With just under two weeks remaining in the fall season for most teams, the November 17-18 NPL Fall College Showcase is almost here, and with that, teams need points now more than ever. And with an exciting slate of games this past weekend, several teams did find points, putting themselves in position to be among the contenders, and therefore most-watched-games, at the showcase. Here are your game of the week recaps.

NPL SCHEDULES AND RESULTS

NPL MATCHDAY — U17 Boys NPL 1 North

Sacramento United 1 – Napa Soccer Academy 1

Sac United Goal: Allen
Napa Goal: Paniagua 

With both squads needing points to qualify for the Champions League, our NPL match of the week was fit to be tied, as Sacramento United and Napa Soccer Academy played to a 1-1 draw in Sacramento this past Sunday. The scoring began and ended early, with Frederick Allen side-footing in a cross from close range in the 13th minute before Christian Ceja Paniagua equalized on a breakaway just three minutes later. The result ensured that Napa ended the weekend with a three-point lead at the top of the table, while Sacramento United retained third place.

KEY MATCHES

U19 Boys NPL 1 East

Placer United 0 – San Juan SC 2

Goals: Boyce, Hopp

Facing an undefeated side in Placer United this past Friday, San Juan SC had its work cut out for them, especially given that they were the away team on the night. But two late goals propelled San Juan to a 2-0 victory that put them three points ahead of Placer, though United still have two games in hand. Julian Boyce scored the eventual game winner from 25 yards out in the 77th minute before John Foster Hopp added the clincher in stoppage time to send San Juan to the top of the table.

U16 Girls NPL 1

Almaden FC 1 – Mustang Elite 4

Mustang Goals: Wong, Ruiz, Wolf, Barber
Almaden Goal: Craig

In a matchup between the top side in the U16 Girls NPL 1 in Mustang Elite and an upstart contender in Almaden FC, there was only really one side on the field all match as Mustang moved into a four-point lead in the division thanks to a 4-1 victory. Still, it took Mustang more than half an hour to score, with Coco Wong coming up with the opener in the 31st minute, before Jacqueline Ruiz made it 2-0 in the 35th minute. Emmy Wolf and Isabella Barber added second-half goals to put the game out of reach before Madison Craig pulled one back for Almaden to ruin the Mustang shutout.

U19 Girls NPL 1 West

Ceres Earthquake 2 – San Bruno 1

Earthquake Goal: Garcia, Lopez
San Bruno Goal: Sanchez

In what appeared to originally be a goalfest between top-ranked sides Ceres Earthquake and San Bruno, three goals were scored in the first half in a wild encounter…at least for that period. In just the 11th minute of the game, Jazzmyn Garcia opened the scoring for the Earthquake, only for Iliana Sanchez to equalize 26 minutes later. When Jocelyn Lopez scored just before the break, most would have figured that the goals would continue hitting the back of the net, but that proved to cap the game, moving the Earthquake into a one-point lead in the division, and dropping San Bruno to third overall.