Youth soccer is meant to be fun and it certainly was during the Glory on the Grass Tournament, hosted by the Butler County Soccer Association Aug. 7.

Forty teams gathered at the association's fields in Center Township with champions crowned in seven age divisions - U9 to U15 in both boys and girls.

Games were played from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This was the first time a Glory on the Grass event was held in Butler County. By all accounts, it was a resounding success.

“This was meant to be a day of fun,” said BCSA president Colin Leyland. “The place was packed. Two food trucks sold out and the concession stand got crushed. We had to find alternative parking spots for the cars.”

The tournament's format was 5-on-5 games played on condensed fields. Each contest lasted 20 minutes with a running clock.

Teams that won their pool (three games) advanced either to a final or semifinal, depending on the number of teams in that age bracket.

The top two teams in each division earned medals. Eleven BCSA teams, six boys and five girls, competed. Other squads came from Armstrong, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Lawrence and Beaver counties.

Three BCSA teams won championships - U12 and U10 on the boys side and U14 girls.

Due to the smaller rosters, some teams divided their players up into two or more entries.

Some players were familiar with 5 vs. 5 play, while others were introduced to it.

“There were more scoring opportunities, but we won the title game in our age division and the score was just 2-1,” said Bobby Woods, who coached BCSA's U14 girls to victory. “The nets are smaller and there's not as much space because the fields are much smaller. There were a lot of possession changes.

“Our kids play in tournaments where everything is very serious. It was fun for the girls to play with and against their friends in a tournament that didn't take up the whole weekend.”

Justin Ponteous was coach of BCSA's U10 boys team.

“We practiced 5-on-5 for a couple of weeks before the tournament,” he said. “The boys adapted well to it. We changed our formation up, focused more on defensive-minded soccer and were able to defend well against a really good offensive player in the title game.”

Glory on the Grass tournaments have also been held near Irwin, Monroeville and Washington, Pa.

Leyland hopes the tournament returns to Butler.

“We're looking to bring it back next August,” he said. “It was not only a success for our association in general, but the entire community.”

Following are members of the three Butler County Soccer Association teams that won titles at the Glory on the Grass Tournament, held Aug. 7 in Center Township.

U14 Girls

Players: Ashton Huff, Mary Quinlan, Katelyn VanDyke, Camryn Woods, Peyton Thimons, Allie Cristallino, Bailee Ewell

Coaches: Bobby Woods, Anthony Quinlan

U12 Boys

Players: Mac O'Donnell, Joey Pasquarello, Landen Schmitt, Julian McCall, Evan Ordy, Jude Perhacs

Coach: Joe Perhacs

U10 Boys

Players: Braylen Werner, Luke Szul, Mason Ansani, Tyson Netzel, Crosby Laska, Jacob Ponteous, Adam Sellinger

Coach: Justin Ponteous