HEADLINES
CVSC GU15 BLUE WIN IRVINE SUMMER CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP
With inspired play, the CVSC Girls Under 15 Blue team WINS the Irvine Summer Classic GU15 Championship. The girls played very competitively showing a perfect win record with no goals being scored against them in four games. In pool play, goals scored by Alexa Sasmita, Amelia Demery and Marina Gonzales demonstrated a great offensive balance as the team tallied five goals in four games. The team played beautiful soccer throughout the tournament controlling each game in pool play which led to the Championship game.
In the Championship game CVSC U15 Blue team faced the Carlsbad Lightning SC Black (A Presidio League Championship team that finished 13-0-1 in league). In a very hard fought game that wouldn’t be decided during regulation the teams faced off in a shootout. CVSC keeper Dani Burford stopped two shots and Amelia Demery found the back of the net for the winning goal and Championship!
Inspired play by Briana Alvarado, Taylor Anderson, Emily Leggitt, Samantha Aguirre, Courtney Weyl, Tori Garza, Leanna Maaz, Amber Fernandez, Dani Lingua and great goal keeping by Eliana Vasquez and Dani Burford helped to earn the CVSC GU15 Blue the Championship!
Unable to play because of injury and travel were: Hannah Lowenthal and Jordan Beres.
Be sure to congratulate the team and their coaches Brett Vorster and Sean McMannus.
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NOMADS COLLEGE SHOWCASE GU14 GOLD CHAMPIONS/
US CLUB CALIFORNIA CUP GU15 PREMIER CHAMPIONS
Crescenta Valley Soccer Club wins two Nationally ranked tournaments to kick off the new year. Our GU14 won the prestigious Nomads College Showcase in March and the GU15 were victorious in the Southern California US Club California Cup in early April. Stephanie Rigamat is Head Coach of the soon to be GU15 Silver Elite bound team. While Reggie Rivas is Head Coach of the soon to be GU16 Gold level team. For more information about Crescenta Valley Soccer Club please email Reggie at reggiesoccer@yahoo.com.
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WOMEN'S SOCCER SIGNS 12 FOR 2008 SEASON
Belmont Abbey College Head Women’s Soccer Coach Glad Bugariu has announced the signing of 12 players from nine different states for the 2008 season. Joining the Lady Crusaders next season will Alexa Hale (Lancaster, CA), Carly Kensinger (Alto Loma, CA), Nicole Voets (Chatsworth, CA), Rebecca Mateo (Cotati, CA), Nicole Chomskis (Guntersville, AL), Maura Carter (Cary, NC), Kasey Ludwig (Bound Brook, NJ), Erika Trivisonno (Homer, NY), Connie Axiotis (Arlington ,VA), Stephanie Avila (Las Vegas, NV), Elsie Hernandez (The Woodlands, TX), and Jessica Gonsewski (Hernderson, TN).
Alexa Hale
Position: Forward
Home Town: Lancaster, CA
Club: Crescenta Valley Soccer Club
High School: Quartz Hill High School
Awards: MVP Varsity Soccer (2006); Academic Award (2004-2007); All Conference (2006)
Glad Bugariu says: “Alexa is like no player we have ever had at the Abbey since I have been here. She is a classic center forward that will pose a major problem to the opposition”
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ANYA ROSEN NAMED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The University Athletic Association (UAA) recently named Anya Rosen, La Cañada High School class of 2007, as the Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Year. Rosen, a goalkeeper, is a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University.
Rosen earned the starting goalkeeper spot in the sixth game of the season and subsequently recorded four shutouts. She twice earned UAA Defensive Athlete of the Week honors and finished the year with a 0.77 goals against average.
Rosen was a four-year member of the La Cañada High School girl’s varsity soccer team. She also played for the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club (CVSC) on a team coached by Reggie Rivas. Rosen was trained at CVSC by goalkeeping trainer Ian McClung.
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RIVAS GETS THINGS ROLLING FOR CV
A fixture in the Crescenta Valley community, former Falcons girls' Coach Reggie Rivas has lead a soccer transformation
Glendale News-Press, August 6, 2007
It all started, oddly enough, with the rolling of a soccer ball down an aisle of a Northridge warehouse in the early hours of the morning.
As Reggie Rivas, Director of Coaching and chief architect of the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club, tells it, getting back into soccer — particularly coaching the sport — was one of the farthest things from his mind in 1999.
That's when Costco co-worker Billy Curtis first began his attempts to guide Rivas toward what would become his calling.
"I didn't know what I wanted to do in life after playing [soccer] in college, I was a little lost," says the 31-year-old Rivas, who played in his hometown for Modesto Junior College and at Cal State Northridge before an injury ended his college career in the late 1990s. "Billy and I worked the graveyard shift at Costco and one night at 2 a.m., he rolled me a soccer ball and I juggled it.
"At the time, he had a 7-year-old daughter playing AYSO in Region 88 in Glendale , and he asked me to show her some moves."
Barely knowing Curtis at the time, Rivas was a bit skeptical of the idea, but after much prodding, eventually agreed to give Curtis' daughter some lessons on the field.
"Just to get him off my back, I trained her one day, and he called me after her next AYSO game to tell me she had scored three goals," Rivas recalls. "I trained her again and I started liking it. I enjoyed that connection of teaching a kid a skill."
So was born the coaching career of Rivas, who, since his introduction to the community as a Crescenta Valley High junior varsity soccer coach in 1999, has had unparalleled influence on its landscape of youth soccer.
Rivas began the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club in 2001 while coaching the Falcons girls' varsity team as a supplement to the already large presence of the American Youth Soccer Organization in the area.
A key objective of the co-ed club has always been to prepare its players for high school soccer, and to continue to develop them while in high school in preparation for a college career.
"There was no club soccer in our area [when the club started]," says Rivas, whose enterprise has steadily grown from its two original teams to the total of 14 squads it fields today. "There was AYSO, which is great, but there just wasn't that next level of competition to get our high schools better."
A prime example of CVSC's effectiveness in developing players is Emma Dearman, the senior goalkeeper for 2006-07 Pacific-League champion Crescenta Valley , who is bound for Sonoma State University in the fall.
A casual soccer player who was more interested in softball when she met Rivas six years ago while waiting for her younger sister's lesson to conclude, Dearman has been heavily involved with the club ever since.
"I was already playing goalie with my AYSO team so I decided to go out [for CVSC] and I became a part of the club the first year it started," says Dearman, who this past season shared Pacific League tri-MVP honors with CVSC teammate Catrina Flores of Hoover and Kristina Amela of Burbank. "It definitely got me more serious about soccer.
"The club provided me with a goalie coach to train with so I could just work on that. Reggie was supportive in everything we did — for me, he was like a father figure and he pushed me towards what I wanted to succeed in."
Dearman is part of a team - or rather a group of girls that remained teammates as they advanced to each age level of the club together - that holds a special place in Rivas' heart.
