1997 National Champs
MENS U23 TEAM

The Louisville Soccer Alliance men's team defeated the host Clark Comets of New Jersey 1-0, to win the United States Amateur Soccer Association National Championship in the under 23 age division.

LSA won on a goal scored by former St. X High School and current Xavier University player Jeff Bauer. Matt Wilkerson of the University of Kentucky was named the MVP by virtue of his three goals and one assist during the semi-finals and finals this weekend.

LSA reached the final with a 3-2 win over the Dallas Speed yesterday in Trenton, NJ in its first ever trip to the National Finals. LSA was down by a count of 2-0 just twenty two minutes into the game when Jeff Bauer fed Matt Wilkerson for his first goal of the game at the thirty one minute mark. Wilkerson from North Liberty, IA scored an unassisted goal with four minutes left in the first half and the score was tied 2-2 at the break.

Twenty one minutes into the second half Wilkerson completed a "hat trick" off of an assist from Sean Mondelli of Lexington and the University of Kentucky. Defenders David Wright and Jed Hayden with the help of midfielders Jeff Bauer and Rick Dengelegi and keeper Matt Hanie were able to shutout the Texas state champs in the second half.

LSA reached the National Finals by winning the regional final in Indianapolis the weekend of June 15th. LSA defeated the Cleveland Kickers 3-2 in the regional final on goals by Bauer (1) and Mondelli (2).

This was LSA's second consecutive Regional title but last years championship ended with the regional finals. This was the first year for the National Championship in this age division.