Slammers score two regional titles

LAS VEGAS — Shortly after the Newport Beach Slammers accomplished a goal, Walid Khoury reminded his under-18 girls’ soccer team of the bigger picture.

“I told them, ‘We still have four games left. We’re a step closer,’ ” Khoury said in a telephone interview on Sunday.

The Slammers, as well as their under-14 girls’ squad, are a step closer after winning a title at the U.S. Youth Soccer Far Western Regional Championships in Las Vegas. They advanced to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships July 24-29 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

The Slammers sent a record six girls’ teams to the western regionals. Three played in the finals.

The Slammers’ under-17 team lost on penalty kicks, 5-4, after a 1-1 tie in regulation in the championship on Sunday. But the Slammers will still have the most girls’ teams from the western regional at the national championships. The Slammers under-14 team won on penalty kicks.

“This has been an unbelievable year, one of our best years ever,” said Walid Khoury, Ziad’s identical twin brother. “This gives us another year where we have a shot at the national championship.”

Ziad and Walid Khoury, former Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor coaches, launched the Slammers Futbol Club eight years ago. They’ve had success throughout, including three U.S. Youth Soccer National crowns and two Nike Youth World Championships.

Several of the girls on the under-18 team will be vying for a third national title. Taylor Fallon, a Corona del Mar High product now with Indiana University, is one of those girls. That’s the bigger goal Ziad Khoury spoke of after his Slammers won on Sunday.

They defeated the Mustang Blast of Northern California, 1-0. Alyssa Davila scored in the 68th minute.

“Unbelievable,” Walid Khoury said of the game. “We played against a great team. It was their fourth trip to the finals. That match had two great teams who know how to win.”

Jackie Venke, who is from Newport Beach and attended Mater Dei High plays for the Slammers’ under-18 team, which reached the final with a thrilling semifinal win on Saturday. The Slammers defeated Real Colorado National, 1-0, in overtime in a semifinal.

The Slammers’ under-14 team won on penalty kicks, 4-1, after a scoreless tie in regulation. The girls defeated Arsenal of Southern California. Scarlett Fallon of Newport Beach is on the Slammers’ under-14 team, which is ranked second in the country. George Larsen coaches the under-14 team.

Camille Levin of Newport Coast and Taylor Jones of Corona del Mar played on the Slammers’ under-17 team.

— Steve Virgen