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| Boys Battle it Out in Nationals |
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| By: Erin Murphy |
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National Cup participants the DMCV Sharks took the BU-15 division of the Presidio League and the 2008 Nomads Coaches Showcase. (Laurie Doyle)
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Coach Michael Nicholson is hopeful of the SD Surf BU-15 team winning the finals of the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Cal South National Cup and proceeding on to the Far West Regionals in Hawaii. Having snagged second place in the 2008 Far West Regional League qualifying tournament, Surf is favored as the next in line to go. For Surf to win Nationals, the team will have to work successfully together as a unit. With a number of strong players able to contribute to the scoreboard--including Will Whiddon, a current member of the U.S. Under-15 BNT--advancing to the finals will be a collaborative effort. Nicholson foresees many of the San Diego teams as a challenge but views West Coast FC, Arsenal FC and both Valley United Blast teams as the largest threats. Nicholson doesn’t see Surf’s draw as favorable, but he still anticipates his team to play well and possibly earn a trip to surf in the Aloha state.
Other BU-15 Teams:
Notts Forest BU-15 Red: Notts Forest hopes to clear through the first round of Nationals and improve on their 2007 quarterfinals appearance. Coach David Banks will rely on Zack DeVille of the Under-15 BNT and key players Corey Schmidt, Romel Pinal, Alfred Burnett to help advance the squad to the latter rounds. Banks anticipates seven or eight teams, including Nomads, Valley United Blast and Surf, as being potential challenges, but his primary goal will be on keeping the players healthy and focused on playing with consistency.
Hotspurs 92 Red: To raise their level of play, the Hotspurs entered the National Cup this year instead of the Open Cup. The Hotspurs hope to be competitive in each game they play and are looking towards their primary objective this weekend: to advance to the next round. The Hotspurs will rely on goalie and forward Chuy Gutierrez, center back Michael Zanot and defender/midfielder Andres Ruiz. It will be crucial to see how center back Ryan Geier comes back onto the field after a few weeks on the sidelines due to back trouble. Coach Sami Nedjar feels Notts Forrest and the Eagles, who both play at the highest level in league play, will be tough to break down.
DMCV Sharks: If the Lancaster wind cooperates, coach Darren Parker believes the chances for a Sharks championship are favorable. The Sharks dominated the recent Presidio League season and took first place in the BU-15 division of the 2008 Nomads Coaches Showcase. The Sharks will depend on central defender Gabby Lopez, central midfielder Rueben Esparza, and forwards Billy Leach and Fredric Audelo. As Parker sees it, there is no room for weak teams in Nationals and the expectations for all teams are high. The Sharks rounded out of the Nationals in the second round in 2007 and hope to improve this year.
April 26: Lancaster
Eagles vs. Hotspurs USA Red 1992, 10 a.m.; South Bay Soccer Club vs. Rebels, 10 a.m.; DMCV Boys – 92 White vs. PSCS No Fear, 10 a.m.
April 27: Lancaster
PCSC B92 vs. SD Surf Boys 92-93 White, 8 a.m; Hotspurs USA Red – 1992 vs. Notts Forest BU 15 Red, 12 p.m.; Rebels vs. Nomads BU-15, 2 p.m.; FC San Diego B92 Gold vs. NHB Black, 2 p.m.
BU-16 Division
Albion BU-16 Premier: Coach Brian Bates expects his team to do well this weekend in the National Cup. Sergio Escobar and Francisco Contreras will lead the team offensively while Derek Armstrong powers through on defense. Instead of focusing on the opponents, Armstrong concerns himself with his own team's performance. If Albion plays the way it should, Armstrong believes his team a strong chance of making it to the finals. The team rounded out last year in the quarterfinals.
Csc San Diego 92 Red: Coach Michael Ndoumbe's team is confident and mentally prepared to at least make it to the semifinals, after winning the premier division of the Presidio League and the 2008 BU-16 Nomads Coaches Showcase. Csc advanced to the National Cup quarterfinals last year. The team has two players battling injuries, including captain Jose Hernandez, who is out with a broken collarbone. But with the experience his team has at Nationals, Ndoumbe expects his team to play just fine. Hernandez and the two other team captains, Erick Diaz and Josh Van De Vrught, will help lead the Crusaders.
FC San Diego B91 Gold: Coach Michael Lopez expects big things of FC San Diego after the team made a solid run last year to the quarterfinals where they lost to the eventual champion. With every team in Nationals presenting a challenge, Lopez’ primary focus is to make it through the bracket. If the defense stays strong, crafty center-mids Aodhan Quinn and Adrian Gutierrez will have ample opportunity to spring strikers Nicolas Grigoriev and Mauricio Diaz de leon into action. While Lopez doesn’t want to look too far ahead, he is confident the team has the ability to play at the level of any team in the bracket.
