NorCal Teams Shine on National Stage with Four Championship Titles

Earlier this summer, several NorCal Premier Soccer teams who collected league and cup titles participated in national tournaments, pitting them against those who won similar championships in other state associations from all across the country.

Those who won ECNL RL titles and then advanced from regionals participated in the ECNL RL National Championship in Richmond, while NorCal’s NPL and State Cup winners played in the NPL Finals and National Cup in Denver.

Overall, four different teams took home titles, with Folsom Lake Surf’s 2011 boys winning their second straight ECNL RL national title.

Central Valley Premier’s 2009 boys made the semifinals in the same event, while San Francisco United’s 2011 boys qualified for the competition.

In the NPL Finals, Madera United’s U14 girls and Stockton TLJ’s U13 boys were both victorious in the Champions Gold Division, while De Anza Force’s U19 boys were finalists in the same competition.

Lastly, Reno Apex’s U15 boys lifted the National Cup Premier Group title.

“Each of these teams stood out during NorCal’s league and cup seasons and only continued on their successes despite facing tough teams from some of the strongest regions in the United States,” said NorCal Director of Competitions Daniel Chamberlain. “We’re proud of the representation that these teams have provided NorCal on the national stage.”

“It’s a huge accomplishment to even qualify for these events,” Chamberlain added. “The success of these teams only reinforces how high the level of play is in our NorCal competitions.”

For Folsom Lake Surf, the victory comes on the heels of a meteoric rise that began with the team playing in NorCal’s lower leagues before eventually earning promotion after promotion on the way to a national championship.

Now Surf’s 2011 boys can call themselves back-to-back national champions.

“For me, the most rewarding part is seeing what this group has built together,” said Surf 2011 boys coach Fritz Libby. “When you can retain 100 percent of a championship team, add a couple of quality players, and maintain the hunger and standards that got you there in the first place, you have the opportunity to create something really special.”

“The goal was never to defend a championship,” Libby said. “It was to challenge the players to get better, stay committed to one another, and prove that last year’s success wasn’t a one-off.”