Two Griffs will be descending on South Carolina later this month, to represent their local soccer club for a national championship.

Rising sophomores A.C. LaFlore and Jon Cary helped lead Empire United SA Syracuse U19, a team compromised of elite college-level players, to the James P. McGuire Cup in Rock Hill, S.C. to decide the best U-19 boys team in the country, with the final being nationally televised on Fox Soccer Channel Sat., July 28.

To pave their way to this National Final Four, the Revolution first had to defeat the defending national champions and dispatch four other of the best teams the East had to offer.

Cruising through preliminary play against teams extending from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Virginia by a combined score of 6-0, the Revolution found themselves up-against the reigning national champions entering the semifinals. YMS Thunder of Pennsylvania, who entered the tournament as favorites, left defeated, as they proved no match for Cary and LaFlore's squad in a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

Next the two current Griffs and Empire United teammates defeated Baltimore Bay Chelsea of Maryland, in a 1-0 triumph from a goal in the 78th minute for a ticket to the McGuire Cup.

LaFlore, a defender, helped anchor a unit that held opponents to zero goals over the five-game round-robin style regional. The Canisius fullback and Liverpool, N.Y. native appeared in 13 games in his first year for the Blue and Gold in 2012, starting nine. Before walking on campus, LaFlore was a four-year letter winner at Liverpool High School and earned All-CNYCL National league first-team accolades.

Cary, also a newcomer to campus last season, proved to be a vital component for his local club playing crucial minutes over Eastern Regional play, as well as for the Griffs last season. In 19 appearances, Cary started 12 games in the midfield and recorded 10 shots during his freshman campaign. A Cicero-North Syracuse High School grad, Cary was named to the All-CNY team in 2009 and 2010, as well as earning three letters with the soccer team.

The three teams booking a trip for a shot at the oldest youth soccer trophy in America against Cary and LaFlore are the Crew Juniors (Ohio), GSA 93 Phoenix Red (Ga.) and West Coast FC (Calif.).

The McGurie Cup held from Wednesday July 25th to Sunday July 28th at Manchester Meadows Sports Park in Rock Hill, S.C. is named after late United States Soccer Federation President James P. McGuire.

To learn more about the upcoming national tournament featuring local talent, checkout championships.ussoccer.org or visit GoGriffs.com, to learn more about Cary, LaFlore and the rest of Canisius Athletics.