The Orchard Valley U14 Boys
’ Class I soccer club traveled to Redwood City to participate in
California’s longest running soccer tournament, the 33rd Annual
Juventus Tournament of Champions.
The Orchard Valley U14 Boys’ Class I soccer club traveled to Redwood City to participate in California’s longest running soccer tournament, the 33rd Annual Juventus Tournament of Champions.
The Stingrays made the consolation match and defeated the FC Royals of Fremont in a penalty kick shootout.
Stingrays 5, San Carlos Lightning 3
The Stingrays took an early 2-0 first half lead, as they dominated play, and goalkeeper Ricardo Plata made several nice saves. Ten minutes into the game, Casey Mott found the net after right winger Matt Altamirano made a great cross to striker Murilo Almeida.
With two defenders on him, Almeida made a nice drop pass to Mott for the goal. Almeida scored the second goal midway through the half on an assist from fellow striker Brendant Palomo.
Altamirano had another assist early in the second half, as his crossing pass was knocked into the net by Noel Vera. After the Lightning scored, Palomo scored his first goal of the season.
Unmarked, Kevin Grove found the upper right corner of the net from 35 yards out in the second half.
Stingrays 0, Union City Lobos 3
The Stingrays fell behind midway through the first half, as the Lobos’ striker blasted a shot from close range.
Stingrays Forwards Danny Nelson and Blake Presar each had shots on goal but the keeper knocked both away.
The Lobos were able to put 34 shots on goal for the game. The Stingrays had fine defensive work from fullbacks Bryan Faulk, Eric Miller, Nick Rodriquez and Myles Downing.
Stingrays 2, Marin United 1
Palomo scored his second goal of the tournament ten minutes into the game on an assist from Mott.
Although the Stingrays held Marin to only eight shots on goal for the game, the United tied the game early in the second half after a long shot found the net past Plata. Mott and midfielder Gerardo Murillo each had shots hit the crossbar.
With the score tied at 1-1, striker Danny Nelson juked the goalie into diving and dribbled it easily in with less than five minutes to play for the game winner.
Stingrays 4, FC Royals 3
The Stingrays dominated play in the first half, as Nelson found Almeida on the left wing for the first goal five minutes into the game. Late in the half, Mott scored the second goal as he weaved his way through the defense and then scored an unassisted goal.
It appeared as if the Stingrays would win 2-1, but the Royals scored the tying goal late in the half.
The Stingrays scored the go-ahead goal early in the first overtime after Kevin Grove hooked a corner kick above the goalie and into the net. Late in the second overtime, the Royals scored on a penalty kick.
After the Royals made their first shot in the shootout, Danny Nelson found the upper right corner of the net. Goalie Plata easily stopped the Royals’ second shot. When Grove put one in the lower left corner. Plata made the save of the tournament on the Royals’ best player, diving to stop his shot, just inside the left post.
Noel Vera made his shot to give the Stingrays a commanding 3-1 advantage. Casey Mott, the final shooter for the Stingrays, blasted his shot past the keeper to give the Stingrays a well-earned victory.
