NorCal State Cup Quarterfinals Recap: U16 Boys

U16 BOYS STATE QUARTERFINAL A
4/29	Lamorinda Navy		1-2 OT		Napa Soccer Academy
One of the favorites to win this year’s State Cup, and last year’s champion to boot, Lamorinda looked to be on their way to a semifinal berth when the always-dangerous Nickolas Geannacopulos put Lamorinda ahead in the 60th minute of the game. But Napa pulled one back in the 73rd minute to send the game to overtime. Just as it appeared that the game would be headed to a dreaded penalty shootout, Angelo Dominguez ghosted in at the back post for an 89th minute winner that eliminated Lamorinda.

U16 BOYS STATE QUARTERFINAL B
4/29	Cal Odyssey Red		2-0		Placer United Gold
They may have only gotten strikes at the beginning of both halves, but California Odyssey made the most of their chances when it mattered, with Gabriel Torres scoring in the first minute of the game and then again 11 minutes into the second half in a 2-0 victory over Placer.While Placer were down early, they peppered the California goal consistently thereafter, with their best chance coming just near the final whistle, when they were awarded a penalty, only for it to be saved by the Odyssey keeper.

U16 BOYS STATE QUARTERFINAL C
4/29	Montclair FC13 Black		1-2 OT		SF Glens Evolution
Montclair FC, one of the biggest surprises in this years tournament, looked set to shot the NorCal community when the non-NPL side took SF Glens to overtime. It initially appeared as if the upset was on when Donald Calderon scored for Montclair just three minutes into the game, but Michael Ghirarduzzi brought the game level two minutes before the break. The Glens pressed and pressed and were rewarded just before the end of the match with a penalty kick, only to see it saved. Three minutes into overtime, though, the upset bid for Montclair ended as Declan O’Flynn made a smart run to the back post and tapped the ball into the net to give the Glens a semifinal berth.

U16 BOYS STATE QUARTERFINAL D
4/29	Santa Rosa United		2-1		SC Sporting Green
What appeared to be somewhat of an uneventful game at first turned into straight fire in the second half when Santa Clara Sporting scored in the 46th minute through talisman Diego Baca Cabrera. But Diego Picano simply wouldn’t let Santa Rosa United lose, scoring in both the 56th and 68th minutes to put United through to the semifinals.

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