ESPN RISE

LANCASTER, Mass. -- After seven yellow cards, a busted head and several ice bags to curtail swelling, fatigued players from the YMS Xplosion and Lower Merion Velez Under-17 boys' soccer teams sat in team huddles in stunned silence. These archrivals from Pennsylvania played to a physical scoreless draw during Thursday's U.S. Youth Soccer national championships in Lancaster, Mass.

It was the fifth meeting between these national club powers this year and the first match to end without a winner in more than two years.

The draw played more favorably for Lower Merion (1-0-1), which is in a three-way tie for first place in the six-team Under-17 group. The Xplosion (0-0-2) fall to fourth place. The top two teams based on points and goal differential following Friday's final round will advance to Sunday's national final.

Lower Merion is almost assured of a national final appearance if it wins Friday against fifth-place Dallas Texans Houston (Texas). Meanwhile, the Xplosion need a victory over CZ Elite (Calif.), part of that three-way tie for first, plus a Triangle United (N.C.) or Lower Merion loss to advance.

"They have things they want to accomplish, and we have things we want to accomplish, and we seem to be in each other's way," Lower Merion coach Miguel Nuila said.

Two teams advancing to the national championships from the same state was made possible by U.S. Youth Soccer only last year through the advent of the National League, a series of matches in which the top two teams earn national tournament berths without having to survive the traditional state and regional routes to the nationals.

In the final round of National League play, Lower Merion defeated the Xplosion 2-0 to secure the automatic berth. The Xplosion, which won two earlier matches against Lower Merion in the U.S. Youth Soccer Premier League, won the Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup title and ultimately beat Lower Merion for the region crown, thus earning a national tournament appearance.

Thursday's much-anticipated match turned physical in the second half as both teams started to play with more urgency. Seven yellow cards were issued between the 52nd and 77th minutes. A hard foul in the 63rd minute led to pushing and shoving among players. In the closing minute, Lower Merion's Michael Lemonick took an elbow to the head, opening a gash above his left eye that required stitches.

When the final whistle sounded, there were halfhearted "good game" exchanges that typified the evolution of this once-friendly rivalry into a knock-down, drag-out fight that has been taken to a new level after a Lower Merion left to play with the Xplosion.

"It used to be a friendly relationship, but not anymore," Xplosion player Brian Powers said. "It's definitely not what it used to be. We don't like each other much. But we respect them."

Lower Merion's Olutolani Ibikunle, a Class of 2010 prospect who has verbally committed to Wake Forest, echoed that sentiment.

"Other than some [Germantown Academy] guys [who play on each team], we really don't like each other," Ibikunle said, while holding an ice pack on his head due to a blow he received early in the match. "We go in with the attitude, we're going to play till we die."

The rivalry between these clubs started at the Under-9 age group. Four times they went head-to-head for state cup honors. Last year, Lower Merion won the state cup and region cup meetings while YMS Xplosion won the National League meeting. This year, the results were reversed.

Now, if the right combination plays out Friday, there is a chance for both teams to advance to the national final, where the stakes will be even higher than in any of the previous 20 matches between the sides.

Stars of the day

Ralph Lundy, DSC (S.C.). The son of College of Charleston head coach Ralph Lundy Jr., Ralph III pumped in four goals as the Under-18 Discoveries Soccer Club (South Carolina) stunned East Fishkill Thunder (N.Y.) 8-1. Lundy, who has signed with the College of Charleston, was an all-state performer this past spring in high school. The result marked the most goals scored in a U.S. Youth Soccer national tournament match in at least a decade.

Rachel Davitt, PDA Fire (N.J.). In two matches, Davitt has scored both of PDA's goals, resulting in 1-0 victories for this perennial national title challenger. The Boston College recruit was an all-county selection in high school last year at Ridge (N.J.).

Sheldon Shealer covers youth soccer for ESPNRISE.com. He can be reached at Sheldon.Shealer@espn.com.