Diablo FC teams dominate home tournament

Aug. 8, 2008

It was home cookin’ for the Diablo Futbol Club’s Class I U11-U14 boys and girls teams on the weekend of July 26-27, as a local team reached every championship game in the 6th annual Diablo FC Summer Classic. In an unprecedented showing in tournament history, a Diablo FC team in almost every age group went undefeated in reaching the finals against clubs from all over Northern California. It was a dominating weekend that culminated in three championships and five runner-up finishes for Diablo FC and set the tone for what could be a very successful inaugural season for the local club formed by last winter’s merger of Diablo Valley Soccer Club and Mt. Diablo Soccer League.

Girls take on tough competition

On the girls side, the U11 Diablo FC 97, playing in their first tournament as an 11 vs.11 team, overcame the absence of four players to reach the championship game at Tesoro fields. The team rebounded from a first game 4-0 defeat to Tracy Velocity to win their next two games, 3-1 against Sacramento United, and 3-0 against local rivals Walnut Creek, and reach the finals in their first tournament. Despite losing once again to Tracy in the finals, the girls improved and held their opponent 1-1 at the half before running out of steam. Coach Megan Swann said, “We knew this tournament would be difficult missing four key players, but the girls we used from U10 were awesome.”

All of the girls played well, but Swann particularly named Janine Bandayrel as a player who really made a difference. “She was not happy about moving to center back,” said Swann, “but she did awesome.”

Courtney Sheffield also played an important part in the games. Defender Sheffield said her favorite games were the first and last. “They were really good and we got a lot better from playing them (champion Tracy).” Goalkeeper Kaylie Collins added, “We played good but we played against a really hard team.”

In U12 division, CYSA State Cup semi finalist Diablo FC 96 reached the finals by winning their preliminary round games 1-0 against Delta Explosion, 2-0 vs. Modesto Ajax and 2-1 over Union FC of Palo Alto. The 96 girls then took on Mustang Extreme in the finals. In a fast-paced, exciting contest DFC quickly went down a goal before coming back to force overtime in the last few minutes of regulation on a late goal from Kelsey Randall. In the second overtime, with penalty kicks looming, Dominique Tambazidis scored the winner with seconds to go as Diablo FC 96 took home the first-place trophy. Assistant coach Miguel Gonzalez said, “The girls are getting more comfortable in their responsibilities. With a new formation, new system and new coach, plus nine new players, I saw improvement in every game.”

For the U13 Diablo FC 95 and coach Stacey Shaw, it did come down to penalty kicks and, unfortunately this time, it did not go their way as they lost to North Valley Thunder 2-1 after 90 minutes of play could not unlock a 1-1 tie. The championship game was an emotional one as the teams battled mightily to force overtime and then penalty kicks. In the end their second-place finish was a strong showing. The 95 girls only allowed three goals all weekend with two shutouts, while scoring 15 goals.

Diablo FC 94 coached by Brazilian soccer legend Sissi did not concede a goal in their first three games, winning by scores of 3-0 against Union FC from Palo Alto, 2-0 against Diablo FC 94 Blue and a scoreless draw with Extreme after they had already been assured of a spot in the finals. In the U14 championship game rematch with Union FC, Sissi’s team dominated play but uncharacteristically was unable to finish and ended up on the short end of a 1-0 scoreline to take second place.

Diablo FC U13 boys win in overtime

The boys’ side of the tournament was even more successful for Diablo FC teams. The U11 Diablo FC 97 boys of coach Steve Shott reached the championship game by scoring 15 goals and allowing two, before they fell to Central Marin Arsenal 2-1 in the Summer Classic finale.

Diablo FC 96 boys coached by Paulo De Souza started with a 2-2 tie, but came back to win their next two games by a combined 11-0 total, before falling 4-3 in the U12 finals against East Diablo United Crew in a championship game determined on penalty kicks.

Coach John Badger`s Diablo FC 95 boys may have been involved in the most exciting game of the tournament as they beat Mustang Hotspurs 2-1 in overtime for the U13 championship. The game followed wins by scores of 10-1, 3-2 and 4-1.

Finally the U14 Diablo FC 94 boys coached by Marquis White also won their first three games by scores of 6-0 against Walnut Creek Diablos, 2-1 over Manteca Velocity and 7-0 against River City Boca Juniors. That put Diablo FC 94 in the finals where they defeated crosstown rivals Heritage Thunder 3-1.

It was a very successful weekend for the Diablo Futbol Club, and a possible glimpse of the balance of power in competitive soccer in the area.

See complete official results on Summer Classic.

By Randy Rowland
Reprinted from Clayton Pioneer