Its most recent roster also boasts an impressive assortment of athletes from the area.
In addition to Dearman and Flores, the 2006-07 Girls Under 17 team featured All-Pacific League first-team selection Elena Torres of Hoover and second-team defender Richelle Mascaro of Crescenta Valley. All-Rio Hondo League goalkeeper Anya Rosen of La Canada alternated starts in goal with Dearman. Also on that team were multi-sport varsity athletes Erin Hartwig of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Heather Hansen of Providence .
"It's a very exciting time to see them grow, and now they're off to college," says Rivas, who typically coaches three girls' teams during a club season.
The core of that group, when they were members of the club's Girls Under 13 squad, won the 87-team State Cup Tournament in 2003. In 2005, they made it to the quarterfinals of the world's largest youth soccer tournament, Sweden 's Gothia Cup, as an Under 16 team.
As the tight-knit group nears the end of its time in the club, Rivas is already excited about the next generation of girls from his club ready for high school.
"This group of girls is loaded with talent," says Rivas of his Girls Under 15 squad, led by incoming Crescenta Valley freshmen Olivia Sierra, Sylvia Martinez and Jordan Royer, and Sacred Heart freshman Danielle Molina, to name a few. "Here is the future of the club, and the future of soccer in our community."
Last season, that team, assisted by former Crescenta Valley and UCLA standout Stephanie Rigamat, became the first from CVSC to win the prestigious San Diego Nomads College Showcase.
While the club's focus is on strengthening the high school talent pool, it was the success Rivas found as a high school coach in the early part of the decade that partly enabled the club's beginnings.
"My 2002 group of girls was a very special group, they were all heart," Rivas says of the Crescenta Valley girls' varsity team he guided to a runner-up finish in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs. "If it wasn't for them, this club probably wouldn't have gotten off the ground the way it did — they inspired a lot of kids.
"They are an inspiration to me and to the kids that have grown up playing in our club, because they still remember that group."
Jordan Stanley, a captain of that Falcons team, who now coaches for CVSC, deflects much of the credit for that run and its ensuing repercussions back to Rivas.
"I really liked the fact that he was very intense about the sport, but also really cared about us as people," Stanley says. "He wasn't just a coach concerned about winning, he was concerned about player development, the whole team aspect and us as kids."
For the success and happiness he has found in what he calls, "the greatest job in the world," Rivas eternally credits Curtis. The former La Crescenta resident, with whom Rivas has remained good friends, not only urged him to take up coaching but also recommended him to associates in the school's soccer program for his first coaching job at Crescenta Valley.
Rivas also credits that institution and the surrounding city that has become more of a second home than a workplace.
"Tommy Lasorda bleeds Dodger blue, but I bleed CV blue," he says with a laugh. "For the club and the community. I love it."
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CV SOCCER CLUB SPAWNS COACHES
Soccer: Lilavois, Fraschetti and Barbiera, all products of soccer program, now coaching at the high school level.
By Gabriel Rizk, Glendale News Press, August 6, 2007
GLENDALE — The connection between the area's high school soccer players and the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club is a clear one, as many Nitros, Tornadoes and Falcons can also be found on team rosters of the six-year old club.
Just as prevalent, however, are the connections between the club's coaches and local high schools.
Three of the six varsity soccer programs furnished by Glendale, Hoover and Crescenta Valley highs are currently headed by coaches with ties to former Falcons girls' Coach Reggie Rivas' developmental league.
Crescenta Valley boys' Coach Randy Lilavois, who's heading into his third season leading the Falcons, is the longest tenured of the trio, which includes newly hired girls' Coach Heather Fraschetti at Crescenta Valley and girls' Coach Dino Barbiera at Glendale.
The door swings both ways, as former Hoover girls' Coach Brett Vorster and former Falcons girls' Coach Cesar Hidalgo have gone from high school positions to full-time roles with CVSC.
"Encouraging the local coaches in our area to stay here and coach and educate these kids is great," said Rivas, who is also the CVSC Director of Coaching. "[By coaching in the club], the high school coaches are giving back to the youth, and their dreams and goals are the same as mine — development.
"If we develop players and coaches, it just makes high school soccer much better."
Rivas holds a United States Soccer Federation "C" license, and uses the guidelines and methods of the USSF coaches to instruct his own staff.
The overriding emphasis, according to Rivas, is positive coaching, reflected in the simple credo, "Be honest, be direct, but be correct."
There is an underlying focus on technical instruction, led by the club's Technical Director, Hidalgo, a veteran of club soccer coaching with a strong background in teaching technique and skills.
"I believe [the club] is a very safe way of developing not only the coaches for the high school , but coaches overall," said Hidalgo, who led the Falcons to a Pacific League title last season before giving way to Fraschetti, who was previously an assistant in the Glendale girls' program. "The reputation of CV soccer club is good, and the family atmosphere that we try to develop here is brought up to the high schools, so parents don't have to second guess whether the coach coming into their high school is good or not."
The family atmosphere Hidalgo refers to applies not just to the club's players and families as a whole, but to the group of coaches itself.
Some of Rivas' past and present coaches laud the club and its bonds affectionately, almost like a cherished alma mater that, no matter how far away they venture, will always be there when they return.
Jordan Stanley, a 2003 Crescenta Valley graduate who played under Rivas, returned to coach two of the club's teams last year.
"[Reggie] is a very family-oriented, idealistic guy for a club," Stanley said of Rivas's hands-on approach to managing the club's teams and its coaches. "He has personal relationships with all the coaches. We would do anything for him, and we know he would do anything for us, so it is like a family."
Rivas considers it important for the community to continue the current cycle of local figures like Stanley stepping up to fill roles in high school and club soccer coaching alike.
"I think we have some of the best coaches in the region because they are just great role models and ex-players," Rivas said. "It would be great to someday see an alumni take Crescenta Valley High soccer to yet another level. When my time is done, hopefully an alumni of CVSC will take over this program. The whole thing is to give back."
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FRASCHETTI TO LEAD CV
Soccer: Heather Fraschetti, a Glendale High
assistant,
named new Falcons  girls' coach.
By Grant Gordon
GLENDALE — Developing impassioned young players,
furtherPacific Leaguedomination and lengthy CIF
postseason runs.
Those are the goals and the reasons behind Heather
Fraschetti, a Glendale High assistant last season,
taking over the reins of the Crescenta Valley High
girls' soccer program.
"Crescenta Valley has an incredible reputation," said Fraschetti of a
Falcons program that has won two league titles in the last
three seasons. "What they need to do is start advancing
farther in CIF. They've definitely got the technical
[aspects], I want to bring them the tactics and I think
[with their fundamentals and talent], that will be
possible."
Fraschetti accepted the position on May 25 and the team was informed of
her hiring on Thursday.
