DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA – You couldn’t have asked for better weather for the first day of the San Diego Surf Cup Tournaments – sunny with a healthy dose of ocean breeze.  This weekend, the U10-U15 age brackets are squaring off at the San Diego Polo Grounds.

True to its name, the venue has the distinct, lingering smell of horses, but that didn’t deter the young players.  And when not involved in a game, players and spectators have plenty to distract them – food vendors, jump houses and even a DJ lend this tournament a carnival feel.   

U15 Girls: Real So Cal 2 - Las Vegas Premier 0

Las Vegas Premier was met with a 2-0 loss against Southern California locals, Real So Cal White.  Karas McKenzie crossed for a goal chance early on for the Premier but it was Real So Cal’s Natalie Rivas that put in the first goal of the game at four minutes into the first half with an assist by Arielle Ship.  Rivas scored after goalkeeper Miranda de La Vega left the goal wide open after she moved left to block a pass by Ship.  

Las Vegas players Karas McKenzie and Moore Madison and Rachel Cooklin played scrappy defense, but it was Real So Cal’s ability to get behind Premier that gave Real So Cal the edge in the first half.  

The second half began with a quick goal attempt by Natalie Rivas followed by two more by Premier’s Markie Henderson and Rachel Cooklin.  Las Vegas had good opportunities but couldn’t finish.  A good pass by RSC’s Joy Pearson led to goal by center midfielder Arielle Ship to bring the score to 2-0.

Real So Cal won this shutout game with good passing and finishing opportunities.  They outshot Las Vegas Premier 9-3.  This was the first of two victories that Real So Cal would win in the first day of the Surf Cup.  

Standout players in this game were Real So Cal’s Natalie Rivas, Arielle Ship and Joy Pearson and Las Vegas Premier’s Karas McKenzie and Rachel Cooklin.

U15 Boys: LAFC Chelsea 3 - Texas Fire 1

The first 10 minutes set the tone for the rest of the game with four goal attempts by LAFC Chelsea:  Chris Atunez began the sequence of shots with a corner kick followed by a shot by William Raygoza.  Luis Flores came out with another corner kick.  LAFC nearly had the first goal when Texas Fire goalkeeper Diego Serrano left the goal wide open for an attempt by Bryan Gutierrez who shot it over the net.

LAFC'a Marco-Antonio Delgado finally put the ball in the back of the net with a long range drive over the goalkeeper’s head for the first goal of the game.

William Raygoza was a key player for LAFC Chelsea, showing good work ethic throughout both halves and his ability to pass-and-go.  

Luis Flores made a good pass from midfield to Bryan Gutierrez who finished for LAFC’s second goal.  Texas Fire’s Jonathan Olivas responded with a strong corner kick goal attempt but it was denief by a good save from LAFC goalkeeper Edson Arreola.

In the final third of the first half, Ivan Hernandez made an exciting shot into an empty net when goalkeeper Diego Serrano left the goal open.  Brualio Bacorto cleared the ball for the Fire after a 1v1 keeping the score at 2-0.

The first half was controlled by the LAFC who maintained speed and passing skill.  Fatigue set in toward the end and they began making sloppy passes, but made it to halftime with the shutout.

The second half began with another shot by Bryan Gutierrez to the top of the goal with a good save by Fire’s 'keeper Serrano.  Texas Fire had trouble with ball movement in the beginning of the second half but better defense helped them move it forward later on.

Texas Fire set the pace for the second half and they were rewarded.   Jonathan Olivas gave the Texas Fire their first goal with a copycat move from Antonio Delgado’s goal in the first half.  It was a long-range shot to the top of the net that brought the score to 2-1.  

LAFC's Vincent Reyes showed good speed and ability to make strong runs to the net.  Reyes received a pass from teammate Chris Atunez from the right and scored LAFC’s third and final goal.  

Key players in this match were LAFC Chelsea’s William Raygoza, Bryan Gutierrez and Vincent Reyes and Texas Fire’s Jonathan Olivas.

 

Top Drawer Soccer will have coverage of Monday's Finals as well.

