Games of the Week #8: U9 State Cup
For many, the U9 State Cup is a first chance to experience knockout round soccer as the youngest age group NorCal Premier Soccer offers competitive play for returns to action this weekend at three different sites around the state. After playing three group stage games spread out in the earlier months of the season, each team will now meet for a reseeded second group stage in which all play a further three matches.
From there, everyone qualifies for a quaterfinal matchup that is, again, reseeded, in order to provide the most even games possible.
Here are your games of the week:
| U9 Boys State/Premier Cup | |||||
| 10/17 | South Valley United |  |  | ECFC Salinas | |
| This matchup between two first round group winners could decide who gets seeded into the State Division and who drops down to a lower level. No one has been able to find an answer for South Valley United so far in State Cup play--the Central California side have scored 17 goals while failing to allow a single tally en route to nine points in the first group stage. Meanwhile, ECFC Salinas produced a solid seven points from three games in their opening round of play and won their group thanks to a final day 3-3 draw against Bay Area Surf. | |||||
| U9 Girls State/Premier Cup | |||||
| 10/18 | Mustang SC |  |  | Piedmont SC | |
| Mustang SC are always strong in State Cup play and this year's Pre-ECNL side is no different. They come into the second group stage having compiled a perfect 3-0-0 record in their first three matches, matches in which they conceded just a single goal while hitting the back of the net 24 times. On Sunday, with first place in the group potentially on the line, they'll meet Bay Area rivals Piedmont SC, who won Group A with the full nine points. Piedmont have been just as good defensively, allowing just two goals in their three matches. | |||||