"Heather brings a great deal of experience and passion for the sport,"
said Crescenta Valley girls' Athletic Director Pete
Loporchio, who was part of a hiring committee that included
a parent representative, Assistant Principal Peter Kim and
Principal Linda Evans. "She just has a love of the game and
a passion for what she's doing."
Fraschetti, 30, takes over a position vacated by Cesar Hidalgo after the
Falcons' 15-6-3 campaign this past season. Crescenta Valley
went 12-1-1 en route to the league title and advanced to the
CIF Southern Section Division II tournament's second round.
Hidalgo coached the program for three seasons, twice being
named All-Area Coach of the Year.
Last year, Fraschetti assisted Glendale Coach Kris Lowe. The most
difficult part of taking the Crescenta Valley job was
leaving behind the group of Nitros players that Fraschetti
had grown close to.
"It was a really hard thing to do," Fraschetti said. "I got really close
with the girls."
Fraschetti played a big role in Glendale practices, as Lowe, who admits
she's looking for someone to perhaps fill her position,
dealt with, along with the coaching aspects, all the
administrative chores on top of being a teacher at the
school.
"It was a good opportunity for her," said Lowe of Fraschetti taking on
the Crescenta Valley job. "The kids and her got along very,
very well. They really respected her — they still do."
Fraschetti, who had previously coached junior varsity soccer at Marina
High, currently coaches for the Crescenta Valley Soccer
Club, as well, leading the girls' U10 and U11 squads. With
CVSC readily feeding the Falcons with players already
equipped with fundamental knowledge, Fraschetti saw a chance
to sustain a successful program and make it even better.
"I was so pleased to hear that Crescenta Valley hired her because I think
she's going to take care of these girls and take them to the
next level." said CVSC Director of Coaching Reggie Rivas,
who also previously coached the Falcons, leading them to a
CIF title game appearance in 2002. "She could really lead
them in the right direction to a CIF title.
"Cesar's done a great job the last three years and I admire him for that,
and now Heather is the next person to take over the
program."
With a young core of returning starters coming back that includes
All-Area selections Brittany Berger, Tori Baldridge and Kim
Carcich, Fraschetti believes continued league-title
supremacy should be in the cards.
"There's no reason why they shouldn't [keep winning]," she said.
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NEWS RELEASE
February 29th, 2007
Crescenta
Valley Soccer Club Announces
TOTAL PLAYER
DEVELOPMENT
Program
In a major move to continue the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club’s
on-going commitment to the highest quality individualized player
development and training in the area, the club’s Director of
Coaching Reggie Rivas and the CVSC E-Board are announcing a
revolutionary new program that will immediately begin
integrating into the club’s training curriculum.
The ground-breaking TOTAL PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Program is a multi-faceted program that is designed to start at
the earliest ages and culminate with providing college
opportunities for players interested in taking their game to the
highest level.
The TOTAL PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Program will be
implemented immediately for all current and prospective CVSC
teams. Rivas outlined the details to the program and how it will
work.
• CVSC TECHNICAL
DIRECTOR CESAR HIDALGO TO WORK WITH EVERY CVSC PLAYER TO
INCREASE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
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CVSC Coach
Cesar Hidalgo has been promoted to the newly created
position of CVSC Technical Director.
Cesar
will work exclusively with every CVSC player as part of
a specific on-going curriculum designed to instill a
high level of individual fundamental ball skill and
individual player awareness. Rivas commented on Hidalgo,
“ Cesar is a master of the fundamental ball work
required to play soccer at the highest level. The fact
that every player in our club will now benefit from
consistent on-going training with Cesar as part of our
basic curriculum is a great step forward for us, and
will not doubt give every players that comes to CVSC a
leg up on the competition.“ For Cesar’s bio please see
the “Our Coaches“ link on the club website,
www.cvsoccerclub.com. |
CVSC Coach
Cesar Hidalgo |
• CVSC DIRECTOR OF
GOALKEEPING IAN MCCLUNG TO CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR EVERY CLUB GOALIE.
|
CVSC Goalkeeper
Director Ian McClung will continue to work with every
CVSC goalie on a consistent and on-going basis
throughout the year. Ian’s success in developing our
club goalies was noted by Rivas, “This year CVSC
graduates two goalies, Anya Rosen and Emma Dearman from
our Girls U17 team, and both of these girls will be
playing in college. Anya will attend Carnegie Mellon in
the fall and Emma is reviewing offers from several
schools. It is a great testament to the commitment and
hard work that these players have displayed throughout
their career at CVSC and also to Ian’s ability to
develop these ladies to their highest potential. Ian
takes a very hands-on detailed approach with all his
players….and the results speak for themselves.“ |
CVSC Coach
Ian McClung |
• FORMER U.S.
NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER STEPHANIE RIGAMAT JOINS CVSC AS COLLEGE
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
|
In CVSC’s on-going
commitment to provide college level opportunities to
interested players, we‘re proud to announce the addition
of Stephanie Rigamat to our training and coaching corp.
Stephanie is one of the most accomplished women’s soccer
players ever in Southern California and brings a very
high level of soccer experience and coaching knowledge
to CVSC. In addition to her duties on the field,
Stephanie will also be a leading advocate for CVSC in
our effort to continue to develop players to ready to
step into the college playing ranks. Stephanie’s
extensive network of relationships in coaching circles
across the country will be put to use for the benefit of
our players. Rivas commented, “Adding Stephanie to our
club is a real coup for us. Stephanie is very committed
to giving back to our community and using her energy and
experience to take CVSC to the next level. We couldn’t
be more exited to have her on board.“ |
CVSC Coach
Stephanie Rigamat
See
Stephanie's
bio... |
• MARC LOWENTHAL
NAMED DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING AND CVSC TALENT SCOUT.
In recognition of his energy and effort towards CVSC’s player
recruitment effort, Marc will continue to work closely with DOC
Reggie Rivas to identify and bring the best local soccer talent
to CVSC. Rivas added, “Marc’s dedication and commitment to the
club has truly been amazing. I’m very much looking forward to
working with him. Recruiting talented, committed players is the
lifeblood of our organization and makes us stronger and gives
deserving players the opportunity to take their game to the
highest level.“
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Congratulations to
CVSC’s Emma Dearman and Catrina Flores. Both players currently
play for the CVSC Girls Under 17 team and were recently named as
Women’s Soccer Co-MVP’s of the Pacific League.
Crescenta Valley
Soccer Club GU-10 Team Wins Tournament Championship |
See Photos
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Playing in their first tournament as a newly formed team,
the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club Girls’ Under-10 team exceeded
expectations, and won a Championship in the 07’ - UCLA 6 V 6
Challenge.
“What a great way to begin as a team,” exclaimed Coach Heather Fraschetti
as she presented medals to her players. “This team has really
worked hard and was able to take what was taught in practice and
make the transition to live games.”
The CVSC GU-10 team faced its first challenge on Saturday morning when it
took the field against a very strong team from Santa Monica. The
Santa Monica club jumped out to an early lead and eventually
defeated CVSC 4-1.
