Just four teams in each division remained heading into this past weekend of the U14-U19 NorCal State Cup as the semifinals took place Saturday at Davis Legacy Soccer Complex and Turlock Regional Sports Complex.
After an exciting day of soccer, the winners of each game advanced to the finals, which will be held June 1 and 2 at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento.
Overall, there are 48 different divisions in State Cup, meaning 96 games were played between 192 different teams Saturday.
The competition began all the way back in the fall when each side played in a four-team group stage to determine placement in the knockout rounds, which began two months ago.
Some teams entered in the round of 32, while others earned byes into the round of 16–any team still alive in State Cup has now won at least three knockout round games to make it to this point.
For more information about the U14-U19 State Cup, including schedules and past results, click here.
Here are your State Division recaps:
U14
U14 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Santa Clara Sporting | | 0-1 | | Elk Grove United |
Despite facing a dynamic attacking team in Santa Clara Sporting, Elk Grove United kept their solid defensive record in tact, shutting out Sporting and advancing to the final via a 1-0 scoreline. Elk Grove have now not allowed a goal in three straight State Cup games and have conceded just once overall in the knockout stages. |
U14 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Folsom Lake Surf | | 0-1 | | SF United FC |
For the fourth consecutive game, SF United FC advanced with a one goal victory, this time coming against Folsom Lake Surf in the semifinals. In a defensive slugfest that appeared set to go to penalties, William Snavely scored one minute from time to send United into next month's final. |
U14 Girls State Semifinal |
5/11 | California Odyssey | | 7-1 | | Pajaro Valley United |
Coming into the semifinals, California Odyssey had been in excellent form, scoring 12 goals in three knockout round games. Against Pajaro Valley United, they somehow improved their goalscoring record, hitting the back of the net seven different times in a 7-1 victory that earned them a spot in the final. |
U14 Girls State Semifinal |
5/16 | Mosdesto Ajax United Academy | | TBA | | Modesto Ajax United Green |
It's Modesto Ajax United vs. Modesto Ajax United in a true derby as the Academy team plays the Green team for a spot in the final. Each advanced to the semifinals via a one goal victory, with Academy knocking off the impressive WSC Crush, while Green defeated a strong Revolution FC side to ensure that at least one Modesto team will make the final. |
U15
U15 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Santa Clara Sporting | | 2-1 | | El Dorado Hills SC |
In another close contest, Santa Clara Sporting scored goals on either side of halftime to hold a commanding 2-0 lead until the 60th minute, when Timothy McGeorge hit the back of the net for El Dorado Hills SC. For the last 20 minutes of the match, EDHSC pressed forward for the equalizer, but despite sending waves into the attack, they couldn't find it. |
U15 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Fresno Heat | | 0-2 | | Turlock Academica Jrs |
After a scoreless first half, Guillermo Alvarado headed home a set piece in the 54th minute to give Turlock Academica Jrs a 1-0 lead over Fresno Heat. That goal turned out to be the winner, as Fresno couldn't muster anything going forward and Matthew Mendoza Perez put the game away in stoppage time for Turlock. |
U15 Girls State Semifinal |
5/11 | San Juan SC | | 0-3 | | MVLA |
Despite coming into the match having prevented their opponents from scoring in the knockout stages, San Juan SC let in three goals to MVLA to miss out on a spot in the final. Stella Hall, Brooke Neschleba, and Zuri Brandt did the damage for MVLA, each hitting the back of the net once. MVLA still haven't conceded in the elimination rounds. |
U15 Girls State Semifinal |
5/11 | Stanislaus United | | 3-0 | | ECFC Salinas |
Stanislaus United are back in the final, thanks to a 3-0 win over ECFC Salinas that was powered by a special performance from Isela Gil. Gil scored twice in the first 25 minutes and then completed her hat trick late in the second half to down Salinas. |
U16
