U11-U13 #NorCalStateCup Semifinals Recap

While extreme weather conditions postponed most finals, the U11-U13 NorCal State Cup State and Premier Divisions played a full slate of action Saturday to decide who would advance to the championship games on either February 24 or 25.

More information on where those games will be hosted and what times they’ll kick off will follow, but the matchups are set after an exciting day of soccer at Mary Grogan Park in Modesto and Fallon Sports Park in Dublin.

In a competition that started almost six months ago, just two teams remain in most State and Premier divisions, which will be whittled down to one champion later this month.

The U9-U13 State Cup began with more than 1,600 total teams back in September. Overall, 36 Cup champions and six State Cup titles will be awarded later this month in what is the largest State Cup competition in the United States.

For a complete list of schedules and results, click here.

Below are your recaps for the State Division, the top level of play in NorCal. The winners of each will earn the right to call themselves NorCal State champions.

U11 Boys State Semifinal
2/3	FC Fresno Academy		3-1		Placer United
In the first 17 minutes of the game, Placer United and FC Fresno Academy each scored to make it 1-1 early before the Central Californian side scored on either side of halftime to claim a 3-1 victory. Adam Maldonado was the hero on the day, bagging the second and third goals for his side and sending them into the final.
U11 Boys State Semifinal
2/3	Modesto Ajax United		2-1		Atletico Santa Rosa
Thanks to the solid play of Modesto Ajax United player Brixton Woodard, the de facto home side took a 2-0 lead against Atletico Santa Rosa. Woodard's second strike came in the 37th minute and looked to put the game away, only for Juan Ruiz of Atletico Santa Rosa to hit the back of the net late in the game. This set up a scramble for the remainder of the match, but Modesto held their lead and ultimately prevailed 2-1.
U11 Girls State Semifinal
2/3	San Juan SC		3-1		MVLA
Goals from Elise Leatherby and Mckinley Dupre in the 17th and 35th minute, respectively, put San Juan SC up 2-0 against MVLA in the U11 Girls State Division semifinal. Though MVLA were able to pull one back in the 52nd minute, the Sacramento area side scored in the 60th to put the game out of reach and earn a berth in the final.
U11 Girls State Semifinal
2/3	1974 Newark FC		1-3		Blues FC
Blues FC started their State Division semifinal with an absolute onslaught of goals, scoring three in the first 17 minutes through three different goalscorers. Emma Reinking, Camryn Boyer, and Kayla Huff all hit the back of the net to give Blues a commanding lead. While 1974 Newark FC were given a lifeline in the 47th minute thanks to a strike from Penelope Reyes, that goal would end the scoring in the match.

U12 Boys State Semifinal
2/3	Almaden FC		2-1		Santa Clara Sporting
After a winner couldn't be decided in regular time between Almaden FC and Santa Clara Sporting--the pair of sides headed into overtime tied 1-1--up stepped a hero for Almaden late. Just two minutes before penalties, Gavin Weinstein headed a corner kick into the back of the net to take his side into the final.
U12 Boys State Semifinal
2/3	Lodi FC		3-1		Bay Area Surf
In a match that remained scoreless in the first half, Lodi FC finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute thanks to a goal from Lucas Williams. Lodi doubled their lead 13 minutes later via a goal from Luis Salazar, before Bay Area Surf pulled one back two minutes later. However, Williams struck again in the 57th minute to put the game out of reach.
U12 Girls State Semifinal
2/3	MVLA		2-2 (5-4)		Santa Rosa United
Both MVLA and Santa Rosa United traded goals early and late as Jean Byun and Kenzie Washington both scored for MVLA, while Catherine Kelley and Reese Mahoney hit the back of the net for Santa Rosa United. Either way, a winner couldn't be decided in regular or overtime and the match headed to a dreaded penalty shootout where MVLA prevailed via a 5-4 scoreline.
U12 Girls State Semifinal
2/3	Davis Legacy		0-3		Placer United
In a matchup between regional rivals, Placer United scored a convincing 3-0 victory to send them to the U12 Girls State Division final. Cameron Demar scored a brace to power Placer, while Mia Mckahan also added a goal to help her side come within one game of a State Cup title.

U13 Boys State Semifinal
2/3	South Valley United		3-0		TSP FC
In the U13 Boys State Division semifinal, neither South Valley United nor TSP FC could break through for much of the match. It took until the 52nd minute that a goal was finally scored, with Juan Pablo Torres hitting the back of the net for the eventual winner. Max Torres and Omar Mata added insurance goals late to make it a 3-0 scoreline.
U13 Boys State Semifinal
2/3	Vacaville United		0-2		FC Bay Area Surf
A pair of first half goals for Bay Area Surf helped them advance to the final after a 2-0 win against a solid Vacaville United side. Anthony De La Rosa Carias hit the back of the net in just the eighth minute for the opener, while Nikolas Mello scored 25 minutes later to round out the scoring in this semifinal matchup.
U13 Girls State Semifinal
2/3	California Odyssey		1-1 (4-2)		Modesto Ajax United
Neither California Odyssey nor Modesto Ajax United had allowed a goal heading into their semifinal matchup, however something had to give and California scored in the first half to take a 1-0 advantage into the break. Modesto were able to tie it, but both defenses held stout, leading to a penalty shootout where Odyssey prevailed via a 4-2 scoreline.
U13 Girls State Semifinal
2/3	Mustang SC		2-3		Revolution FC
After proving that they could win close games in the first two knockout stages--Revolution FC claimed one goal victories in each-- the East Bay side again defeated their opponents by a solitary goal to reach the final of the U13 Girls State Division. This time, they knocked off a strong Mustang SC side 3-2 to earn a shot at lifting the trophy later this month. Mia Toeaina scored a brace for Revolution, tallying the first and final goals, while Amea Nunes also hit the back of the net to help secure the result.