California Cup Final Recaps
For the first time in nearly two decades, true state champions for California have been anointed after the two State Cup finalists from NorCal Premier Soccer and SOCAL Soccer League met this weekend for the 2022 California Cup in the U9-U13 age groups.
Davis Legacy Soccer Complex played host to the best of the best in the most populous state in the country, as teams played in three group stage games before the top two teams moved onto one final game that would decide who the best team in California was.
In this first edition of the competition, the SOCAL sides got the better of their NorCal counterparts, claiming a total of nine of the 10 possible trophies. But NorCal will have their chance at revenge in just a few months as the older age groups meet in Southern California this June.
On a club-by-club basis, San Diego Surf, SoCal Blues, and Total Futbol Academy proved the standard bearers, each winning multiple titles, while Legends FC, Rangers FC, and Los Gatos United rounded out the champions.
Here are your finals recaps:
U9
Boys:
| Total Futbol Academy |  | 5-1 |  | San Diego Surf |
Five different goalscorers got in on the action for Total Futbol Academy Sunday, with the SOCAL State Cup champions nearly replicating the result that saw them defeat San Diego Surf 6-1 just a few weeks ago. Benjamin Nunez, Daniel Valdovinos, Alex Tarverdyan, Donovan Gomez, and Matthew A Ponce all scored to give TFA their second victory over San Diego Surf in Cup action this year.
Girls:
| San Diego Surf | | 3-2 |  | CDA Slammers |
After earlier meeting in the SOCAL State Cup final in a game that was decided by just a single goal, San Diego Surf and CDA Slammers again met with a title on the line in a game in a one goal game. Like the previous matchup, Surf prevailed, this time via a 3-2 scoreline, with Ava Rascon, Ellie Hormung, and Emiko Barajas all getting on the scoresheet to help the San Diego club lift the trophy.
U10
Boys:
| Total Futbol Academy | | 4-0 |  | Monterey County Soccer |
In the U10 boys division, a pair of early first half goals gave Total Futbol Academy the advantage over Monterey County Soccer, before the Southern Californian side pulled away midway through the period thanks to a goal from Andre Karibyan. Leading 3-0 to start the second half, TFA finished off the victory with a strike from Eluzbair Khalil to claim the title.
Girls:
| SoCal Blues |  | 3-1 | | CDA Slammers |
Alexandria Navarro of CDA Slammers gave the losing SOCAL State Cup finalists hopes of defeating champions SoCal Blues by scoring just eight minutes into the game, but ultimately, the Blues would prevail yet again. Fei Fabiola Garcia equalized 11 minutes later before strikes in the 32nd and 34th minutes from Yanilen Aranda put the game out of reach and the California Cup in the hands of the Blues.
U11
Boys:
| Total Futbol Academy | | 1-0 |  | FC Golden State |
In a rematch of a SOCAL State Cup final that produced eight goals, only a single goal was scored in the California Cup final between FC Golden State and Total Futbol Academy. The result, however, changed — TFA were able to knock off FC Golden State thanks to a 60th minute strike.
Girls:
| SoCal Blues | | 5-1 |  | Mustang SC |
While the U11 girls division had four great teams vying to win the title, no one could stop the SoCal Blues this weekend in Davis. The title game, a 5-1 victory over Mustang SC, proved to never really be in doubt after the Southern California side had earlier beaten Danville club 6-0 in the group stage. The performance capped off an excellent weekend for the Blues in which they scored 19 goals in four games.
U12
Boys:
| Legends FC |  | 2-1 |  | Modesto Ajax United |
With multiple teams participating in the California Cup, the U12 boys division represented perhaps the best chance for Modesto Ajax United to claim a title after Xavier Rodriguez put them ahead just 16 minutes into the game. And Ajax held on for a while, but Legends FC came roaring back thanks to a brace from Raymond Alcarez, who scored in the 35th and 62nd minutes to help bring the trophy back to Southern California.
Girls:
| San Diego Surf | | 4-3 | | SoCal Blues |
While San Diego Surf and SoCal Blues met earlier in the SOCAL State Cup final in what was a tight affair, neither team could stop scoring goals in the California Cup final. The Blues looked to be on their way to overturn the SOCAL final result, racing out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a brace from Alaia Harrington and a goal from Lauren Lim, but Surf scored four unanswered to claim the title.
U13
Boys:
| Rangers FC |  | 4-1 | Albion SC Merced |  |
Rangers FC scored goals early and often in this clash between the SOCAL State Cup champions and NorCal State Cup champions, defeating Albion SC Merced via a 4-1 scoreline. Alexander Romero was the hero on the day for Rangers, scoring just seven minutes into the game and then putting the game out of reach in the 46th minute to make it 3-1. Aiden Lee and Alessandro Marin also scored for Rangers.
Girls:
| Los Gatos United |  | 3-0 |  | Slammers FC |
Claiming the sole title for NorCal Premier Soccer was Los Gatos United, who were able to exact revenge after narrowly falling in the State Cup final just a few weeks prior. Dominant on the day, Teagan Kaefer scored the opener nine minutes into the game before a brace via goals on either side of halftime from Avery Edson helped Los Gatos to the championship.
