South County youth soccer teams score with medals at Cal State Games

SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE HOSTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY SOCCER TOURNAMENT

07/26/2018

web.xolos_goal_0075 — Players from the Xolos Academy Girls High School Division team celebrate a goal during their opening round game against the Rebels Blue during the 30th annual California State Games soccer tournament July 14 at Southwestern College. Photo by Phillip Brents

The 30th anniversary edition of the California State Games showcased amateur athletes of all ages the weekend of July 13-15 across an assortment of San Diego County playing fields.

The weekend began with an opening ceremonies gala at SDCCU Stadium attended by 15,000 guests and continued throughout the weekend with competitions in 23 sports.

South County hosted five sports competitions: archery at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, judo at Montgomery High School, robotics at Mater Dei Catholic High School, soccer at Southwestern College and softball at Discovery Park.

The BMX competition will close out this year’s Cal State Games in somewhat belated fashion July 28 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.

Fifty teams competed in nine divisions in the soccer tournament. Many teams used the mid-summer event as a preparation tool for the upcoming fall season while newly formed teams had a chance to explore their talent base.

What all teams had in common was the spirit of competition.

“I think what we provide is the Olympic spirit,” soccer sub-tournament director Greg Maginn explained. “We have opening ceremonies, we have teams from all over California as well as three teams from Nigeria. We have medals — gold, silver, bronze. We have kids from all different walks in life. They all have soccer in common.”

South County teams represented themselves well in the youth tournament.

The Xolos Academy won the Girls High School Division, while the Aztecs FC-Melgar captured the Girls 2003 Division, the Bonita Matrix-Robinett won the Boys 2005-06 Division and the South Bay Matrix won the Boys 2007 Division.

Silver medalists among the local entrants included the Rebels Soccer Club (Boys 2001-02 Division), Atlante-Esparza (Girls 2008 Division), Bonita Matrix-Corona (Girls 2007 Division) and Rangers Soccer Club (Girls 2003 Division).

Bronze medalists included the Aztecs-Campos (Boys 2001-02 Division), Bonita Matrix-Sanchez (Girls 2007 Division), Bonita Matrix-Troop (Girls 2005-06 Division), Aztecs FC-Gold (Girls 2003 Division) and Bonita Matrix-Corona (Girls High School Division).

Players from the Xolos Academy and the Rebels Blue vie for possession of the ball during play at this year’s California State Games soccer tournament at Southwestern College. Photo by Phillip Brents

The Xolos Academy team trains at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center and the Salt Creek Recreation Center and has ties to the Club Tijuana professional team with its obvious various training connections and amenities.

The Girls High School Division team won four tournaments last season and finished third in the Presidio League/SDDA Flight 2 division. The team draws players from Castle Park, Southwest, Chula Vista, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter and Hilltop high schools.

Coach Omar Betancourt, who is in his second year with the Xolos Academy, said the program is proud of its player placement at the university level, including such schools as UC San Diego, UC Irvine and San Diego State University.

Southwestern College also offers a pipeline for players at the community college level.

“I have some girls already making teams,” Betancourt said.

The Xolos Academy finished undefeated in its four games at this year’s State Games tournament, winning three games and tying one.

Lisette Silva scored two goals in the Xolos Academy’s 5-0 win over the Rebels Blue to kick off this year’s California State games soccer tournament. Photo by Phillip Brents

The Xolos Academy defeated the Rebels Blue, 5-0, in its tournament opener behind two goals from CVLCC’s Lisette Silva, then topped the MGFM Storm, 2-0, to close out the first day of competition.

The Xolos Academy played to a scoreless tie against Bonita Matrix-Corona to kick off play on the second day of competition but finished strong with a 4-0 victory against Hawthorne FC.

The Xolos Academy topped the division standings with its 3-0-1 record and 10 standings points. Hawthorne FC finished second in the table with a 3-1-0 record and nine standings points, followed by the Bonita Matrix-Corona with a 1-1-2 record and five standings points.

The Rebels Blue (0-2-2, two standings points) and Storm (0-3-1, one standings point) brought up the rear in the five-team division.

The Xolos Academy team didn’t allow a goal in its four games while outscoring opponents 11-0.

The team looked like a fine-tuned symphony orchestra in its tournament opener.

“I really enjoy playing soccer,” explained Silva, who also competes in cross country and track and field at CVLCC. “It’s like a stress relief. I’ve been playing it for nine years.”

Rebels Soccer Club BU17 players celebrate a goal during this year’s California State Games youth soccer tournament at Southwestern College. Photo by Phillip Brents

The Rebels 2001-02 (U17) boys team features players from a number of area high schools, including Eastlake, Bonita Vista, Hilltop, Olympian, Montgomery, Otay Ranch, Chula Vista, Santana, San Diego and Waldorf School (a private school located in the Oak Park neighborhood of San Diego).

The team, which is new for this age group, will compete in the upcoming Presidio League.

“For this tournament, we were trying players at different positions and solidifying starting spots,” coach Jesus Acevedo said.

The Rebels finished 2-2 over the weekend, dropping both contests against San Marcos-Imperial Valley Auto — 3-1 in pool play and 3-0 in the championship game.

The Rebels defeated Commerce United, 2-1, to finish 1-1 in pool play. Nick Gamboa (Olympian) put the Rebels up 1-0 with a goal 17 minutes from time in the second half. Commerce United tied the contest, 1-1, on a header off a corner kick past Rebels goalkeeper Joshua Stark II.

George Banuelos (Chula Vista) scored the game-winner on a point-blank shot in the final minute of regulation play, set up by teammate Jordan Ryer, on a two-on-one break.

The Rebels edged Aztecs-Campos, 1-0, in the following day’s playoff opener before facing a rematch with San Marcos-IVA in the finals.

The Aztecs won their pool with a 1-0-1 record, defeating Trinity FC, 1-0, and playing to a scoreless tie against the San Marcos-Revolution BO2.

The Aztecs FC-Melgar defeated the Rangers SC Red, 4-0, in the Girls 2003 Division championship game to finish the weekend undefeated with a 4-0 record, including 3-0 in pool play.

Bonita Matrix-Robinett defeated the Escola Academy, 1-0, to win the Boys 2005-06 Division after finishing 3-0-0 in pool play with a 11-5 goal-differential.

The South Bay Matrix finished 2-0-0 in pool play with an impressive 12-1 goal-differential following a 9-0 win over SDRME Zavala White and a 3-1 victory against Juventus San Diego Blue 07.

The Matrix defeated SDRME Zavala Black, 5-1, in the semifinal playoffs before capping its undefeated run through the tournament with a 2-0 win over Juventus San Diego Blue in a championship rematch.

For a complete statistical recap, visit the website at www.calstategames.org.