More than 80 of the top Class 1 teams in the state invaded the
soccer complex last weekend. Here are some of the local teams
results.
More than 80 of the top Class 1 teams in the state invaded the soccer complex last weekend. Here are some of the local teams results.
U11 Girls
Making the jump from Class 3, the Orchard Valley Sting U11 Girls C1 team made its debut as a Class 1 team last weekend. The Sting dropped its first two games before winning its final game. The Sting lost to the eventual tournament winner Walnut Creek Power by a score of 4-0 and then to consolation finalist Manteca Rangers United 2-0.
The Sting pushed on to win an exciting third game, defeating SCC Chameleons 2-1. Trailing 1-0 at half, the Sting scored the first goal of the tournament as Erin Slattery assisted Erin Evanger.
There was no looking back for the Sting, and within 12 minutes a barrage of team passes led to Samantha Martin’s goal to secure the win. Lauren Bertero performed awesome in goalie throughout the entire tournament.
U12 Boys
The U12 Orchard Valley Eagles finished in second place, losing to the Almaden Ruckus 4-0 in the championship game Sunday in the strong wind. The Eagles cruised through their bracket, defeating the Petaluma Pumas 4-0, the East County United 2-0 and the Davis Strikers 1-0.
The defense was led by a strong group of midfielders, and the new offensive worked well.
U13 Boys
Jorge Montano was solid in goalie for the U13 Pumas all weekend. He recorded a 3-0 shutout in the first game Saturday against the Hayward Rotweilers. The Pumas tied the SSJ Panthers 2-2 and then defeated the Vacaville Atlas 7-1. The Pumas lost 3-1 to the Juventes Sport in the championship game.
The Pumas had several different players contribute goals. Anthony Velesquez, Robert Adam, Noe Rivera, Dakota Hoskins, Bruce Ocana, Jordan Schaefer, and Jeremy Valdez all scored at least a goal.
U14 Boys
The Orchard Valley U14 Boys’ Class I soccer club hosted the Morgan Hill/Gilroy Cup at the Morgan Hill Soccer Complex this past weekend.
The Stingrays won all three of their preliminary games, but lost in the championship game to the powerful Juventus Quake squad.
Stingrays 3, Ajax Thunder 2: The Stingrays rebounded from a 2-0 first half deficit to score three second half goals and defeat the team from Modesto, 3-2. The game was scoreless for the first 20 minutes of the first half, but the Thunder struck first as their striker blasted a shot past Stingrays’ keeper Ricardo Plata for the opening score.
The Ajax team was blasting shots at Plata, and a second one found the back of the net shortly before halftime.
Stingray striker Danny Nelson chipped a goal over the keeper, off an assist from Noel Vera. Midway through the second half Kevin Grove made a beautiful lead pass to Nelson for his second score.
The Stingrays had all the momentum now, as this time Grove found right winger Matt Altamirano at the top of the goalie box, who nicely placed a goal in the upper left corner. The Stingray defense proved to be the difference in the second half, as Nick Rodriquez, Eric Miller, Myles Downing and Grove continually turned away the Modesto team for their opening victory.
Stingrays 4, Madness-Bad Boys 3: In the second game of the afternoon, the Stingrays fell behind in the first minute of play as the Bad Boys from Hayward scored the opening goal. However, the Stingrays quickly took the advantage with the gusty Morgan Hill wind in their favor, as Nelson again found the net, this time on a chip pass from Casey Mott.
Mott found the net as well on an unassisted goal midway through the first half. Nelson scored his fourth goal of the day, as Altamirano placed a beautiful cross from the right wing, giving the Stingrays a 3-1 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Bad Boys had the wind advantage, and both teams found their way toward the net, with 12 combined shots on goal. The Bad Boys cut the lead in half with ten minutes to play, but midfielder Murilo Almeida dribbled his way through their defense and found the back of the net on a well-placed shot. With less than a minute to play, the Bad Boys cut the deficit to 4-3, but great defense and mid-field play from Gerardo Murillo and Brendant Palomo secured the win.
Stingrays 4, Napa Fire 2: At 2-0, the Stingrays faced the other unbeaten team, needing either a win or tie to advance to the championship game.
The Stingrays scored in the opening minutes, as Nelson scored again on a long pass off a free kick from Grove. In a very offensive-minded game, the Fire quickly tied the score, as their left winger blasted one by goalie Plata. Noel Vera headed a ball into the net to give the Stingrays a 2-1 lead off a corner kick from Altamirano.
But the Fire again tied the game, as their speedy left winger scored again. Mott gave the Stingrays the lead for good, on an unassisted goal. The Stingrays defense tightened up, drawing 14 offsides traps against the Fire, and allowing only four shots on goal in the second half.
Nelson drew a penalty in the goalie box, and scored his sixth goal of the tournament, off the penalty kick rebound. Once again, Plata was aided by his defense along with new Stingrays Blake Presar, Murillo and Almeida in the midfield.
Juventus Quake 7, Stingrays 0: The Stingrays were over matched in the championship game and fell behind 3-0 in the first half. Although the Stingrays were able to put six shots on goal, the Quake goalkeeper stopped them all, and the excellent ball possession and passing skills of the Redwood City squad led Juventus to the championship.
Orchard Valley fared well to advance to this game with seven new players added to the roster from last year’s team and three starters missing in this tournament due to vacation and/or injury.
The Stingrays will get a second chance against the Quake, as they travel to Redwood City this coming weekend for the 33rd Juventus Tournament of Champions tournament.
U15 Girls
The U15 Girls Scream finished in third place in their division just one point behind the next team. The team started off with a 1-1 tie against the Santa Rosa ‘89. The Scream lost 3-1 to the MVLA Menace and then won the third game by forfeit.
U15 Boys
The U15 Arsenal, which were formerly known as the Top Dawgs, put together an impressive run an finished in first place in the Morgan Hill tournament.
The team, which is trained by World Cup referee Brian Hall, took second place at the California Cup held two weeks ago, beating state champion Santa Cruz. The Arsenal is ranked ninth in the state of U15 Class 1 soccer teams.
The Arsenal shutout Castro Valley, Santa Rosa and the DVSC United in pool play with strong play from center midfielders and captains Ben Alcantar and Garrett Frechette.
Orchard Valley then beat the Modesto Ajax 4-3 in penalty kicks for the title after Modesto tied it in the last three minutes.
