The annual Snickers U.S. Youth Soccer national championships will be held July 24-28 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. Soccer America begins its preview of the youth finals with the under-14 and under-15 competitions. It continues with the U-16 and U-17 previews Monday and the U-18 and U-19 previews Tuesday.

UNDER-14 BOYS

Maryland (Baltimore) Bays
Chicago Magic
Alpharetta (Ga.) Eagles
La Jolla (Calif.) Nomads
The MARYLAND BAYS, three-time state champions, have an outstanding defense, featuring goalie Stephen King and defenders Matt Beckman, Justin Lichtfuss and A.J. DeLaGarza. The U-14 CHICAGO MAGIC is the youngest of three Magic boys teams to reach the national finals. Top players are forward Quavis Kirk, midfielders Alex Holmes and Steve Kolzow, defender Taylor Waspi and goalkeeper Pat Richmond. The ALPHARETTA EAGLES, one of five Georgia teams to win Region III titles, has won back-to-back state titles. The LA JOLLA NOMADS are three-time state champions and gunning for the San Diego area club's fifth national youth title. The Nomads are led by defenders Alberto Romo and Luis Smith, forward Andres Leon and goalkeeper Dallas Chase.

UNDER-15 BOYS

Rochester (N.Y.) Junior Rhinos
Chicago Sockers
Aiken (S.C.) Fire
Palos Verdes (Calif.) Raiders
The opening match between the CHICAGO SOCKERS and PALOS VERDES RAIDERS will feature a matchup of sons of MLS coaches: Kyle Schmid, son of Los Angeles Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid, is a midfielder for the Raiders, and Michael Bradley, son of Chicago Fire coach Bob Bradley, is a midfielder for the Sockers. Palos Verdes, which needed an overtime goal from Robby Rogers, his second goal of the game, to beat Pleasanton's Ballistic United, 4-3, in an all-California Region IV final, is making its first appearance in the Nationals in the club's 26-year history. The Sockers, one of four teams giving Chicago a sweep of the Region II under-14 and under-15 finals in both the boys and girls categories, have won three regional crowns. AIKEN FIRE is first boys team from South Carolina to make the Nationals. The ROCHESTER JUNIOR RHINOS beat last year's under-14 national champion Bethesda Internationals (as the Potomac Cougars) en route to New York West's first Region I title. The Rhinos were upset in the state finals by Syracuse Blitz but were called in at the last minute when the Eastern Pennsylvania champions were disqualified for using overage players and the EPYSA runners-up could not assemble a team. The Rhinos receive no financial assistance from the A-League powerhouse, but Rhinos veteran Tom Tanner is the youth club's director of coaching. Rochester is quickly becoming an area giant. It was donated two tracts of land — one 60 acres, the other 90 acres — for field development.

UNDER-14 GIRLS

Bethesda (Md.) Eclipse
Team Chicago
Atlanta Lightning White
Slammers (Newport Beach, Calif.)
The BETHESDA ECLIPSE is one of three Bethesda teams to make the nationals. It features goalkeeper Amber Campbell, who switched from forward last year. The ATLANTA LIGHTNING WHITE is led by defender Tannah Castro, midfielder Beth Meadors and forward Kelley OfHara. Bethesda coach Brad Roos and Atlanta coach Brian Moore also have teams in the U-18 finals. The SLAMMERS, who have six ODP regional players, are one of five California girls teams to win Region IV titles. They outscored rivals, 42-2, en route to the Far West crown. They have six ODP Regional players. TEAM CHICAGO is nicknamed the Brazil Girls after club founder Salvador Morote, who emphasizes skill and creativity rather than just power and speed.

UNDER-15 GIRLS

Chantilly (Va.) Milan
Windy City (Ill.) Pride
Dallas Sting
Laguna Hills (Calif.) Eclipse
CHANTILLY MILAN, last yearÆs national under-14 runner-up, won its fourth straight regional crown, the first Virginia team to do so. Milan has a superb attack, led by top scorer Mick Ingram, playmaker Amy Smerdzinki, who had four goals in last year's national finals, and forward-midfielder Amanda Dabbenigno, who scored eight goals in the regionals. Leaders on defense are midfielder Kerry Philbin and goalkeeper Ariel Baniowski. WINDY CITY PRIDE beat the Kansas City Dynamos, last year's U-14 national champions, 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie in regulation and overtime. DALLAS STING is a three-time North Texas state champion. Anne Candee is an offensive force for the Sting, which won the first girls national (U-19) title in 1980. Amy Rodriguez scored twice in the first 11 minutes to lead the LAGUNA HILLS ECLIPSE to a 3-1 victory against Utah club Celtic Storm in the Region IV finals. Brittany Klein, a member of the U.S. under-16 national team, anchors the Eclipse midfield.