Thursday, July 05, 2012

Three Valparaiso men’s soccer players: Charles Barden (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar), Todd Vervynckt (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) and Kyle Zobeck (Coralville, Iowa/Iowa City West) are on the roster of the Carolina RailHawks U-23 side which won the USASA U-23 National Cup Region III Championship to advance to the 2012 USASA U-23 Men’s National Cup Finals Championship.

The trio helped the RailHawks U-23’s defend their Region III title from a season ago, beating teams from Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas with a staggering goal differential of plus-24 while posting four shutouts in their four matches.  The RailHawks U-23’s also are looking to repeat as national champions after capturing the national title last year, a squad which Zobeck was part of as well.

The RailHawks U-23’s, which also feature former Crusader assistant Rick King as an assistant coach, will face the D.C. United U-23’s on July 7 and the NPSL South All Stars on July 14 before one final tuneup against the RailHawks senior side prior to leaving for the National Cup Finals.  The National Cup Finals open Friday, July 20 in Chicago.