Photo Gallery of Diablo FC 90 at 2008 USYSA National Championships (July 25 vs. Everest SC)

Diablo FC 90 Wins Fair Play Award at USYSA National Championships in Arkansas

Monday, July 28

It wasn't the trophy they originally set out to win but the Diablo FC 90 Boys have been named winner of the prestigious Fair Play Award for U17 boys at the USYSA National Championships which ended Sunday in North Little Rock, Ark.


In fact, by the time their award was announced the team was back in California and coach John Badger was with his Diablo FC 95 U13 boys Sunday as they won the championship in the Summer Classic hosted by Diablo FC. They got a thrilling 2-1 victory over Mustang Hotspur, who were ranked 4th in Northern California before the tournament, one place above Diablo FC 95.

The USYSA Nationals may have been held in Arkansas but they had a decidedly Texas twang to them. In the 12 age groups North Texas Association teams had 9 teams in the finals and won 7 National Championships. Five other Associations from around the USA each claimed one crown. California, which traditionally dominates this premier youth soccer tournament each year, won only one title and that was by Cal North girls U14 team San Juan Spirits 94. Cal South had 8 teams qualify for the Nationals and 4 made it to the finals. For the first time since 2001, no team from Cal South won a National Championship. In fact, from 2002 to 2007 Cal South won at least 3 National titles every year. The only year they haven't claimed a National Championship in the past 15 before this year was 2001.

In the U17 boys Andromeda 91 of Texas played Everest SC of Ohio in the finals. Both teams earned narrow 2-1 victories over Diablo FC during the tournament. Andromeda 90 had already secured the Under-18 boys title to defend their 2007 championship by the time the U17 final took place.

Andromeda 91 almost scored from more than 40 yards in the out in the 40th minute on a Christopher Burgess kick that hit just in front of the Everest keeper and bounced to the crossbar where it was safely collected. Netting the game winner was Samuel Haines who scored in the 62nd to earn the North Texas boys their own national title and second for the club on the day as Andromeda outlasted Everest 1-0, just as Badger predicted at the end of round robin play.

Diablo FC 90 has the conclusion of the Pacific Northern California Super Y-League schedule in front of it this summer. They currently lead the standings even though they've played two less games than the second and third place teams. Diablo FC has to make up four games in the remaining month of the season and if they hold their lead they will qualify for the North American Super Y-League championships during November in Florida.

Later this summer and in early fall a half dozen Diablo FC 90 players go off to college so coach Badger is seeking a few new players (a couple have already joined the team during Super Y-League season). He will be having tryouts for interested players in the next couple of weeks. To get more information about tryouts contact the coach and fill out the Diablo FC tryout form. 

Diablo FC 90 Nationals profile.

Keep up with latest National Championship Information. 

Black Pearl ousted from tournament

Saturday, July 26

Miguel Perez scored with about 10 minutes left for the Diablo FC Black Pearl 90 in the under-17 boys team`s last group game against Everest SC of Ohio-North at the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Association National Championships on Friday in North Little Rock, Ark. But Perez`s goal was the last hurrah for Diablo FC, which was eliminated from further competition after a 2-1 loss.

Diablo, ranked third in the nation for under-17 boys by gotsoccer.com heading into the tournament, was winless in its three group matches at the Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock. The Black Pearl lost 2-1 to second-ranked Andromeda 91 of North Texas in Wednesday`s opener then fell 3-1 to the No. 1 FC Delco Hammerheads of East Pennsylvania on Thursday.

By Mike McGreehan, Staff correspondent

Reprinted from Contra Costa Times

Diablo FC Black Pearl 90 downed in Arkansas tournament

Friday, July 25

In spite of a spirited team effort, including an early equalizer by Edgar Villagrana, the Diablo FC Black Pearl 90 gave up two late goals to the nation`s top-ranked under-17 boys soccer team — the FC Delco Hammerheads of East Pennsylvania — in a 3-1 group-play loss Thursday evening at the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Association National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark.

"We were very good tonight," Black Pearl coach John Badger said. "Our kids were very committed. They gave everything they had but came up short."

Region 4 champion Black Pearl fell to 0-2, having also lost its tournament opener on Wednesday, 2-1 to Andromeda 91 of North Texas. The Black Pearl plays mostly for pride this evening when it takes on Everest SC of Ohio-North to conclude group play.

Diablo FC entered this tournament ranked third in the nation among under-17 boys by gotsoccer.com but knew it had its hands full against the No. 1 Hammerheads. Diablo FC played a lot of short passes. FC Delco was more direct.

The Black Pearl attacked from the start, but the Pennsylvania team went up 1-0 off a long-ball counter in the third minute. Villagrana equalized two minutes later with help from Pittsburg High School teammate Miguel Perez and Las Lomas` Andrew Shapiro.