 

Saturday Results

BOYS U13

Bracket A
Legends FC 2 Mt Hamilton 1
Legends FC 5 CCV Stars 1
Real So Cal 1 Mt Hamilton 0
Real So Cal 4 CCV Stars 0

Bracket B
SCC Breakers 1 Fullerton Rangers 1
SCC Breakers 1 San Diego Surf 0
Livingston SC 1 Fullerton Rangers 4
Livingston SC 3 San Diego Surf 1

Bracket C
LAFC 4 Dallas Texans 0
LAFC 0 RSF Attack 0
Chicago Magic 5 Dallas Texans 1
Chicago Magic 2 RSF Attack 1

Bracket D
Dallas Texans 0 Crossfire Premier 1
Dallas Texans 2 Vancouver 0
San Diego Surf 2 Crossfire 0
San Diego Surf 1 Vancouver 0

Bracket E
Mustang SC 2 Universidad 1
Mustang SC 3 HSC Bulls 1
CV Manchester 2 Universidad 1
CV Manchester 2 HSC BUlls 4

BOYS U14

Bracket A
West Coast FC 2 Carlsbad 0
West Coast FC 3 Real Colorado 0
Diablo FC 2 Carlsbad 1
Diablo FC 1 Real Colorado 1

Bracket B
Santa Clara 0 Crossfire Premier 0
Santa Clara 1 San Diego Surf 0
South Coast Bayern 1 Crossfire 0
South Coast Bayern 2 San Diego Surf 0

Bracket C
Legends FC 0 Milan FC 0
Legends FC 1 Sparta 0
Aztecs FC 2 Milan FC 3
Aztecs FC 2 Sparta 2

Bracket D
Arsenal FC 4 Concorde Fire 1
Arsenal FC 2 Placer United 0
San Diego Surf 1 Concorde Fire 0
San Diego Surf 1 Placer United 0

BOYS U15
Bracket A
LAFC Chelsea 3 Texas Fire 1
LAFC Chelsea 4 Placer Prestige 1
Vikings SC 1 Texas Fire 0
Vikings SC 2 Placer Prestige 0

Bracket B
Universidad 0 Portuguese 3
Universidad 1 Eastside 1
San Diego Surf 1 Portuguese 0
San Diego Surf 0 Eastside 0

Bracket C
Arsenal FC 1 Concorde Fire 1
Arsenal FC 3 South Bay 1
Concorde Fire 3 Alliance FC 0
South Bay Force 0 Alliance FC 1

Bracket D
Fram CQ 0 Albion SC 2
Fram CQ 1 Concorde Fire 1
San Juan 0 Albion SC 1
San Juan 1 Concorde Fire 0

GIRLS U13
Bracket A
Dallas Texans 1 Eastside FC 1
Dallas Texans 1 Leahi 2
West Coast 4 Eastside 0
West Coast 1 Leahi 0

Bracket B
Legends FC 1 Sonoma County 0
Legends FC 2 Crossfire Premier 0
So Cal Blues 1 Sonoma County 1
So Cal Blues 2 Crossfire Premier 1

Bracket C
Arsenal FC 2 Palm Beach 1
Arsenal FC 3 Vancouver 1
Carmel Valley 0 Palm Beach 0
Carmel Valley 3 Vancouver 0

Bracket D
Mustang Mavericks 1 Slammers 0
Mustang Mavericks 2 Colorado Storm 0
San Diego Surf White 0 Slammers 0
San Diego Surf White 2 Colorado 2

GIRLS U14
Bracket A
West Coast FC 0 Legends FC 0
West Coast FC 3 Colorado Rush 0
SAC United 4 Legends 1
SAC United 3 Colorado Rush 0

Bracket B
Mustang Fury 0 Slammers 1
Mustang Fury 1 Tophat 0
Real So Cal Blue 0 Slammers 1
Real So Cal Blue 1 Tophat 1

Bracket C
MVLA Lightning 2 Sparta United 0
MVLA Lightning 1 Crossfire 0
San Diego Surf 6 Sparta United 2
San Diego Surf 1 Crossfire 0

Bracket D
So Cal Blues 1 Leahi 0
So Cal Blues 1 San Diego Surf 0
San Juan Spirits 0 Leahi 1
San Juan Spirits 0 San Diego Surf 0

Bracket E
Arsenal FC 2 MTH PAC-United 1
Arsenal FC 2 Concorde Fire 0
South Bay Force 1 MTH PAC-United 0
South Bay Force 4 Concorde Fire 0

GIRLS U15
Bracket A
Breakaway 1 San Juan Spirits 0
Breakaway 2 THUSC 2
So Cal Blues 2 San Juan Spirits 1
So Cal Blues 1 THUSC 1

Bracket B
Arsenal FC 5 San Diego Surf 0
Arsenal FC 4 South Sound 0
Elk Grove 0 San Diego Surf 1
Elk Grove 0 South Sound 2

Bracket C
Real So Cal 2 Central Valley 0
Real So Cal 2 Las Vegas 0
Slammers FC 3 Central Valley 0
Slammers FC 1 Las Vegas 2

Bracket D
San Diego Surf 2 Leahi 0
San Diego Surf 1 Calgary 0
Real Colorado 2 Leahi 0
Real Colorado 5 Calgary 1