Winning the Midwest Region II championship was just a start for the Chicago Fire U15 boys team.

After taking that title the Fire Juniors went on to Little Rock, Ark., and the U.S. National Soccer Championships where the team took third place on July 25.

The Fire started their run by defeating Dallas’ Solar Red (last year’s runner-up) 1-0 on Keegan Balle’s header off Will Butler’s corner kick 12 minutes into the match. Goalie Sam Euler had a great game and made the lone goal stand up, stopping every threat from Solar’s very quick and skilled forwards, as Solar put a lot of pressure on the Fire defense early on.

The Fire then tied the Dallas Texans, a perennial powerhouse team from north Texas that is often ranked among the top teams in the nation, 2-2.

Minutes into the match Jacob Brindle headed in Horacio Sanchez’s cross. As Little Rock’s heat and humidity caused issues for both sides, the Texans knotted it up on a penalty kick just before the half ended.

Early in the second half the Fire surged ahead again as Jonathan Beavis headed in a free kick from Balle, but the Texans equalized with 10 minutes remaining.

The Fire then lost to the defending and eventual national champion Casa Mia Bay team (Baltimore, Md.) 1-0. Casa Mia came out conservatively and the Fire placed five shots on goal to Casa Mia’s seven, but Casa Mia’s cross into the box and header into the goal in the 72nd minute won the game for them.