July 29, 2013
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Penn State sophomores Shane Campbell (York, Pa.) and Christian Kaschak (York, Pa.) captured the 78th James P. McGuire Cup Saturday as Lehigh Valley United defeated Chicago Fire Academy, 1-0, in the United States Youth Soccer National Championship game in Overland Park, Kan.
Playing in front of a crowd of 8,000 and a live Fox Soccer television audience, Campbell scored the lone goal of the contest in the 34th minute after glancing a header into the near corner.
"I separated myself from my defender and attacked the ball and just tried to put it on frame," Campbell said. "The goalkeeper was a bit off his line, so I decided to try and flick it near post."
Chicago earned a penalty kick with 15 minutes remaining in the contest, but the ensuing kick scampered wide of the goal. LVU thwarted all further attempts by the Fire in the waning moments, as the Pennsylvania side held on for the shutout victory.
The result marks the second consecutive season that a Penn State player has both scored and won the national championship. Jordan Tyler scored in the 55th minute of the 2012 McGuire Cup final to lead Crew Juniors to a 2-1 victory.
"It was great to see Shane [Campbell] score for his team on national television," said Penn State head coach Bob Warming. "To have a Penn State player score in the cup final in back-to-back years is outstanding."
Kaschak was instrumental in the qualifying stages of the tournament, tallying five goals in five regional matches for Lehigh Valley.
The Under-19 Boys McGuire Cup is the oldest trophy in youth sports dating back to 1935 with the inaugural youth championships and played annually except during World War II. Officially known as the United States Soccer Federation National Junior Challenge Cup, the competition was renamed the James P. McGuire Junior Champion Cup in 1975, after the late United States Soccer Federation President.