Tampa, Fla. - United Soccer Leagues announced today the formation of the leagues Northeast Conference for the Super Y-League, SYL, 2004 season. 

The realignment of the SYL places the New England, Metro and Mid Atlantic Divisions within the Northeast Conference. 

Among the clubs competing in the New England Division are Black Watch SC, Boston Bulldogs, Boston Renegades, Cape Cod Crusaders, New Hampshire Phantoms, Nordic Spirit, Odyssey Sport, Ottawa Fury, Rhode Island Stingrays, Seacoast United and the Western Mass Pioneers.

The Mid Atlantic Division will contain the Brooklyn Knights, Ironbound Sport Club, Long Island Lady Riders, Long Island Rough Riders, MetroStars, New York Magic, Storm Academy, Tri-State Soccer Academy, Westchester Flames FC. This division will also be a developmental division for the Bermuda Football Association youth national teams.

 

The Metro Division contains the Baltimore Bays, Chesapeake Athletic, DC United, FC DELCO, Jersey Shore Boca, New Jersey Junior Stallions, Northern Virginia Majestics, Northern Virginia Royals, Parsippany S.C., Philadelphia SC, Reading Rage, South Jersey Banshees, South Jersey Barons and Super Nova FC

 

Both the Mid Atlantic and Metro Divisions will compete in cross divisional matches this season.

The age divisions competing in this conference ranges from U13 to U18/19 Boys and U14 to U18/19 Girls.

 

"We have redesigned the formation of our league structure to contain Conferences and Divisions.  The Northeast Conference is primarily within Region I of US Soccer," added Matt Weibe, Director of the Super Y-League. "All of the clubs are tremendous partners in this conference that want to take soccer to the next level.  I am confident that there will be significant results for that this season as clubs are becoming more aware of the ongoing youth changes in this country with organizations that are bettering the game for the long run."

 

SUPER Y-LEAGUE
The future of soccer lives in the Super Y-League, a professionalized system that is the first step for developing youth soccer players in North America. Affiliated with US Soccer, the league is designed for talented youth players destined for professional or international careers. Through Olympic Development (ODP) status programs such as the SYL North American Finals and Regional Select Team weekends, the nation's top players are selected for U.S. National Team Programs. The league is made up of a series of regional leagues within the framework of a North American League containing the top clubs and players from the United States and Canada.

 

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES
As the largest organization of soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. USL is the leader in player development and is dedicated to growing the game in North America.  USL operates the A-League, second division men's professional; the USL Pro Soccer League, third division men's professional; the Premier Development League, North American U23 amateur league; the W-League, North American women's amateur league; and the Super Y-League, North American youth leagues.