NPL Match Day #3
With a variety of tournaments taking place this weekend, NPL teams will have a break from league action and a deserved one after all the fireworks that took place in Matchday #3 of the season. Here’s a look back at that round’s games of the week.
Saturday, September 16th
U19 GIRLS NPL 1 B
Palo Alto Blue 99 7, Livermore Fusion 1
Palo Alto Goals: Smith 3, Garcia, Morales, Wang, Own Goal
Livermore Goal: Cordisco
Despite coming into the game undefeated in the early season, Livermore Fusion were helpless to stop the firepower of a Palo Alto SC side only just playing their first game in the NPL fixture list. For the hosts, it was Hailey Smith who did most of the damage, scoring a hat trick to go along with strikes from Kayla Morales, Julia Wang, Alyssa Garcia, and an own goal.
U17 BOYS NPL 1 SOUTH
Ballistic United Premier 2, Palo Alto Blue 0
Ballistic Goals: Matin, Kiehle
If any team are to challenge the powerful Lamorinda (3-0-0, plus-16 goal differential) for the U17 Boys NPL 1 South title, it’s shaping up to be Ballistic United. United are also perfect on the season, but it took a gritty victory over Palo Alto to get to a matching 3-0-0 record. After both defenses prevented scoring chances in the first half, Josue Neria was taken down in the box, leading to a 55th minute spot kick from Kamran Matin that proved to be the winner. Three minutes before time, Ballistic added an insurance goal, with Zion Kiehle heading in Ryan Lyall’s cross to make it 2-0.
U16 BOYS NPL 1 NORTH
Atletico Santa Rosa 4, Sacramento United 2
Atletico Goals: Sandoval 2, Gonzalez, Reyes
Sac United Goals: Cruz 2
Atletico Santa Rosa continued their perfect start to the season away at Sacramento United, but it wasn’t without some drama. After a goal from Luis Cruz led Sacramento United into the break up 1-0, a brace from Alex Sandoval and goals from each of Elvis Gonzalez and Eliseo Reyes saw Atletico storm back to what would be an eventual 4-2 victory that sees them tied atop of the table with rivals Santa Rosa United.
Sunday, September 17th
U19 GIRLS NPL 1 C
Pleasanton Rage ECNL 0, West Coast Wild 0
It’s still early in the year, but it’s possible that both Pleasanton Rage and West Coast Soccer will look at last weekend’s scoreless draw as a missed opportunity to pick up points. Both squads are among the favorites to advance to the Champions League — and neither team has allowed a goal yet in the young NPL season — but scoring a goal never looked to be on the cards this past weekend and both teams were forced to settle for just a single point.