After a Round of 16 that was played in gloomy weather in Davis last year, the last 16 sides of the State Division were treated to sunshine and excellent playing surfaces in at the Turlock Sports Complex this past weekend. Spectators packed the sidelines in Turlock to view an excellent round of games at the complex’s nine fields, and the action was sure to deliver. With quarterfinal berths on the line — to be played April 28 and 29 at Mary Grogan Park in Modesto — the entire NorCal Premier Soccer community enjoyed what was just the latest excellent showcase of the region’s deep wealth of talent.

Knockout Phase Schedules and Results

While many different clubs are still involved in the action, a few stood out on the weekend, with Santa Clara Sporting posting a NorCal-best six teams in the quarterfinals. Following Sporting’s lead, Marin FC sent five teams to the quarters, while four squads from California Odyssey are still alive as well.

Knockout Phase Brackets

On the boys side of the action, Sporting and Odyssey led the way with three teams apiece winning their Round of 16 matchups. Clubs with two sides left include Atletico Santa Rosa, Marin FC, Monarcas, Montclair, MVLA, Napa Soccer Academy and the SF Glens. Perhaps the biggest match of the weekend came when defending U19 champions Milan FC Forza fell 4-2 to defending U17 winners Marin FC, ending their hopes of a repeat title. There was also a rematch of last year’s U16 final that perhaps came a bit early as the San Jose Earthquakes got revenge for their championship match loss last year by defeating Lamorinda SC 3-1. The only sides left that can defend their titles are Lamorinda’s U16 team, which defeated Blues FC 4-0, and Napa Soccer Academy’s U15s, who came back from a deficit to defeat Tahuichi 4-2.

Over on the girls side, Marin and Sporting sent the most clubs through to the quarterfinals with three each, while Ajax United, Clovis Crossfire, FC Elk Grove, and the Folsom Lake Earthquakes all have a pair of squads still alive. Just two squads remain in the hopes of possible title defenses: FC Elk Grove (U16) and Blues FC (U19). Both of their matches went chalk over the weekend, with Elk Grove defeating Sacramento United 4-0 and Blues holding off a tough San Juan squad via a 2-0 scoreline.

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