Beginning roughly nine months ago, the 2023-24 U14-U19 NorCal Premier Soccer State Cup is finally reaching its end as the finals in all age groups and divisions kicked off Saturday and Sunday at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento.

Just two teams in each of the 48 different divisions remained after battling through a gauntlet of tough matches starting last fall, with everything to play for over the weekend.

“All of the teams participating in the NorCal State Cup have fought hard to make it to this point,” said NorCal State Cup Coordinator Brian Voltattorni. “We’re looking forward to a competitive and fun weekend in soccer in which 10 teams will earn the right to call themselves State champions, while 38 other teams will lift trophies in their respective divisions.”

To make it to this stage of the competition, teams played in three group stage games in the fall, before the knockout rounds began this March. From there, each has had to win at least three elimination games to make it to this weekend’s finals.

More than 1,200 teams began the year in the competition, while just 96 remain alive.

For a complete list of schedules and results, click here.

For a field map, click here.

State Division

While nearly 50 teams claimed titles, just 10 did so in the top division, meaning just 20 teams remained in the running to become State champions.

Showing the depth of talent all across Northern California, those 20 teams come from 18 different clubs–the only two clubs who were represented twice are IR Academy and Stanislaus United.

Also competing for State titles were Albion SC Central Valley, Burlingame SC, California Odyssey, De Anza Force, Elk Grove United, Modesto Ajax United, Monterey Condors Club, Mustang SC, MVLA, Pajaro Valley United, Santa Clara Sporting, SF United FC, Sierra Surf, Stanford Strikers, Turlock Academica Jrs, and West Coast Soccer.

When the dust settled, Stanislaus United claimed two titles, while the other eight went to eight different clubs. Those winners were Albion SC Central Valley, De Anza Force, Elk Grove United, IR Academy, Modesto Ajax United, Pajaro Valley United, Sierra Surf, and Turlock Academica Jrs.

Here are your State Division previews:

U14

U14 Boys State Final
6/1	Elk Grove United		3-1		SF United FC
After Elk Grove United and SF United FC traded goals early in the game, Damian Sierra stepped up to drill a 30 yard free kick into the back of the net for Elk Grove United's eventual winning goal in a 3-1 victory over SF United FC. Anthony Valdez opened the scoring for Elk Grove in just the 19th minute, only for Abdiel Ramirez Gomez to level it just two minutes later. While SF United pressed for an equalizer, Elk Grove United put the game out of reach in the 59th minute when Alexis Ramirez Herrera scored.
U14 Girls State Final
6/1	California Odyssey		3-4		Modesto Ajax United
Despite being down by a goal late in the match, defending champions Modesto Ajax United repeated, scoring twice late to defeat California Odyssey via a 4-3 scoreline. Marissa Garcia was the hero, scoring from 30 yards in the 80th minute after Jaelyn Jaurigue equalized just one minute before. Ayleen Apreza and Janiya Thompson each also scored for Ajax, while Kensyn Laird hit for a hat trick for California Odyssey.

U15

U15 Boys State Final
6/1	Turlock Academica Jrs		2-0		Santa Clara Sporting
After making the final but falling last year, Turlock Academica Jrs returned to the promised land and lifted the trophy this time, defeating Santa Clara Sporting via a 2-0 scoreline. Controlling the ball for most of the game, while creating the majority of the chances, Turlock scored once in each half to claim the title. Isaac Ventura opened the scoring in the 18th minute, side footing home to the far post after strong interplay in the buildup. Then, in the 57th minute, Angel Campos sealed the result, finishing from close range after a corner kick.
U15 Girls State Final
6/1	Stanislaus United		5-4		MVLA
Despite being down two goals at halftime, Stanislaus United came back to defeat MVLA 5-4 after two goals in the second half and a winner late in overtime. Angellinne Abellana made the difference in the 84th minute, scoring from 35 yards for what was her second goal of the game, to complete the comeback. It was MVLA who opened the scoring, with Stella Hall finishing off a counter attack in the 16th minute, only for Stanislaus to level it straight off of a corner from Elianna Gallegos. Zuri Brandt then put MVLA back on top before Abellana equalized in the 31st minute. Before halftime, however, MVLA’s Brooke Neschleba and and Scarlett Martinez both hit the back of the net to make it 4-2. MVLA held onto that lead until the 66th minute when Camila Campos Correra made it 4-3 with a calm finish before Lola Cervantes levels the game with six minutes left. This all set up Abellana’s dramatic late winner.

