After a brief respite provided by most clubs taking a winter break, the action is back in many NorCal competitions this weekend. This Saturday and Sunday mark the return of State Cup, with the U11 and U12 State and Premier divisions headed to Finals Weekend. There are just four teams left in each division and NorCal Matchday has all the action in the State Division previewed for you.
Here are your games of the week:
| U11 Girls State Cup |
| 2/28 | Mustang SC |  | 10:30 a.m. @ Bartholomew Park #6 |  | San Juan SC |
| Both Mustang SC and San Juan SC have gotten off to solid starts in the knockout stages of the NorCal State Cup, each posting a pair of two-goal victories in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. Up to this point, Mustang have allowed one fewer goal, while San Juan have scored one more goal. Expect a close match in this Saturday morning semifinal. |
| U11 Girls State Cup |
| 2/28 | City SC Kings County |  | 10:30 a.m. @ Bartholomew Park #5 |  | CV Futbol Academy |
| As a non-seeded team, City SC Kings County entered the knockout stages in the round of 32 with an away game against Modesto Ajax United. They prevailed in that match via a 4-1 scoreline before hitting the back of the net four times in the round of 16 and quarterfinals to reach this stage of the competition. Meanwhile, CV Futbol Academy have also scored four goals in each of their elimination games, defeating Pleasanton RAGE and Santa Clara Sporting. |
| U12 Girls State Cup |
| 2/28 | MVLA |  | 12:00 p.m. @ Bartholomew Park #5 |  | Santa Rosa United |
| So far no one has been able to stop MVLA in the knockout stages--the Bay Area club have scored 24 times through three matches while only allowing a single goal. Meanwhile, Santa Rosa United have yet to be scored on in the elimination rounds, while knocking off three straight opponents and scoring 11 goals. |
| U12 Girls State Cup |
| 2/28 | Walnut Creek Surf |  | 12:00 p.m. @ Bartholomew Park #6 |  | Placer United |
| After handily defeating Folsom Lake Surf in an all-Surf derby, Walnut Creek Surf have managed to reach the semifinals of the State Cup through two close wins against Elk Grove Soccer and 1974 Newark FC. While Surf's 12 goals scored have been impressive, Placer United haven't been shy about hitting the back of the net either, scoring 24 times in three knockout stage games to advance to Finals Weekend. |
| U11 Boys State Cup |
| 2/28 | Marin FC |  | 12:00 p.m. @ Bartholomew Park #1 | | CV Futbol Academy |
| Despite the level of the competition increasing, Marin FC have gotten better every round in the knockout stages, giving them some real momentum heading into the semifinals. Marin started with a 1-0 victory in the round of 32 before posting a 3-0 win in the round of 16 and then a 5-0 victory in the quarterfinals to reach this stage. Meanwhile, CV Futbol Academy started out with a 7-0 victory before posting a pair of 3-1 wins in the next two rounds ahead of Finals Weekend. |
| U11 Boys State Cup |
| 2/28 | Bay Area Surf |  | 12:00 p.m. @ Bartholomew Park #2 |  | Burlingame SC |
| En route to the final, Bay Area Surf has played in a few wild matches, including an 8-1 win and, in the quarterfinals, an 11-4 goalfest. Overall, Surf have hit the back of the net 23 times in three matches. Their opponents in Burlingame SC have "only" scored 13 goals in three matches, but they've allowed just two strikes against them and kept a shutout in the quarterfinals. |
| U12 Boys State Cup |
| 2/28 | ECFC Salinas |  | 3:00 p.m. @ Bartholomew Park #6 | | Bay Area Surf |
| After a round of 16 matchup against Mustang SC that went down to the wire, ECFC Salinas emphatically booked their place in the semifinals with a 7-1 quarterfinal victory. Overall, through three knockout stage games, ECFC have scored 14 goals and allowed just three. Meanwhile, Bay Area Surf have won each of their elimination rounds by at least three goals, with a 9-1 win in the round of 32 the standout match so far. |
| U12 Boys State Cup |
| 2/28 | CV Futbol Academy | | 3:00 p.m. @ Bartholomew Park #5 |  | Modesto Ajax United |
| CV Futbol Academy have been in an impressive run of form so far in the knockout stages, scoring 15 goals, while allowing just two en route to Finals Weekend. Their standout performance came in the quarterfinals as they posted an 8-2 victory over Placer United. Meanwhile, Modesto Ajax United have proven that they can grind out results, starting with a victory on penalties in the round of 32 before a pair of one-goal wins put them in the semifinals. |
