominate the state tournament and set the stage for a repeat run at a U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship.

Eastside FC earned its berth in the tournament by sweeping three games in a Las Vegas qualifier in April.

The hosts of the tournament from U.S. Youth Soccer put together a preview, which looks at each of the eight teams in the field.

The Eastside FC Girls 98 Red team:  Cameron Tingey (Sammamish), Jojo Harber (Bellevue), Zoe Milburn, Molly Monroe (Sammamish), Sophie Butterfield (Bellevue), Natalie Weidenbach, Kaylene Pang (Issaquah), Laura Roberts, Megan Floyd, Olivia Van der Jagt, Katie Foster (Bellevue), Ellie Bryant (Bellevue), Alexa Kirton (Sammamish), Makaylie Moore, Mia Powers, Catie Buck (Bellevue), Maud Van der Kooi (Bellevue), coach Tom Bialek.