U16

U16 Boys State Final
6/2	Pajaro Valley United		2-1		Stanford Strikers
Despite going down early to Stanford Strikers, Pajaro Valley United came back to claim the U16 Boys State Division title via a 2-1 scoreline. It initially looked bad for Pajaro, who saw a penalty awarded against them in the 23rd minute, only for goalkeeper Adrian Fernandez-Ireta to make the save. Fernandez-Ireta, though, couldn’t keep Oakley Koegler’s deflected shot from hitting the back of the net in the 28th minute, giving Stanford a 1-0 lead at the break. But up stepped United winger Justin Alfaro, who leveled the game in the 47th minute before setting up Niko Gallegos’ extra time winner with a smart pass to the back post in the 87th minute.
U16 Girls State Final
6/1	Stanislaus United		3-1		Mustang SC
Stanislaus United’s quest to win back-to-back State Division titles was dealt an early blow as Mustang SC scored first, only for the Central Californian side to come back for a 3-1 win. Madeline Roder opened up the scoring for Mustang in just the 13th minute, slotting home a penalty in what was either side’s first good chance. From there, though, Stanislaus dominated, controlling the majority of the possession and taking most of the shots. In the 30th minute United’s Caelan Lane finally equalized, taking advantage of a free kick whipped into the Mustang box. Twenty-eight minutes later, Angellinne Abellana scored her second game winning goal of the afternoon, curling home a strike into the far post. With six minutes to go, Loriauna Thongdee iced the game with a toe poke finish for Stanislaus.

U17

U17 Boys State Final
6/2	IR Academy		1-2		Sierra Surf
In a physical match that featured 11 yellow cards and one red, Sierra Surf bested IR Academy via a 2-1 scoreline to claim the U17 Boys State Division title. After a cagey opening few minutes, Brandon Carreto opened the scoring for Surf with a strike from the top of the box in the 34th minute. With Sierra leading by one, a crazy bit of first half stoppage time ensued. First, Raul Medina got on the end of a cross to double Surf’s advantage with a far post finish, before Justin Pena brought a goal back for IR after smashing the ball into the back of the net during a scrum following a free kick. While the scoreline remained the same for the entire second half, it was a back-and-forth affair in which IR had several chances to equalize, but were ultimately unable to.
U17 Girls State Final
6/2	Burlingame SC		2-4		IR Academy
IR Academy’s quest for a fifth State Cup title started and finished strong after the club was able to navigate a difficult middle part of the game. Ultimately, IR won 4-2 to become one of the most decorated sides in NorCal Premier Soccer history. Jocelyn Maldonado opened the scoring for the Elk Grove side in just the fourth minute before Jaden Hiers doubled their advantage eight minutes later. A brace from Burlingame SC’s Abigael Zennadi on either side of halftime drew the match level, only for IR’s Malia Moore to strike for the eventual winner in the 60th minute. Five minutes later, Maldonado scored again to ice the game, putting her team in rare company as five-time State Cup winners.

U19

U19 Boys State Final
6/2	De Anza Force		4-0		Monterey Condors Club
In a dominating performance, De Anza Force claimed the U19 Boys State Division title thanks to a 4-0 win over Monterey Condors Club. From start to finish, Force created the majority of chances, starting in just the 11th minute when Sean Odle opened the scoring for the Bay Area side. Center forward Alen Begovic doubled the lead in the 38th minute with a towering header before Leo Trollsas iced the game in first half stoppage time by chipping the Monterey keeper. Just after the break, Odle scored again to make it 4-0.
U19 Girls State Final
6/2	West Coast Soccer		2-2 (4-5 on kicks from the mark)		Albion SC Central Valley
Until late, it appeared as if Albion SC Central Valley would walk away with the U19 Girls State Division title thanks to a commanding lead, however a late comeback from West Coast Soccer made this matchup more interesting. Ultimately, Albion claimed the title on kicks from the mark, but not before plenty of drama unfolded. A brace from Aniston Renovato gave the Central Valley side a 2-0 lead while goalkeeper Zaray Flores stood on her head to keep West Coast off of the scoreboard. Despite plenty of chances, it wasn’t until the 82nd minute until West Coast pulled a goal back, with Payton Hoover hitting the back of the net before Hayden Crotty-Romero drew the match level with a stoppage time penalty. In overtime, Albion were awarded a penalty that West Coast goalkeeper Jordan Oshana saved, forcing the game into a shootout that Central Valley won 5-4 after seven rounds of kickers.