U12 team bags title after runnerup in 08

June 21, 2009

The Diablo FC U10, U11 and U12 boys all reached the finals of the grueling and prestigious three-day 17th annual Cal Cup tournament this weekend in Sacramento.

Ironically, the U12 Diablo FC 97 boys came away with the championship trophy after having the rockiest road to the finals of our three club teams. By winning one, losing one and drawing one in round-robin play, coach Steve Shott’s U12 boys needed to win a tiebreaker to get into the semi-finals as the lowest seeded of the top four from the original dozen teams in the U12 Premier Division.

Once they got that opportunity the team made the most of it, shutting out host San Juan Lightning 98 Blue, which had not been scored on in the tournament, 1-0, in the semi-finals. On Sunday Diablo FC faced Ajax United FC Elite 98 in the finals and matched their previous effort with a 1-0 result. Ajax had racked up four straight victories heading into the finals. In last year’s Cal Cup, Diablo FC 97 made it to the finals undefeated before losing a 3-2 heartbreaker in the finale.

The Diablo FC 97 roster includes Raleigh Adams, Junior Arceta, Antonio Carrillo, Andres Garcia, Kevin Mendez, Mason Mitchell, Marco Monti, Diego Renteria, Austin Royce, Josh Sulvan, Osbaldo Solis, Dylan Troche, Payton Vanecek, Cameron Waite, Dylan Yasutake and guest player Abi Padilla.

The U10 boys of Diablo FC 99 scored three consecutive shutout wins to make it to the finals. They won 4-0 over California Rush Nike 00, 7-0 over San Juan Lightning 00 Blue and 2-0 over the other host team San Juan Lightning 00 White. In the championship game, San Juan Lightning 00 White turned the tables on coach Shott’s team for a 3-2 win in the title match.

In U11 boys, Diablo FC 98 matched its younger counterparts by scoring the most points in round-robin play by defeating California Rush Nike 99 5-0, Placer Prestige 99 Gold 5-1 and San Juan Lightning 99 White 10-0 setting them up for the semi-finals. In the semis they edged Orchard Valley Express 98 3-2 before coach Mani Salimpour’s boys fell in the finals 7-1 to Atletico Queso.

Next weekend at Cal Cup the Diablo FC U11, U13, U14 and U17 girls teams will take part.

Marco Monti (left) and Payton Vanecek model their Cal Cup championship t-shirts.

Cal Cup Championship Trophy

Proudly displaying U12 trophy are championship game team captains Raleigh Adams (left) and Diego Renteria.

Diablo FC 97 missed out of the 2008 Cal Cup U11 championship in the finals but this year went all the way to claim the U12 boys crown in the 17th annual Cal Cup. The team includes (front row, from left) Osbaldo Solis, Andres Garcia, Junior Arceta, Raleigh Adams, Antonio Carrillo, Kevin Mendez, Austin Royce and Dylan Yasutake; (back row) Diego Renteria, Marco Monti, Josh Sulvan, Payton Vanecek, Cameron Waite, Abi Padilla and coach Steve Shott. Not pictured, Mason Mitchell and Dylan Troche.	Diablo FC 99 took 2nd in the U10 boys division at Cal Cup. The team includes (front row, from left) Miguel Romo, Corey Alford, Grant Smith, Fernando Garcia; (back row) Coach Steve Shott, David Rosas, Alex Berumen, Jason Stockwell, Dawson House, Angel Solis and Darren Newell. Not pictured, Zach Colchico-Greeley.