With first game jitters out of the way, the CVSC girls, in Game Two were
able to move the ball down the field with their dominant defense
and crisp passing as they breezed to an easy 8-0 victory. With
just two games played as a team, Coaches and Parents alike were
all able to see the great promise that this team shows.
In their third game, the CVSC GU-10 team knew that if they were able to
win, they would make it to the finals in their first tournament.
With determination etched in their faces, the team was staked to
a quick 4-0 lead and never looked back in a resounding 12-0
victory.
In the Championship Game, the CVSC team was looking to avenge their first
game loss to the spirited and tough team from Santa Monica. In
the matches opening minutes both teams played well in
transition, but neither was able to score. The scoreless tie
quickly changed as Sarah Patrick scored from her Left Outside
Half position to give CVSC an early 1-0 lead. Not to be outdone,
the Santa Monica club answered with a goal of their own just
before halftime to tie the match 1-1. As the teams took the
field to start the second half, Coach Heather and Coach Dino
gave the team final instructions. Strong play from both teams
continued to be the order until Lauren Busta knocked in a
rebound to give CVSC a 2-1 lead. The Santa Monica team
desperately tried to tie the score, but the strong defense of
MianneKim Zuiderveen, Rachel Bird, and keeper, Kaitlyn Molina
prevented them from doing so. Isabel Arriaza clinched the game
by beating a defender with a beautiful move, and following it
with a strong blast into the back of the net giving CVSC a 3-1
win and tournament championship.
“We’re so proud of this team and we look forward to a bright future for
this talented team as it continues to build,” commented head
coach Heather Fraschetti.
To learn more about the GU-10 team, visit the CVSC website at www.cvsoccerclub.com.
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Awarding the league's best
Soccer: CV's Emma Dearman and Hoover's Catrina Flores named two of Pacific
League's Most Valuable Players.
By Gabriel Rizk
Glendale News-Press – Monday February 26th, 2007
GLENDALE — With so much talent to recognize in Pacific League girls' soccer this
year, the league's coaches found it necessary to select no less than three Most
Valuable Players for the 2006-07 season. Two of those distinctions were
bestowed on local athletes.
Emma Dearman, a senior goalkeeper for league-champion Crescenta Valley High, and
Hoover senior midfielder/ forward Catrina Flores were both selected as tri-MVPs,
along with sophomore forward Kristina Amela of Burbank. "It's great to get that
recognition," said Dearman, who tallied roughly 100 saves for the Falcons
(15-6-3, 12-1-1 in league). "It means a lot to me — especially being a
goalkeeper — that everyone recognizes all the hard work I've put in this
season." It is not only the first league MVP award won by Dearman, but her
first all-league recognition after backing up Sarah Peters in previous
seasons.
"Being a senior and a leader on the team, [Dearman] gave a lot of
confidence to our defense and that translated into us having a lot of shutouts,"
Falcons third-year Coach Cesar Hidalgo said. "[Becoming an MVP] doesn't
necessarily happen anytime, but as long as you keep striving you know that
sometime you are going to be recognized for the hard work." The Falcons
recorded 12 shutouts, with 10 of those coming in league games. They only allowed
four goals in league play.
For Flores, a mainstay on the all-league first team since her freshman year,
capturing the honor realized a preseason goal to reach new heights in her final
campaign at Hoover. "It's a good way to end my senior year," Flores said. "I've
always made first team, but never MVP. "It was one of my top goals coming into
this year." Flores scored 19 goals and added nine assists for the Tornadoes
(7-12-1, 5-8). "She definitely deserves [the award] — she's worked hard all
season and she kept us in the games," first-year Hoover Coach Julie Testin said.
"All the girls really enjoyed playing with her and learning from her. "We're
definitely going to miss her next year." Crescenta Valley dominated the Pacific
League this year, capturing the program's first league title since 2005, and
first outright since 1997.
Accordingly, the Falcons boasted the most selections — six including Dearman —
of any team in the league between the first and second teams. Sophomore
defender Tori Baldridge (four goals, four assists) and midfielders Kim Carcich
(eight goals, four assists) and Brittany Berger (nine goals, three assists),
both sophomores, were all selected to the first team. Senior midfielder/forward
Astrid Castaneda, who had a team-high 10 goals, and senior defender Richelle
Mascaro picked up second-team honors, while senior utility player Sammie Wright
was named an honorable mention. "It's an acknowledgement of how hard we've
worked and the talent we have," Hidalgo said. Hoover senior defender Elena
Torres earned her first first-team selection, and Melisa Sanchez, also a
Tornadoes defender, was named to the second team. Allison Yee received an
honorable mention. Glendale High's Sarah Mizuki garnered the sole first-team
selection for the Nitros, while teammate Gabbi Chiraboga earned a second- team
selection. Natasha Wolhein received an honorable mention. It was Mizuki's
second-straight
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CVSC Girls U-12
Soccer Team Reaches Finals at Irvine Winter Classic
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See Photo
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In a repeat performance, the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club girls
U-12 soccer team reached the finals in their bracket at the
Irvine Winter Classic for the second straight year. The team
took home 2nd place medals after a weekend played in the bitter
cold.
The first game on Saturday, January 13th literally belonged to
the birds: Nicole and Olivia Bird, that is. Nicole scored early
in the game on a long pass from Julia Blanco. She quickly
followed up with a masterful shot into the net from the left
side. Olivia organized the defense and, along with Marisa
Vasquez and Sydney Parucci, kept the Pacific Coast Soccer Club’s
Blue Crush team shotless. Their only Blue Crush goal happened as
a result of a penalty kick on a dubious call. The CVSC girls won
2-1.
As the afternoon breeze began to blow, the CVSC girls
challenged a particularly aggressive Claremont Stars team. In a
1-1 tie, Katie Callister scored the CVSC goal with a dazzling
shot from midfield. Goalie Ashley Hebard showed her mettle as
she faced the elbows and cleats of the Stars front line. Once
again, the CVSC defense dominated the field with dynamic play
from midfielder Cori Benedict.
The CVSC squad was short-staffed for Sunday’s games, but
defender Maeve Shelly returned to the field despite a very bad
cold and held the OC-Xtreme offense in check. Tiffany Austin
rocketed a shot past the Xtreme defenders deep into the left
corner of the net. Midfielder Tiffany Yzaguirre dominated the
Xtreme offense and kept play on the CV side of the field. The
Xtreme had one moment of brilliance, tying the game at 1-1 in
the final minutes.
In what amounted to the championship game, the CVSC girls faced
Laguna Niguel plus in a highly competitive battle. Karina
Arriaza proved ubiquitous in midfield and defense, demonstrating
her speed and skills in play across the field. Sara Brock
commanded the goal, refusing every attempt by Laguna Niguel. The
highlight of the game was Brianna Bendall’s high-flying shot in
the closing seconds of the game which narrowly bounced off the
post, leaving the final score tied at 0-0.
