For the second time three years since Mountain View’s Colby Thomas joined the Lehigh Valley United ’95 club soccer team they have bested all 16 state champion teams from Region 1 (Maine to Virginia) at the U.S. Youth Soccer, National Championship Series – Region 1 Tournament held recently in Lancaster.

This moves them on to U.S. Youth Soccer Nationals where six of the top teams in the country battle for the National Championship, in Rock Hill, S.C., from July 23 to July 30.

Thomas opened with three goals in a 6-0 win over Massachusetts in 101 degree Lancaster heat.

Dehydration, muscle strains and cramps nearly stopped his play over the next three games, but his team mates found a way, winning without their leading scorer, and produced wins to get into the finals.

After a trip to the emergency room and two physical therapy sessions, Thomas was prepared mentally and as best he could be physically, scored both goals in a 2-0 win in the finals, stamping LVU’s ticket to Nationals.

This also makes two years in a row that Thomas led all goal scorers in the U-16 age group.

The LVU 95’s also have the current distinction of once again having moved into the gotsoccer.com number one ranking nationally out of thousands of ranked teams.