The match remained tied until the Hammerheads scored in the 70th minute. A final goal was scored four minutes into injury time.

By Mike McGreehan, Staff correspondent

Reprinted from Contra Costa Times

Diablo FC 90 ends Nationals with same tough result

Friday, July 25

"We just never hit on all cylinders. The whole week we made the same crucial mistakes and we were made to pay every time," said coach John Badger Friday evening in summing up his Diablo FC 90 Under 17 team`s performance as they again were on the short end of a 2-1 score line to Everest SC of Ohio at the USYSA National Championships in Little Rock, Ark.

Everest and Andromeda 91 of Texas will meet in the National Championship game Sunday. Andromeda beat the nation`s #1 ranked team coming into the Nationals, FC Delco Hammerheads of Pennsylvania, 2-1 in the other Friday evening contest.

Diablo FC trailed at halftime for the first time in the tournament 1-0 after giving up a goal on a 25-yard shot 40 minutes into the first half. Badger`s team had two clear chances inside the box in the first 20 minutes and weren`t able to score on either. Just two minutes into the second half Everest doubled its lead but then with 11 minutes to go Miguel Perez scored his second goal of the tournament to cut the margin back to one goal. Diablo FC continued to press the action---as they did for the majority of the game---and created two or three good scoring opportunities for a tying goal. It never came to be and the Far West Regional champs ended winless at the Nationals.

"We were clearly as good as Everest. Give them full credit for the results they`ve achieved at Nationals (two wins and a draw), however if we had played them in Hawaii (site of the Far West Regionals) our team wins 3-1. While we were here in Little Rock we just never recaptured the level of play we had at Regionals," Badger explained. In fact, Diablo FC gave up seven goals in the three Little Rock games, which was one more than they allowed in the 13 games during State Cup and Regionals as they earned their National Final Four berth. In comparison, Everest lost its State Cup championship game, made it Regionals as a wild card and then won a shootout in the Regional championship game to gain its Nationals slot. Once in Little Rock they achieved outstanding results against the three other Regional champs, who were ranked 1-2-3 in the country coming into the Nationals, while Everest was #10.

It’s been an unusual National Championship tournament with only 5 California teams making it among the 24 championship game participants. On the other hand, Texas has 9 teams in the finals in the tournament right next to the Lone Star State.

Diablo FC 90 returns home Saturday and has the conclusion of the Pacific Northern California Super Y-League schedule in front of it this summer. They currently lead the standings even though they`ve played two less games than the second and third place teams. Diablo FC has to make up four games in the remaining month of the season and if they hold their lead they will qualify for the North American Super Y-League championships during November in Florida.

Later this summer and in early fall a half dozen Diablo FC 90 players go off to college so Coach Badger is seeking a few new players (three have already joined the team during Super Y-League season). He will be having tryouts for interested players in the next couple of weeks. To get more information about tryouts contact the coach.  

Diablo soccer team falls to North Texas in nationals

Thursday, July 24

Miguel Perez scored an early goal for the Diablo FC Black Pearl 90, but little else went right for the under-17 boys team in a 2-1 loss to North Texas champion Andromeda 91 in the opening match of the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Association National Championships on Wednesday evening in North Little Rock, Ark.

"We just weren`t good enough tonight," Black Pearl 90 coach John Badger said. "We didn`t connect on a lot of our passes. We didn`t play our best."

Perez, from North Coast Section 3A champion Pittsburg High School, scored on a fine individual effort midway through the first half. The North Texas squad continued to press forward in the second half, and reaped the rewards with a pair of goals for the win.

The Black Pearl 90, which won the USYSA Region 4 title in Hawaii last month, is the nation`s third ranked under-17 team, according to gotsoccer.com. Andromeda is ranked second.

The task does not get any easier for Black Pearl 90 this evening against No. 1 FC Delco Hammerheads of Eastern Pennsylvania. Diablo FC completes group play Friday against No. 10 Everest SC of Ohio North.

By Mike McGreehan, Staff correspondent

Reprinted from Contra Costa Times

Diablo FC 90 Loses to USA`s #1 Team to be eliminated

Thursday, July 24

"The boys showed they belong here," was the first statement from coach John Badger after his Diablo FC 90 team, despite a strong effort, was eliminated from championship game contention by a tough 3-1 defeat to the country's top-ranked Under 17 boys team, FC Delco Hammerheads, Thursday evening in Little Rock, Ark. during the second day of the USYSA National Championships.

"A couple plays made all the difference in getting a result" (a win or draw would have kept Diablo FC firmly in contention for reaching Sunday's championship game) and being eliminated from finishing in the top two. The coach added his team gave a "good effort".

