As summer finally nears a close, much of the NPL action got underway this past weekend as teams from all across the state kicked off matches at a multitude of locations. With the prize of possibly qualifying for the Champions League at stake, it was an excellent slate of games for the youth participating in our beautiful game.

NPL SCHEDULES AND RESULTS

NPL MATCHDAY

U16 Girls Champions League

PSV Union  1 – MVLA Barcelona 04 5

PSV Goal: Saab-Sunden
MVLA Goals: Montoya 2, O’Brien, Cunningham, Thongkham

As defending NPL champions, MVLA came into this matchup with a target on their back and faced stiff competition from a strong PSV Union side, which served as the hosts for the match. And though Leah O’Brien put the visitors up in just the 12th minute, PSV tied the game in the 31st through Elina Saab-Sunden, bringing the game to a draw at halftime. But second half goals from Madeleine Cunningham and Ariel Thongkham and a brace from Allie Montoya ensured that the defending champs would start their season off with a victory.

KEY MATCHES

U17 Boys NPL 1 North

Santa Rosa United Gold 2 – Placer United NPL 3

SRU Goals: Rodriguez, Anderson
Placer Goals: Benitez 2, Jackson

Quite simply, this game between defending NPL Champions League champions Placer United and Santa Rosa United was a wild affair. The hosts got things started off early with a goal from Nathan Rodriguez in just the 11th minute, only for Jevon Jackson to level the score four minutes later. James Benitez then put Placer ahead in the 34th minute before Cassius Anderson equalized from the spot in the 77th minute for Santa Rosa. With time running out, Placer garnered all three points thanks to a second from Benitez.

Video provided by Vision Academy 

U17 Girls Champions League

Vision Academy 2 – Livermore Fusion Maroon 1

Vision Goals: Lewis, Vane
Fusion Goal: Eastus

Looking for revenge after a State Cup Final loss in the spring, the Livermore Fusion started off strong against Vision Academy, scoring in just the seventh minute through Athena Lewis. That goal stood until just before halftime in which the visiting Vision equalized through Maddy Eastus. The game remained deadlocked until late, in which Emma Vane found a winner in the 72nd minute, ensuring that revenge wasn’t on the cards for Livermore and that Vision would walk away with all three points.

U16 Boys NPL 1 North

Ceres Earthquake 1 – Merced United Green 3

Ceres Goal: Medina Ordonez
Merced Goals: Lomeli 3

After facing off in a wild State Cup Final that featured 10 goals, Ceres Earthquake hosted Merced United this past weekend. in another crazy game. Julian Lomeli scored for the visitors in just the ninth minute of the match, only for Ceres to equalize in the 45th minute. But Lomeli would seemingly push his side to victory, scoring twice in the second half to complete his hat trick and ensure that Merced would defeat Ceres for the second time in two tries.