With a tournament weekend on the horizon, forcing a stoppage of most NPL action, this past weekend was one of the last chances in league play for teams to earn points ahead of the November 17-18 Fall NPL College Showcase. And some teams accomplished just that, putting themselves in contention to qualify for the Champions League on the boys side or, for the girls, just simply be in good standing as the season nears its halfway point. Here are your game of the week recaps:

NPL SCHEDULES AND RESULTS

NPL MATCHDAY

Placer United 1 – Manteca FC 1

Placer Goal: Martinez
Manteca Goal: Soto

In a matchup between the top two sides in the U15 Boys NPL 1 East, a winner couldn’t be decided between Placer United (4-0-2) and Manteca FC (4-0-1) as the pair battled to a 1-1 draw in Davis. Though the scoreline finished relatively low, it wasn’t for a lack of attacking as both teams forced the goalkeepers in the match into a plethora of saves. Isaiah Martinez began the scoring in the game, hitting in the rebound of his own header in the 60th minute before Alexander Soto drew the teams level nine minutes later and ensure that both teams would remain top of the league and in good standing to qualify for the Champions League.

KEY MATCHES

U16 Boys NPL North

Merced United 0 – Turlock Academica 3

Turlock Goals: Cano (2), McDonald

In a game between two undefeated sides, it was all Turlock Academica all the time in a match against previously. 4-0-0 Merced United. Kaleb McDonald opened the scoring just seven minutes in before a second half brace from Fernando Cano and a pair of Merced red cards ensured that Academica would pull to within one point of Merced and two of the top spot in the league.

U14 Girls Champions League

California Odyssey 2 – California Cougars 0

Cal Odyssey Goals: Medrano, Tafoya

Click for video by COSC

Goals on either side of halftime — one from Ava Medrano and one from Sisi Tafoya — ensured that California Odyssey would get the better of the California Cougars in the “California Derby” this past weekend. With the win, the Odyssey improved their standing in the Champions League table, moving to within two points of the top of the table, though the Odyssey sport a game in hand. Meanwhile, the Cougars dropped to seventh and will need to pick up some positive results to get back in the title race.

U16 Girls Champions League

MVLA Barcelona 5 – Central California Soccer Alliance 1

MVLA Goals: O’Brien (2), Pianim (2), Montoya
CCSA Goal: Not recorded

Coming into the weekend in second place due to a disparity in games played, undefeated MVLA faced a steep test in one-loss Central California Soccer Alliance. But by the time the center referee blew his whistle three times, there was only one team on the field as MVLA put five past CCSA thanks to braces from Leah O’Brien and Amalie Pianim and a solitary. strike from Allie Montoya. The win ensured that MVLA would leapfrog Pajaro Valley and move into first place with a 5-0-0 record.