U11-U13 State Cup Concludes This Weekend in Modesto

From a process that began all the way back in the fall, the culmination of the top divisions in the U11-U13 State Cup comes this weekend at Mary Grogan Park in Modesto.

Overall, 260 different clubs entered over 1,500 teams in the competition to play more than 4,500 games over the course of multiple months. In all, champions in 35 different divisions will be awarded including six official State Cup champions.

While most State Divisions have gone as far as completing the quarterfinals stage, the U11 girls have already seen MVLA and Mustang SC advance to the final.

Each State Division finalist will advance to the California Cup, scheduled for April 2 and 3 in Davis. Meanwhile, each winner will be recognized at halftime of a San Jose Earthquakes game this year — the girls on March 5 and the boys on April 16.

The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday followed by finals on Sunday as dozens of teams across Northern California attempt to lift the trophies in their respective divisions.

Schedules for this weekend can be found here.

U11 Boys State Semifinal
2/5	Sheriffs FC		2:00 PM		TSP FC
After topping Group L with a perfect nine points from three games, Sheriffs FC received a bye to the round of 16 this past Saturday in Modesto and quickly continued their unbeaten run in State Cup play. There, the Bay Area club scored two goals in each of their games, victories over Livingston Fuego and Folsom Lake Surf to reach the semifinals. Their opponents will be Central Valley-based TSP FC, who also went perfect in group play before posting a pair of shutout victories in the knockout rounds. TSP edged Santa Rosa United 4-0 in the round of 16 before narrowly defeating FC Bay Area Surf 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
U11 Boys State Semifinal
2/5	Almaden FC		2:00 PM		MVLA or Stockton TLJ
Placed into the round of 16 after earning nine points in the group stages of the competition, Almaden FC kept their winning record alive with two victories to reach the semifinals. In the round of 16, the Bay Area club defeated local rivals Juventus Silicon Valley via a 1-0 scoreline before achieving a 2-0 result against Elk Grove Soccer Club. Their opponents will be either MVLA or Stockton TLJ, who will face off Saturday morning to determine who qualifies for the semifinals.
U11 Girls State Final
2/6	MVLA		9:10 AM		Mustang SC
After posting blowout wins in each of their group stage games, it’s no surprise to see MVLA in the State Cup final. However, it’s been a tougher path for the highly-touted Bay Area side to get to the final – it took a 2-0 win over a different Mustang SC team, a 2-1 result against PSV Union, and a 3-0 victory over San Juan to reach this stage of the competition. Meanwhile Mustang SC have yet to allow a goal in the competition and have cruised through the knockout stages with a series of shutout wins. In wins over Santa Clara Sporting, FC Bay Area Surf, and Ajax United, Mustang have combined for 18 total goals.
U12 Boys State Semifinal
2/5	Davis Legacy		12:20 PM		Mustang SC
After posting a series of blowout wins in the group stage of the competition, Davis Legacy reached the semifinals of the State Cup with a pair of 3-0 victories over Diablo Valley Wolves and Central Valley Premier. Legacy have yet to allow a goal in the competition. Opponents Mustang SC dropped one game in the group stage but rebounded well, scoring 14 goals in three knockout round victories after being placed in the round of 32 and not receiving the bye that Davis took advantage of.
U12 Boys State Semifinal
2/5	Woodland SC		12:20 PM		Ajax United
While Woodland SC allowed three goals in the group stage of State Cup, they’ve yet to concede in three knockout round matches. Woodland have been absolutely impeccable in elimination matches, scoring 12 goals to reach the semifinals. Their opponents, Ajax United have managed to score 14 goals in knockout games, but allowed three in a wild 6-3 victory over San Mateo County FC in the round of 16.
U12 Girls State Semifinal
2/5	Ajax United		10:40 AM		Burlingame SC
Plus-17 is the goal differential Ajax United heads into Saturday’s semifinals with in State Cup play. And that’s with just 17 goals scored – yes, the Modesto club have yet to allow a goal and have hit the back of the net multiple times in each match they’ve played. Their opponents in Burlingame SC lost earlier in the competition to fellow semifinalists Woodside SC, but rebounded to score three goals in each of their knockout round matches – victories over Santa Clara Sporting, Marin FC, and Clovis Crossfire.
U12 Girls State Semifinal
2/5	Woodside SC		10:40 AM		San Juan SC
After defeating Burlingame SC in one of the toughest groups in the competition, Woodside SC earned a bye to the round of 16 in the State Cup and have continued their good run of form ever since. A 4-1 win in the round of 16 against MVLA was followed by a close 2-1 result against Mustang SC to reach this point. Their opponents in San Juan also earned a perfect nine points in the group stage before defeating 1974 Newark FC via a resounding 5-0 scoreline and a separate MVLA side 3-1 victory in the quarterfinals.
U13 Boys State Semifinal
2/5	Albion SC		2:00 PM		AC Marin
Thus far in the competition, Albion SC have competed in six games and won all of them. After a group stage in which they allowed three goals, the Merced club have tightened up things at the back and have yet to concede in three knockout stage matches – wins against San Juan SC, Valley Surf, and Ajax United. Meanwhile, their opponents in AC Marin had to play one fewer game but are also perfect so far. The maximum nine points in the group stage were followed by a 2-0 win over Woodside SC and a 3-1 victory against Davis Legacy to reach the semifinals.
U13 Boys State Semifinal
2/5	MVLA		2:00 PM		SF Glens
Thus far, MVLA have allowed just one goal in all of their five State Cup games, a solitary strike in a 4-1 round of 16 victory over Mill Valley Soccer Club. Despite the setback, MVLA clamped down again in the quarterfinals, defeating South Valley Chivas 1-0 to reach the State Division semifinals. Their opponents, the SF Glens, have taken a different route to the final, qualifying as a third place team after a 1-1-1 record in the group stage. From there, the Glens have played excellent tournament football, defeating Newark 1974 4-2, Los Gatos United 2-1, and Santa Rosa United 3-0.
U13 Girls State Semifinal
2/5	FC Sporting		12:10 PM		San Juan South
After scoring a ridiculous 23 goals in the group stage, FC Sporting have had to be more pragmatic in the knockout stages of the competition. However, the Sacramento-based club still managed to hit the back of the net five times in wins against Walnut Creek Surf and Valley United to advance this far. In the semifinals, they will meet San Juan South, who dropped points in the initial rounds of the tournament but still managed to finish top of their group before beating Almaden FC 1-0 and Blues FC 2-0.
U13 Girls State Semifinal
2/5	Marin FC		12:10 PM		Los Gatos United
Perhaps no club in all of Northern California has a better defensive record than Marin FC, who have yet to concede a goal in five State Cup games thus far. After topping a tough group earlier in the competition, Marin have proved gamers, defeating Clovis Crossfire and Players North via twin 1-0 scorelines. Meanwhile, Los Gatos United have allowed a goal in each of their last three games, but have scored 11 in the process. Saturday’s matchup appears to be a classic contest between an elite offense and an impeccable defense.