“We’re a little disappointed that we didn’t take 1st place this
year after last year’s 2nd place finish, but the girls played
well and continue to show great improvement as a team,”
commented Coach Cesar Hidalgo. “They’re performing better and
better with each game and I celebrate their progress.”
This is the fourth time this CVSC team has reached the finals
in tournament play this year. The team took the Anaheim Holiday
Classic championship just last month.
“What I admire most about these girls is their spirit and
camaraderie,” said Assistant Coach Amanda Diedrich. “They seem
to enjoy the friendships they’ve built almost as much as they
enjoy the sport.”
To learn more about the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club or to
arrange a tryout for the upcoming season with any of its teams,
visit the CVSC website at
www.cvsoccerclub.com
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CVSC Girls U14
Wins Nike Harvest Cup |
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The CVSC girls U14 soccer team continued their winning ways by
capturing the Nike Harvest Cup in Irvine. The team had another
fantastic tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend to make their
total three championships in tournament this season.
In the initial round of pool play, the team had to rebound from
an early defeat to the Claremont Stars. Despite the 1-0 loss,
they dominated the pitch but could not find the back of the net.
Stellar goalkeeping was provided by Alexandra Woodward. The team
knew they had to win their next games to advance on in the
tournament.
The second contest against the SC Storm led to better results.
In a 3-1 victory, exceptional defense was provided by Kelly
Clark, Whitney Cowell, Danielle Molina, Savannah Rhoads and
Hallie White. Goals were tallied by forwards Sylvie Ramirez and
Vanessa Capra along with midfielder Jordan Royer.
Needing another strong performance, the CVSC girls rose to the
occasion against the Black Diamond SC from Utah. The midfield
was controlled by Hannah Gerald, Janelle Topete, Olivia Sierra,
Lauren Cech and Sarah Patterson. Goals were scored by Lisa Lim,
Cecilia Martinez and Clark. This group’s dominance led to a 3-1
victory and advancement out of pool play into the semi-finals.
As she has the entire season, star goalkeeper Eirene Kim shined
in the semi-finals against Bakersfield United Premier. With the
support of her strong defensive unit, she provided a shutout in
a 2-0 win. Goals were scored by Clark and Ramirez in exciting
fashion. The victory placed the team in the finals.
In the finals the team faced the Southwest SC Elite. An early
goal by Molina, started the game off right. Southwest bounced
back and tied the score 1-1 at the half. Following some
controversial calls, Clark secured the victory with a penalty
kick with only minutes to play. The girls had clinched the title
with a 2-1 win.
“This win illustrates the hard work of this team and their
ability to persevere.” said coach Adam Darby as he reflected on
the teams effort. Director of Coaching Reggie Rivas was
supporting the girls all weekend along with assistant coach
Julie Broussard. “I am so proud of this team’s determination and
skill.” commented Rivas after the win.
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CVSC GIRLS U14 TEAM
WINS THE JUSA TOURNAMENT
The CVSC Girls Under 14, Silver Elite team dominated in the
JUSA Kickoff this past weekend. Winning all of their games in
decisive fashion and once again proving they are one of the top
teams in Southern California, the team prepared themselves for
league play next week.
They began pool play against OJSC Red Premier from Orange
County. The team was in exceptional form and set a tone for the
tournament with a 5-1 victory. The midfield play was controlled
by Olivia Sierra, Danielle Molina and Lisa Lim. Goals were
scored by Jordan Royer, Lauren Cech, and defenders Savannah
Rhoads and Kelly Clark.
In the second contest, against the Riverside Fusion, CVSC
continued their winning ways. In a 3-0 shutout, goalkeeper
Eirene Kim tallied her first shutout of the tournament. Strong
defensive play from Whitney Cowell, Hallie White, Kelly Clark
and Savannah Rhoads supported the great play from Kim. Goals
were provided by Cecilia Martinez, Jordan Royer and Danielle
Molina.
After dominating the first day of play, the competition became
more challenging. Needing victories to continue, the team played
the tough home team JUSA Select Blue. In a highly contested
battle the girls were victorious 1-0. Speedy midfield play was
provided by Vanessa Capra, Sarah Patterson in conjunction with
Sierra, Molina and Lim. The games only score was provided by
Royer with a rocket from the top of the box. This win put the
team in the finals. Kim had recorded another shutout with the
support of her tenacious defense.
In the finals, the CVSC girls were to face the talented Silver
Elite, Arsenal FC team. Following a long and hot weekend on the
pitch, Coach Adam Darby made sure they were ready for the
contest. The girls started strong with a long shot from defender
Hallie White that cleared the keeper’s hands. Forward Sylvie
Ramirez tallied the second goal with a powerful run through the
box. Molina completed a header on a corner shot from Cech to put
the team up 3-0 at the half. The agile Capra began the second
half scoring with a swift move in front of the keeper. Royer
completed the victory with a penalty kick shot. A dominant 5-0
victory was the final.
Coach Darby had been looking for goal production from his team.
They answered by scoring fourteen goals and only allowing one.
“I am proud of this teams energy and goal scoring”, Coach Adam
commented as he accepted the tournament championship trophy.
Assistant Coach Julie Broussard voiced high praises for the
teams’ effort and skill. Danielle Molina was named the Player of
the Match and received special commendations from the tournament
directors.
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CRESCENTA VALLEY U14 GIRLS REACH SAN FRANCISCO CUP FINAL
The Crescenta Valley Soccer Club Girls Under 14 team journeyed
north to play in the San Francisco Cup soccer tournament over
Memorial Day weekend. In the opening match CV faced a scrappy
Legacy Extreme team from Davis. Gusting, chilly winds impacted
the play of both teams as usually accurate passes were blown
long or wide of the mark, resulting in a scoreless defensive
struggle. Finally in the 56th minute, Brittany Johnson
left-footed a laser-like shot into the back of the Davis net for
a 1-0 Crescenta Valley victory.
The second match pitted CV against the SFVC Tremors on the
artificial turf of Skyline College. The pristine surface helped
CV fully utilize their possession and control game. The CV side
dominated the action, easily maintaining possession for 90% of
the match, thanks to the deft touch of Brittani Dearman and
Brooke Davis, among others. Newcomer Michelle Weir meshed well
into the flow of the CV game. Midfielder Kelsie Bishop scored in
the 12th minute to give CV a 1-0 lead, but despite controlling
the entire game, none of numerous subsequent CV shots found the
goal. A saving tackle in the last minute of play by Alexis
Mueller with an open net helped preserve the 1-0 victory, keeper
Allie Woodward’s second shutout of the tournament. The only bad
news for CV was that forward Amanda Schwartz was lost for the
remainder of the tournament with a badly sprained ankle.
