Earlier this month, five Mercer Island eighth graders helped lead their Eastside FC soccer teams to state championships at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.

The BU14 Boys Eastside FC Red team won the Washington State Championships on May 1, beating Crossfire Premier 3-1 in the final. The Eastside FC boys won five straight to take the title, scoring 13 goals while allowing only three against.

The GU14 Girls White team won the Division 1 championship in the Presidents Cup, beating PacNW 1-0. The Eastside FC girls allowed only one goal throughout their final three matches, which was in a 2-1 victory over Harbor Premier in the quarterfinal round.

Next month, both teams will represent the state of Washington, advancing to the US Youth Soccer regional tournaments. The boys will compete in the Far West Regional June 20-26 in Boise, Idaho. The girls will travel to Arvada, Colorado for the Presidents Cup Regional Championships, which will take place June 14-19.