Record field of 104 teams fills Hughesville for second Veterans Day Freedom Cup
PHOTO PROVIDED; Members of a boys team huddle to show off their Freedom Cup medals at the East Lycoming Soccer Complex in Hughesville in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … A player in a stars-and-stripes uniform strikes the ball during boys play at the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in Hughesville in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED …Shippensburg SC Surge players celebrate behind the champions banner after winning the U15 girls division at the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … Balls Mills SC Roniettes players share a laugh during the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in Hughesville. The Roniettes won the U16 girls championship in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … FC Montour Legends players and coaches pose with the championship trophy after winning the U10 boys gold division at the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in Hughesville in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … Two Hughesville soccer players celebrate with their medals in front of an awards backdrop during the Veterans Day Freedom Cup at the East Lycoming Soccer Complex. Hughesville SC Thunder won the U12 girls silver division in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED; Members of a boys team huddle to show off their Freedom Cup medals at the East Lycoming Soccer Complex in Hughesville in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … A player in a stars-and-stripes uniform strikes the ball during boys play at the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in Hughesville in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED …Shippensburg SC Surge players celebrate behind the champions banner after winning the U15 girls division at the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … Balls Mills SC Roniettes players share a laugh during the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in Hughesville. The Roniettes won the U16 girls championship in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … FC Montour Legends players and coaches pose with the championship trophy after winning the U10 boys gold division at the Veterans Day Freedom Cup in Hughesville in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
PHOTO PROVIDED … Two Hughesville soccer players celebrate with their medals in front of an awards backdrop during the Veterans Day Freedom Cup at the East Lycoming Soccer Complex. Hughesville SC Thunder won the U12 girls silver division in this photo by Alex Butler Photography.
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HUGHESVILLE -- A record 104 youth soccer teams from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and West Virginia came to the East Lycoming Soccer Complex this past weekend for the second annual Veterans Day Freedom Cup, a two-day tournament that crowned 20 champions and raised money for Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors.
The field of U9 through U16 teams, representing 47 club programs, grew from 85 teams at the inaugural tournament in 2025. Girls divisions played Saturday and boys divisions played Sunday at the complex with medals awarded to the top two teams in each division.
"Seeing 104 teams come to Hughesville to honor veterans means a great deal to us. We're grateful to the East Lycoming Soccer Association, our community partners and every family who bought a Freedom Cup sweatshirt," UnitedGoalsUSA founder Colin Gorini said. "Together, we're building American soccer and giving back while we do it."
Several area clubs came away with titles. Hughesville SC Thunder won the U12 girls silver title on its home fields, defeating Warrior Run SC Impulse in an all-local final. Balls Mills SC Roniettes captured the U16 girls championship and FC Montour Legends won the U10 boys gold title. Warrior Run SC added a second runner-up finish when its Vixens placed second to Union SC Tornadoes in the U10 girls silver final.
North Union United was the weekend's most decorated club, winning four divisions: U9 girls (Saints), U13 Girls (Chaos), U14 girls (Strikers) and U11 boys (Rangers). Chaos and Strikers repeated as champions after winning titles at the inaugural Freedom Cup in 2025.
Celtic SC won the U12 boys gold and U14 boys title and reached the U13 boys final where PA Classics claimed the championship. Carrollton City FC of Maryland won both U10 boys silver and U12 boys silver.
Every division champion earned an automatic berth in the 2027 UnitedGoals USA Tournament of Champions, which is scheduled for Aug. 14-15 at River City Sportsplex in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Runners-up receive priority invitations.
The tournament supported Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors once again, a non-profit that provides emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families facing hardship. All proceeds from the official event apparel go to the organization. Apparel sales at the inaugural event generated $6,350. The 2026 total is still being finalized and will be announced once confirmed.
Founded in 2006 by Maj. Gen. Gerald Sajder and his wife Helen, the organization is an all-volunteer non-profit with no paid staff and 96% of its revenue goes to assisting veterans and their families, according to the organization. It assisted 1,768 veterans in 2025 and 1,750 through Oct. 31 of this year, putting it on track to exceed 2,000 requests and $2 million in assistance in 2026. Grants average $1,000 to $1,200 and are paid directly to vendors for housing, utility and transportation needs.
With demand outpacing income, the group welcomes donations, business grants, fundraisers and volunteers to serve as ambassadors or intake processors.
UnitedGoals USA hosted the tournament with the East Lycoming Soccer Association, which operated concessions throughout the weekend in support of the local club. Certified referees officiated both days, and volunteers kept the schedule moving across the complex.
With teams traveling from New York, Maryland and West Virginia and throughout Pennsylvania, the tournament drew more than 5,000 players, families and fans to Hughesville over the weekend. Representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police also met with families on site.
UnitedGoals USA thanks its numerous local sponsors and community partners who supported the event.
The Freedom Cup was the last of three UnitedGoals USA tournaments in Lycoming County this year, following the 4v4 Clover Cup in March and Kicks 4 Canines in July, both in Montoursville. The organization's next event is the inaugural Steel City Fall Finale in Cranberry Township on Nov. 14-15.