In the third match CV faced the Burlingame Power, a finalist in
last year’s SF Cup. CV found themselves down 1-0 early as
confusion over a referee’s flag caused the defense to relax.
Roused by having allowed an uncontested score, CV responded with
a relentless attack. Rachel Hart knotted the match in the 9th
minute and Hart then gave CV the lead with a header off a corner
kick just before the end of the half. Five minutes into the
second half, Rachel completed the hat trick with her third goal
of the match. Forward Paige O’Connor supplemented the attack
well. Burlingame scored a late goal on a questionable penalty
call, but the outcome was never in doubt. CV advanced to the
final a perfect 3-0 in pool play.
Crescenta Valley faced the Pacifica Blaze in the championship
match in front of a near-capacity crowd at Baker Soccer Stadium
on Memorial Day afternoon. Breanna Villalobos gave CV a quick
lead in the 2nd minute of the game, faking out the Blaze
goalkeeper with a well-placed shot. The Blaze tied the match
three minutes into the second half, but after that, unseasonably
warm weather took its toll on both squads, particularly the
injury-depleted CV side. The defense lead by Katie Martin and
buoyed by aggressive play from Amanda Rose Johnson repelled
several serious threats throughout the second half, and the
match ended in a 1-1 draw. The championship was decided on
penalty kicks as the Blaze netted all five of their attempts
while CV managed only four. Nevertheless, the weekend was a very
successful outing for the Girls Under 14 team and their new
coaches, Adam Darby and Renato O’Neal.
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Crescenta Valley
Soccer Club Girls U16 Battle in Cal-South National Cup
With 20-plus mile an hour winds and a premier level opponent,
the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club’s girls U16 team had their work
cut out for them at the Lancaster National Soccer Complex on
Saturday afternoon. CVSC, coached by Reggie Rivas, took on
Wolfpack SC from the Fountain Valley area of Orange County. The
CV girls played toe to toe with Wolfpack throughout the first
half. Each team traded shots on goal and outstanding defensive
efforts. The CV defense of Goalie Anya Rosen and defenders
Richelle Mascaro, Elena Torres, Melania Moradian, Katie Shelly
and Sarah Halle were tested and held strong. After forty
minutes, the half ended 0-0. The second half was more of the
same as Rosen and the CV defense buckled down and stopped a
couple of point plank shots from the Wolfpack forwards. In the
72nd minute goalie Rosen was shaken up after diving for a save.
Four minutes later, a Wolfpack midfielder placed a perfect
throw-in to the head of one of her teammates resulting in the
game winning goal. Rosen was helped off the field at that point,
and in the ensuing minutes Wolfpack scored again off a corner
kick making the result 2-0. The National Cup tournament features
46 of the top competitive teams in Southern California at that
age group. Last season the CVSC team reached the elite eight
before bowing out.
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CVSC Girls U13
Team Wins Samba Invitational |
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The CVSC Girls U13 team had a dominant regular season by
finishing second in the Silver Elite League of the Coast Soccer
League. They followed this feat by advancing out of pool play in
the prestigious National Cup against the most powerful teams in
California.
In their first tournament of the summer season, they won the
highly competitive Samba Invitational.
Play began against the strong Desert United Club. The team was
spear headed by a strong defensive effort from Whitney Cowell,
Kelly Clark, Savannah Rhoads and Hallie White. The team played
to a scoreless draw in the first half. In the second half, Clark
scored on a set piece goal from outside the box. This 1-0
victory started a string of victories for the girls.
The second game would be against the Conejo Valley Avalanche.
In the heat of the afternoon, the midfield played with great
skill. Midfielders Vanessa Capra, Hannah Gerald, Danielle
Molina, Lisa Lim and Olivia Sierra controlled play and opened up
numerous scoring opportunities. Stellar goal keeper Eirene Kim
recorded her second shutout of the day as the team finished with
a 0-0 draw.
This placed the team in the semi-finals against the Claremont
Stars. This team had been dominant in the tournament and
destroyed their competitors. Goals had been difficult to come by
in this aggressive tournament and pressure was on the forwards
Sylvie Ramirez, Cecilia Martinez and Jordan Royer. After a
scoreless first half, Royer hit Martinez on a corner kick to put
CVSC up 1-0. Kim again registered a shutout with the assistance
of her defense to move the team onto the finals.
Coach Adam Darby was elated with the team's perseverance and
determination. "To go through the tournament and not give up a
goal is quite a statement. I am so very proud of how these girls
played. They continue to improve every time they are on the
field." Asst. Coaches, Reggie Rivas (Director of Coaching) and
Julie Broussard also had high praise for the girl's strength and
determination," They are unstoppable, when in the zone.
The Crescenta Valley Soccer Club continues to grow and is
looking for individuals or teams who want to compete at the
highest level. We are currently looking for players in all age
groups. > If you are interested in finding out more about CVSC,
check us out on the internet at www. cvsoccerclub.com or contact
the Director of Coaching, Reggie Rivas at (818) 257-4515.
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Crescenta Valley Soccer Club's elite U12 Girls win
prestigious Cal South Spring Cup
May 7, 2006 -
Riverside California
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The under 12 Girls fought hard to win Sunday against a very
strong Newport Mesa S C team. Skilled play from BRIANA GALVEZ,
DANIELLE BUSTA, CATHERINE DAVIS, MALLORY CARCICH, JOHANNA MORAN,
TIERNAN HEBRON, SIERRA RHOADS, TALIA KALFAYAN, BRIANNA ISMALE,
ABIGAIL POTTER, CELINA MINISSIAN, ALANA ROLLINS, DANIELLE
BURFORD, KARINEH MINISSIAN, SUSAN IBARRA, JACQUE PHINNEY
resulted in a great win for the team and the Crescenta Valley
Soccer Club. "This tournament win was well deserved, these girls
have trained and played hard and I'm very proud of them", Head
Coach, Cesar Hidalgo.
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CVSC Girls U16 Advance to Sweet 16 of Cal South National Cup
Thanks to a thrilling overtime victory on Sunday at the John
Blanch Memorial Soccer Complex in Temecula on Sunday the
Crescenta Valley Soccer Club Girls U16 advances to the round of
16 in the 2006 Cal South National Cup tournament. The 2006
National Cup tournament is comprised of the top 45 competitive
teams at the U16 age group.
Battling strong winds and fatigue, the CVSC girls preserved a
3-2 overtime victory over California Legends of Santa Barbara in
a Sunday afternoon game in the round of 32. CVSC dominated the
game early leading to a goal in the 7th minute by Brittany
Berger. Berger faked a shot and then thread a low strike just
inside the far post to give the home team the lead. In the 25th
minute Hannah Green hit a perfect flick off a Chantel Capra
cross to take CVSC up 2-0. At that point the Legends mounted
their comeback. A goal off a free kick with less than a minute
remaining ended the half 2-1. In the second half the Legends
knotted the game after applying constant pressure to the CVSC
defense. CVSC goalie Anya Rosen kept it tied with a spectacular
save on a break-away shot by the Legends forward in the 65th
minute. After 80 minutes the elimination round game went into
two 10 minute overtime periods. At the 9th minute of the first
overtime period, CVSC midfielder Catrina Flores hit a hard
strike from the top of the 18 yard box into the upper corner to
give CVSC the victory.
