They were told to bring their ‘A’ game and they certainly didn’t disappoint!

NCE Soccer’s Regional Performance Tournament was created to showcase the cream of the crop – and it delivered on every level.

More than 300 youngsters converged on Ophir Field last Saturday, to compete across six age groups.

The 12-hour-long tournament was split into three sessions and involved players from across the NCE Soccer Regions.

Players and their families travelled from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia to the stunning venue at Ophir Field, in Purchase, New Jersey.

National NCE Soccer Director Alan O’Keeffe, said: “The level on show was exceptionally high and overall the Regional Performance Tournament was a great success.

“We set high standards at the National Centre of Excellence and, it’s especially pleasing as a coach, to be able to see compare our youngsters and watch as they strive for success.

“Competitive tournaments provide that added element of pressure, and it is great to see the change in some players when when they are removed from the safety blanket of a training environment.

“It also allows the boys and girls from different areas to make new friends and meet new people which they may go onto play alongside as teammates in our Select Squads.”

Teams from the North, West, East and Southern NCE regions played against each other in a six-versus-six format.

They played three 25-minute games with the top two teams in each group playing off in the final, and the other two competing in a third / fourth place play-off.

The boys and girls born in 2009 and 2010 kicked off the tournament at 09:30 on Saturday, with the day ending 12 hours later with the ’06 Boys and Girls, the ’05 Boys, and the ’03-’05 Girls.

Well done to all those who took part!

Winners Gallery