The Cal South State Cup hosted some of the finest soccer talent this side of the Mississippi. XK Soccer News honors the hard work, dedication and perseverance it takes to make a deep run in State Cup with its 2009 Cal South All-State Cup team. Here are the boys honorees:

Marco Perez- ConquistAmerica BU17

Easily one of the most talented players on ConquistAmerica, Perez anchored the midfield to help his team capture its first Cal South title since the program's inception.  The co-captain, who scored two to three goals in the tourney, was a crucial part of his team's success.

Alex Uribe- Santa Barbara SC BU15

Uribe put the biscuit in the basket in all but one of eight games as Santa Barbara marched to the State Cup Championship. He scored a hat trick in the semifinals and finished with a total of nine goals. Coach Neil Jones described Uribe as a "sublime goal-scoring talent with the soccer brain to match."
 

Evan Myers- Poway Vaqueors BU16

Myers was named team MVP for the tournament, as he scored one goal in the Vaqueros' 1-1 tie that got Coach Gene Morris’ team through to the Round of 32. The Vaqueros ended their run in the quarterfinals.
 

Lucas Ladek- Real So Cal Blue BU16

Ladek (D) played just about every minute of every game. Despite being of smaller stature, he is an aerial powerhouse that is rarely beaten over the top. He sent the semifinal game into overtime with a last-chance header in the 92nd minute.

Adrian Esparza- ConquistAmerica BU17

Esparza scored the game-winning goal to help ConquistAmerica defeat Csc San Diego, 2-1, to clinch the championship of the BU17 bracket.  Esparza contributed the most goals to the team's 14-score total. 

Juan Barraca- So Cal Rush BU15 Nike

Barraca exploded with six goals during the State Cup. He and his teammates were semifinalists thanks to the stellar offensive power of Barraca (F), Rafa and Andres Velasco, as well as the defensive power of goalkeeper Robert Devone and right defender Thern Meyer. The whole team contributed tremendously to the success. Rush is a national powerhouse. These boys have done a great job of making Rush a big name out of the high desert.

Carlos Sanchez- Legends FC BU16 Black

Sanchez (F) played a major role in taking the Legends to the State Cup finals. He helped propel an offensive attack that scored 24 goals in the tournament. Sanchez also compiled 10 assists.
 

Kainoa Owens- Csc San Diego BU17 White

Owens bagged at least half of the Crusaders' 14 goals, leading his team to the finals where they fell to ConquistAmerica, 2-1. 

Matt Connely- Santa Barbara SC BU15

Connely anchored the back line for State Cup Champion Santa Barbara SC, as the boys ceded only four goals in nine game. Of the four goals given up, two were PKs and one was a free kick. Coach Jones said Connely led the team by example and is a hard working, honest and gritty defender.

Josh Ferona- SM United BU19

Ferona helped lead his team to the semis where it lost to UIFC Tapiato, 3-2.  Coach Michael Erush strongly believes Ferona has what it takes to perform at the next level. 

Edgardo "Eggy" Calleja- FC Heat BU16

Coach Robert Van De Hey says Calleja is one of the best goalies, period. During the Heat's six games in the State Cup, he stopped six one-on-ones and one PK. The Heat owes a lot of its success to his talent.
 

Oscar Moreno-Martinez and Jerry Rodriguez- FC Heat BU16

Moreno-Martinez and Rodriguez scored six and four goals, respectively, totaling 10 of Heat's 13 goals.  Coach Van De Hey says Moreno-Martinez has the unbelievable ability to make impossible shots. Rodriguez's four goals are remarkable for two reasons: 1) he plays right defense; and 2) he has the gift to put himself in the right place at the right time.

Emanuel "Manny" Rodriguez- FC Heat BU16

Rodriguez played sweeper and dominated defensively.  Van De Hey says nobody plays a perfect game, but with Manny, you are never surprised when he comes close.

Christopher White- SM United BU19

Coach Erush has seen White improve by leaps and bounds in his last two years on the team.  White was an integral part of leading United to the tournament semis.

Avery Schwartz- Santa Barbara SC BU15

Schwartz was a solid contributor to both the offensive and defensive production of Santa Barbara SC. Schwartz scored one goal and contributed three assists during the tournament.

Tommy Boehmer- Poway Vaqueors BU16 Green

Boehmer fueled the Vaqueros' attack with a pair of goals, including the tying goal in Poway’s 3-2 upset win over Chelsea FC in the Round of 16.

Eduardo Rodriguez- Legends FC BU16 Black

Eduardo, a center defender, was part of a defensive unit that only allowed eight goals and picked up just three yellow cards throughout the tournament.

Eder "Yonpaul" Ramirez- Real So Cal Blue BU16

Ramirez is an extremely talented forward that joined the team from Columbia two years ago.  He has been an impact player ever since.  He scored 80 percent of the team’s goals in its 2009 State Cup run.  Ramirez (F) has unbelievable footwork and strength.

Javier Alba- ConquistAmerica BU17

Alba is one-half of ConquistAmerica's award-winning midfield tandem.  The co-captain knocked in a couple goals to secure his team's championship title.

Zach Petow, Jeremy Bastain, Oscar Ruelas- Fram CQ BU18

These three players were a crucial component for Fram CQ, which reached the finals of the BU18 division were they lost 2-0 to the Monarcas USA.

Nick White and Josh Hamilton- Csc San Diego

White and Hamilton were a force to be reckoned with for the Crusaders, who made an appearance in the finals where they lost 2-1 to ConquistAmerica.