CVSC travels to the Lancaster National Soccer Complex on May
6th to continue play. The team is coached by former Crescenta
Valley High School coach Reggie Rivas. To learn more about CVSC
visit www.cvsoccerclub.com.
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CRESCENTA VALLEY GIRLS U14s TAKE SO CAL UNITED GOLD
The Crescenta Valley Soccer Club Under 14 Girls bested stiff
competition the weekend of March 25-26 to win the championship
of the Gold bracket of the So Cal United NIKE Invitational
Tournament. CVSC opened the tourney with a convincing 3-0
victory over North Valley Venom from Encino. Amanda Schwartz,
Kelsie Bishop and Brooke Davis each tallied goals, as eight
different CV girls combined for 14 shots on goal while the
defense allowed Venom only two shot on goal of their own.
Saturday afternoon’s contest pitted CV against the Arsenal
Football Club of Alta Loma. Amanda Schwartz gave CV the lead in
the 23rd minute, scoring her second goal of the day off an
assist from Breana Villalobos. Arsenal answered right back,
scoring three minutes later to tie the match at one-all. With
strong midfield play from Brittani Dearman, Kelsie Bishop, Dani
Vargas and Rachel Hart, CV dominated the action, out shooting
Arsenal, 11 to 6, but could not break through for a score. With
two minutes left in the match, Summer Davidson lofted an arcing
shot just over the goalkeeper, just under the crossbar to give
CV an exciting 2-1 victory.
On Sunday morning CV faced the host team, So Cal United.
Lock-down defense was the order of the day as the CV back line
of Brooke Davis, Brittany Johnson, Katie Martin and Alexis
Mueller was impenetrable. But SC United’s defense was just as
stingy, allowing CV only two shots on goal. The match ended in a
0-0 draw. Though tied with United with a 2-0-1 record, CV
advanced to the final by virtue of having allowed only one goal
in three games.
In the championship match CV took on the Fury Football Club of
Aliso Viejo. Again, strong defense from both sides was the story
of the match Offensive momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the
game, but each time CV or Fury mounted a thrust, the defenses
repelled the threat. The match was extremely physical, with
several CV players sent to the sideline with injuries. At the
end of regulation, the match remained tied at 0-0. Two
ten-minute overtime periods were played, but neither side
scored, so after ninety minutes of hard-fought football, the
match advanced to penalty kicks.
Keeper Allie Woodward was outstanding in the showdown. After
the first three rounds, CV held a 2-1 lead, thanks to a Fury
miss and an all-out dive by Woodward that tipped the ball off
the post and out of the goal. In the fourth round, CV netted a
third PK to go up 3-1. On the fourth Fury try, Woodward timed
her leap perfectly and pushed the attempt up and over the goal,
clinching the tournament victory for CV. Coach Jason Van
Broekhuisen and Assistant Dave Schubel named Kelsie Bishop
tournament MVP for her outstanding midfield play the entire
weekend, despite having to come out in the second half of the
final match with a hip injury.
CVSC is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. To learn more about
CVSC, visit – www.cvsoccerclub.com.
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CVSC U10 Boys
Move on in League Cup
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The Crescenta Valley Soccer Club's boys under 10 team has
improved steadily over the past months. Finishing the league
season with three straight victories, they prepared to play in
the Coast Soccer League Cup Tournament. As a newly formed team
of players in the Crescenta Valley area, the boys have battled
hard to hone their soccer skills.
Playing in Torrance this past weekend, the team advanced from
pool play with a win and a tie. The team first beat the Morena
Valley Heat in a 1-0 nail biter. Exceptional defense was
provided by Joshua Cook, Anthony Aguilar, Michael Martin, Daniel
Eng, Bijan Rahimi and Alex Damla. Star goal-keeper Joseph Inda
made numerous saves to secure the shutout.
The second game was versus the South Bay Soccer Club. Spectacular
play was provided by the midfielders Joseph Kim, Adan Martinez
and Ryan Boyd. Goals in both games were supplied by the speedy
forward tandem of Tony Royer and Levik Youssefian. The team tied
South Bay 2-2 to advance to the next round in San Bernadino.
Coach Brett Vorster is ecstatic with the team's growth and
development. "These boys have trained so hard and it is great to
see them progress. I couldn't be prouder of them.", stated Coach
Brett after the weekend. This team is looking for the most
talented soccer youth boys in the surrounding area for the
upcoming season. New boys and girls teams and interested
individuals are encouraged to contact the Director of Coaching
for CVSC, Reggie Rivas at reggiesoccer@yahoo.com.
This team is one of many teams playing under the Crescenta Valley
Soccer Team banner. Each year new teams are forming as a growing
number of athletes in the area are moving to competitive club
soccer. Teams for players age 7 to 18 are being formed. Please
visit our website at cvsoccer.com to stay updated on all the
team's scores. There will be upcoming soccer camps and
information about the formation of new teams for the upcoming
season on our website, cvsoccerclub.com.
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Crescenta Valley Soccer Club Girls U13 Team Continues
Winning Ways |
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The CVSC Girls U13 team last year won their league in the silver
bracket of the Coast Soccer League. As they moved to the silver
elite bracket this season, they knew the competition would be
increasing as they would play against the top teams in Southern
California. After a grueling 14 game schedule, this talented
group of athletes came in second place. They defeated the finest
teams, from Simi Valley all the way to Alta Loma.
They are presently preparing for the League Cup and National Cup
tournaments. Coached by Adam Darby, this team combines
phenomenal skill with unmatched determination." This team is so
impressive with their ability to win games against the toughest
competition" commented Coach Adam Darby on his teams progress.
The team is comprised of defensive standouts Whitney Cowell, Sara
Davis, Kelly Clark, Savannah De Sousa, Taylor Anderson, Kate
Sappell and Savannah Rhoads. The powerful mid-field is anchored
by Vanessa Capra, Hannah Gerald, Lisa Lim, Nicole Martel,
Danielle Molina and Olivia Sierra. The dominant forwards are
Jordan Royer and Cecilia Martinez. Goal keeper, Eirene Kim
continues to provide stellar play and is one of the best in
Southern California.
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CRESCENTA VALLEY GIRLS U14 REACH NHB CUP FINAL
They were shoved. They were elbowed. And during Sunday's
nail-biting championship, two players got knocked to the ground
so hard in a scramble for the ball they were injured and had to
sit out the rest of the game.