April 27: Lancaster
Necaxa USA - SCYSO vs. FC San Diego B91 Gold, 10 a.m.; Bksfld BrigadeBunners B91 vs. CSC San Diego 92 Red, 12 p.m.; ABSC Ambush vs. Rebels, 12 p.m.; Canyon PSA Boys U-16 vs. Carlsbad Lightning - B-16 Red, 2 p.m.; PCSC B91 vs. Albion BU-16 Premier, 2 p.m.
BU-17 Division
Atlas SD-Herrera: Atlas looks to fulfill its championship dreams in its National Cup debut this weekend. The team won the BU-16 division of the 2007 Cal South State Cup and has been waiting three years for a chance at the National Cup. Jorge Valenzo, Michael Parra and Jesus Alvarez lead the squad on the field, while Juan Carlos and Joey Cruz take turns manning the box. Coach Arturo Herrera expects his team’s second match this Saturday against Fc Barcelona-Blue to be a challenge as Barcelona is considered one of the best teams at National Cup. Arturo believes Atlas is concentrated on the goal and has everything it takes to be champions.
PQ Premier BU-17 Red: Coach Evan Camperell believes PQ’s bracket this weekend is a fairly balanced. PQ is down in number due to injuries, but if the remaining members of the squad can bring their A-game and remain healthy, Camperell believes the bracket is up for grabs. One key component will be starting keeper Byron Boyken. If the team can utilize its defense, make quick transitions to offense and finish the chances they create, Camperell believes they could have a shot at a fairytale ending.
April 26: Lancaster
SD Surf Boys 90-91 White vs UIFC-Scaso-Thunder Red, 8 a.m.; NC United B90-91 Blue vs. N.V.S.C. Fusion 90, 8 a.m.;
CRSC Brigade 90 vs. Atlas SD - Herrera, 8 a.m.; South Coast Bayern vs. Atlas SD - Brazil, 8 a.m.; SM United B90 vs. DMCV Sharks - 90 White, 10 a.m.; CFC Conquistamerica vs. Albion BU17W Premier, 10 a.m.; CSA - B90 vs. SD Surf Boys 90-91 White, 2 p.m.; OSC Rage vs. C.V. United Rangers Red, 2 p.m.; Atlas SD - Herrera vs. FC Barcelona - Blue, 2 p.m.; N.V.S.C. Fusion-Blue vs. PQ Premier B17 Red, 4 p.m.;Oxnard Wave vs. DMCV Sharks - 90 White, 4 p.m.; Atlas SD- Brazil vs. Albion BU-17W Premier, 4 p.m.
April 27: Lancaster
SD Surf Boys 90-91 White vs. Eagles, 8 a.m.; N.V.S.C. Fusion 90 vs. CV United Rangers Red, 8 a.m.; PQ Premier B17 Red vs. Palm Springs SC Real Madrid, 8 a.m.; DMCV Sharks Boys - 90 White vs. Real So Cal Blue, 8 a.m.; Albion BU-17W Premier vs. West Coast FC, 8 a.m.; NC United B90-91 Blue vs. OSC Rage, 12 p.m.; CV United Rangers Red vs. Corona United B91, 2 p.m.; Bksfld BrigadeGunners B90 vs. Atlas SD - Herrera, 2 p.m.; West Coast FC vs. Atlas SD - Brazil, 2 p.m. |
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Tags: 2007 Cal South State Cup, 2008 Nomads Coaches Showcase, 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Cal South National Cup, Adrian Gutierrez, Albion BU-16 Premier, Alfred Burnett, Andres Ruiz, Aodhan Quinn, Armstrong, Arsenal FC, Arturo Herrera, Atlas SD-Herrera, Billy Leach, Brian Bates, Carlos, Chuy Gutierrez, Corey Schmidt, Csc San Diego 92 Red, Darren Parker, David Banks, DMCV Sharks, Erick Diaz, Far West Regionals, Fc Barcelona-Blue, FC San Diego B91 Gold, Francisco Contreras, Fredric Audelo, Gabby Lopez, Hotspurs 92 Red, Jesus Alvarez, Joey Cruz, Jorge Valenzo, Jose Hernandez, Josh Van De Vrught, Mauricio Diaz de leon, Michael Lopez, Michael Ndoumbe, Michael Nicholson, Michael Parra, Michael Zanot, Nicolas Grigoriev, Nomads, Notts Forest BU-15 Red, Presidio League, Romel Pinal, Rueben Esparza, Ryan Geier, Sami Nedjar, SD Surf BU-15, Sergio Escobar, U.S. Under-15 BNT, Valley United Blast, West Coast F.C., Will Whiddon, Zack DeVille
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