U16 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Clovis Crossfire | | 0-1 | | Pajaro Valley United |
It was yet another extremely tight game in the U16 Boys State Cup semifinal as neither Clovis Crossfire, nor Pajaro Valley could get anything going in front of goal early. In the end, a 73rd minute strike from Pajaro's Niko Gallegos was the decider, sending United into next month's final. |
U16 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Stanford Strikers | | 2-2 (Stanford advance on penalties) | | Reno APEX |
In a back-and-forth semifinal, Stanford Strikers twice went up on Reno APEX, only to see the Nevada side equalize. After drawing 2-2 in regular time and overtime, the game headed to the dreaded kicks from the mark, where Stanford narrowly edged out Reno. |
U16 Girls State Semifinal |
5/11 | Mustang SC | | 3-0 | | South Valley United |
Both Mustang SC and South Valley United had excellent defensive records heading into the semifinals as they'd combined to allow just one goal in four games. However, a brace from Mustang's Madeline Roder and then a late goal from Gabriella Jimerson gave the Danville side a 3-0 victory and a spot in the final. |
U16 Girls State Semifinal |
5/11 | Stanislaus United | | 2-2 (Stanislaus advance on penalties) | | California Odyssey |
Defending champions Stanislaus United led for most of the game thanks to an early brace from Savannah Garza, however, late goals from Haley Moua and Gabriella Santillan of California Odyssey took the game to overtime. Despite United hitting the crossbar, neither side could find a winner and therefore both teams headed to kicks from the mark where Stanislaus prevailed. |
U17
U17 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Sierra Surf | | 2-1 | | TSP FC |
Just six minutes into the game TSP FC's David Lizarraga put his side ahead, only for Sierra Surf to come roaring back into a match that they ultimately won 2-1. Antonio Ojeda-Ahonima equalized four minutes after the TSP strike before Harper Thweatt hit the back of the net for the winner in the 20th minute. |
U17 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | Almaden FC | | 1-1 (IR Academy advance on penalties) | | IR Academy |
A 39th minute goal from Almaden FC's Charles Freeman proved to be the first goal IR Academy had allowed in the knockout stages of the competition, however, the Elk Grove side equalized just a few minutes later through Malcolm Abdul-Khaliq. Thanks to some strong saves from their keeper, IR kept the game 1-1 through regular time and overtime, before advancing to kicks from the mark where they prevailed via a 6-5 margin. |
U17 Girls State Semifinal |
5/10 | IR Academy | | 2-0 | | West Coast Soccer |
In a match played Friday night under the lights, IR Academy defeated West Coast Soccer via a 2-0 scoreline, setting up a matchup against Burlingame in the final. The four time State Cup champions have conceded just once in the knockout stages and will look for a fifth title at the finals next month. |
U17 Girls State Semifinal |
5/11 | Marin FC | | 0-3 | | Burlingame SC |
Burlingame SC have already advanced to next month's final. |
U19
U19 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | De Anza Force | | 1-1 (De Anza advance on penalties) | | Clovis Crossfire |
After Ibrahim Ahmed scored just eight minutes in for De Anza Force, Clovis Crossfire found an equalizer 40 minutes later through Noah Farfan. That, however, was all both sides could muster in regular time and overtime, leading to a penalty shootout that Force won 4-3. |
U19 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | South Valley Chivas | | 1-4 | | Monterey Condors Club |
For the first time in the knockout stages, Monterey Condors Club advanced in a game that wasn't extremely tight, beating South Valley Chivas via a 4-1 scoreline. The Condors have now scored 10 goals in the elimination rounds, while allowing just three. |
U19 Girls State Semifinal |
5/11 | De Anza Force | | 0-1 | | Albion SC Central Valley |
In a tight matchup between two teams that hadn't allowed a goal in the knockout stages of the tournament, Albion SC Central Valley narrowly edged De Anza Force 1-0 to reach the final. Albion have now scored six goals without conceding in the competition. |
U19 Boys State Semifinal |
5/11 | West Coast Soccer | | 3-0 | | Blackhawks SC |
West Coast Soccer have already advanced to next month's final. |