CVSC took on the Serrano Golden Eagles from Arizona in the
second match of pool play. The CVSC midfield of Brittani
Dearman, Kelsie Bishop, Sissy Sovereign, Dani Vargas and Rachel
Hart dominated play throughout. In the 38th minute of the match
Summer Davidson scored the first CV goal of the tournament and
seven minutes later, Sylvie Ramirez extended the lead with a
goal off an assist by Vargas. The Golden Eagles never mounted a
serious offensive threat, and keeper Allie Woodward recorded a
second shutout. As the result of the 2-0 victory, CVSC won its
pool and moved on to the elimination rounds.
In the quarterfinal game CVSC faced Samba Blue. The two teams
had dueled to a 1-1 tie back in May, when CV won the
Samba/Diadora Tournament on Samba’s home turf. The rematch
turned out to be just as close. CV struck first, with Sylvie
Ramirez tallying a goal just two minutes into the match.
Forwards Amanda Schwartz, Breanna Villalobos and Paige O’Connor
kept the pressure on as CV had eight shots on goal. In the 33rd
minute a defensive miscue allowed Samba to tie the match. The
two clubs battled back and forth and appeared to be headed for a
tie in regulation time, but the clock was ticking down towards a
penalty kick shootout, in the last minute of play, Summer
Davidson poked in the game-winning goal to give CVSC a
hard-fought 2-1 victory.
CV faced Pasadena-based Barcelona in the semi-final contest.
Ramirez was the sparkplug again, scoring in the second minute
off an assist by Davidson. Eight minutes later Davidson scored
herself to extend the lead to 2-0. Barcelona came out hard to
start the second half, scoring in the 39th minute to draw within
one, but the CV defense held Barcelona at bay for another 2-1
victory and a trip to the championship game.
CV was matched against the Laguna Hills Eclipse in the
championship final held Monday morning on the plush soccer
fields of UC Irvine. The Eclipse were the aggressors from the
opening whistle, controlling the tempo with pin-point passes and
constant movement. Thanks to its defensive quickness and
outstanding work in goal from Allie Woodward, CV held the
Eclipse at bay for the first half. CVSC was never able to mount
a sustained offensive push and, as a result, the relentless
Eclipse attackers finally broke through in the 45th minute.
Twelve minutes later, the Eclipse scored again to extend their
lead to 2-0. Coach Jason Van Broekhuizen tried various
combinations of players to ignite the CV offense, but it was not
to be as the only defeat of the long weekend left the CVSC girls
one game short of a championship title.
This championship round appearance marked the end of a
successful summer tournament schedule for the CVSC U-14 girls.
CV finished with a 7-4-1 record in summer tournament play, with
three of the defeats coming against teams playing in
higher-ranked divisions in the regular season. The U-14s will
began their 2005 Coast Soccer League season with a home match
September 10 at Crescenta Valley High School.
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They were shoved. They were elbowed. And during Sunday's
nail-biting championship, two players got knocked to the ground
so hard in a scramble for the ball they were injured and had to
sit out the rest of the game.
In short, it was business as usual for CVSC's Under 13 Girls,
who've earned a reputation in the intensely competitive Coast
Soccer League for two things. Never giving up, and well, never
giving up. These girls have mettle.
At the JUSA Tournament in Placentia, that tenacity led the Silver
Elite team to nearly topple highly favored North Irvine and grab
the championship. After a goal by forward Vanessa Capra tied the
game at 2-2, and after a grueling 10-minute overtime in which
neither team scored, CVSC nabbed second place when North Irvine
won in penalty kicks. The final score was CVSC 2, North Irvine
3.
For CVSC's Under 13 girls, the second-place win was a remarkable
feat. Consider this: It was their first tournament of the
season. Their first time competing as a Silver Elite team. Last
year North Irvine was playing up a category, as a Gold team.
And, sure CVSC didn't bring home the championship trophy, but
they did win the grudging respect of North Irvine.
They've also got the distinction of having more second-place
victories than any team in the league. The JUSA Tournament took
place over the hot Labor Day weekend. In their first game early
Saturday morning, CVSC ran over Tustin 2-0. Both goals were
scored by forward Cecilia Martinez, with assists from forwards
Vanessa Capra and Jordan Royer.
A few hours later, CVSC battled their arch-rival, The California
Flyers. These two teams have a history with each other. And it
played itself out in a game that was fast and intense. The
Flyers have half a dozen new players this season, and the change
was most obvious in their speed. But CVSC's defense proved
superior.
After seeing the Flyers score first, midfielders Sara Davis,
Kelly Clark and Danielle Molina weren't going to let them score
again. Defenders Kate Sappell, Savannah De Sousa and Savannah
Rhoads also never let up, frustrating the Flyers every time they
drove toward the goal. Forward Cecilia Martinez tied things up
when her shot deflected off the goalie and flew in. Vanessa
Capra made the second goal when Whitney Cowell executed a
perfect cross, giving CVSC their 2-1 win over the Flyers.
In their first game on Sunday, CVSC trampled the Stampede from
Chino Hills. Jordan Royer scored with an assist by Cecilia
Martinez. Olivia Sierra, one of CVSC's most versatile players,
made the second goal with an assist from Vanessa Capra. When the
Stampede did score against CVSC, it was from a fluky header off
Kelly Clark. With a final score of CVSC 2, Stampede 1, the Under
13 Girls achieved their real goal. They made it to the finals.
Five hours later, CVSC met North Irvine on the field. If North
Irvine thought they were going to win easily, they were wrong.
In one of CVSC's longest games ever, the Under 13 Girls showed
not only skill and stamina, they showed heart. North Irvine came
at the goal again and again, often physically attacking CVSC
players to get to it. Defenders Taylor Anderson, Kate Sappell
and Savannah De Sousa challenged them on every ball, passing it
with precision, or firing it up the field with powerful kicks.
Even when North Irvine did breach CVSC's scrappy defense, goalie
Eirene Kim was there to stop them. She dove, she threw herself
to the ground, beating back one goal attempt after another.
Later, to no one's surprise, she was named the team's Most
Valuable Player.
As part of the offense, Hannah Gerald, Lisa Lim, Nicole Martel
fended off North Irvine and kept the ball in CVSC territory.
Jordan Royer scored with a penalty kick, tying the game. But
then North Irvine scored again, giving them the lead.
CVSC was down in other ways. In the first half, Danielle Molina
was helped off the field by Coach Adam Darby after she and a
North Irvine player got tangled up struggling for the ball.
Defender Kate Sappell was kicked so hard in another fierce
battle for the ball she was sitting out too.
But then late in the game something amazing happened. A perfect
pass from Olivia Sierra to ace forward Vanessa Capra. A kick
from Capra that soared over the goalie's head, seemed to hang
there forever, then gracefully dropped into the goal. The goal
wasn't just artful--it tied the game.
CVSC lost in the penalty shoot-out. And as the team watched North
Irvine collect their medals, they were clearly disappointed. But
as their British-born coach has been known to tell the talented
girls, they were "brilliant."top
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