Diablo FC came out much stronger than in their tournament opener Wednesday and created immediate opportunities. Almost as quickly however FC Delco Hammerheads, who are playing in their third straight National Championship tournament, counterattacked and scored a goal in the third minute of the game. Undaunted, Diablo FC kept up the pressure and within two minutes had knotted the score on a goal by Edgar Villagrana assisted by Andrew Shapiro and Miguel Perez (who scored his team`s lone goal on Wednesday in a 2-1 loss to Andromeda 91).

Just five minutes into the contest it stood 1-1. The score remained that way until past the halfway mark of the second half when FC Delco scored a second goal.
Facing the prospect of elimination if they could not at least gain a draw, Diablo FC pressed the play pushing for an equalizer and eventually were made to pay in stoppage time when the Eastern Pennsylvania team iced the win with a counter attack goal for the final 3-1 margin.

With the other Thursday game between Andromeda 91 of Texas and Everest SC of Ohio ending in a 1-1 draw the tournament would have gone down to tomorrow`s final round robin game had Diablo FC even earned one point for a tie Thursday. Now they can only play the role of spoiler when they meet Everest in the finale of the round robin. Both Everest and Andromeda have 4 points and Delco 3, with the two top point-makers moving on to the winner-take-all finale Sunday morning. Everest and Andromeda can each move on with a win or draw tomorrow. Delco must win to advance since they lost to Everest yesterday and thus would lose a tie breaker if they were even on points with Everest.

Coach Badger knows it's a difficult assignment for his team to get up for the final game with nothing at stake. It`s the first time in three years they will play a meaningless game where they have been eliminated from competition before the first kick. They have won the last three CYSA North State Cups and were in contention at the Far West Regionals all three years until they were either stopped during sudden death elimination rounds or they went on to win the title, as they did this year. 

Diablo FC 90 Loses Lead, Then Game at Soccer Nationals

Wednesday, July 23

Coach John Badger didn't know whether to chalk it up to nerves, the atmosphere of a National Championship or even the size of the field, but he said his Diablo FC Black Pearl 90 boys "didn't play well. We were not good with the ball." That ultimately resulted in giving up a pair of goals midway through the second half and meant a 2-1 loss to Andromeda 91 of Texas in their opening game at the U17 USYSA National Championships in Little Rock, Ark.

In the other U17 boys game, #1 Nationally-ranked FC Delco Hammerheads were tied at halftime but lost 4-2 to Everest SC of Ohio.

Diablo FC was almost overrun in the early minutes of the game as Andromeda hit the post twice in the first five minutes but the local team settled down and Miguel Perez scored at the 33-minute mark of the first half and they kept that 1-0 lead at the intermission.

"I thought Andromeda played much better in the first half," Badger stated, before going on to say the Texas team changed its tactics later in the game and began playing very direct, which resulted in a pair of goals just three minutes apart--resulting from uncharacteristic errors by Diablo FC-- to claim the win. "This was the biggest field (80x120) we've ever played on and they began sending long balls in and it paid off. We will definitely play better tomorrow," the coach added.

Andromeda 91 just missed reaching the 2007 National Championships when they lost in the Region 3 finals. Their older club team Andromeda 90 did make it to last year's tournament and emerged as U17 National Champions. They are back defending their title and drew in their first U18 match Wednesday. Andromeda 91 is ranked #2 in the country with Diablo FC #3 entering the tournament. Everest, which lost its State Cup championship and was given a wild card berth to its Regional, is the lowest ranked of the Final Four at #10.

FC Delco and Diablo FC meet Thursday in a game that both teams need to win. Everest and Andromeda, the two first-day winners, play each other in the other Thursday game. Diablo will then play Everest on Friday trying to finish among the top two teams who will advance to Sunday's winner-take-all championship match.

To show the intense competition, there are four defending National Champions among the 12 age groups (6 boys and 6 girls U14-U19). Only one of the four defending champs won their opening game Wednesday! 

Diablo FC 90's Biggest Challenge in Little Rock National Championships this week

Monday, July 21

This is what they’ve dreamed about since they started playing soccer as little boys.

The dreaming is almost over and reality kicks off this Wednesday when the Diablo FC 90 Under 17 boys compete in the 2008 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, Ark.

The U17 USYSA Final Four consists of the teams who currently rank #1-2-3-10 in national soccer ratings. Diablo FC 90, 3-time CYSA North State Cup champions and #3 ranked in the USA, represents Far West Region 4 after they won that title last month in Hawaii. Their opponents are #1 FC Delco Hammerheads  of Eastern Pennsylvania, #2 Andromeda 91  of North Texas and #10 Everest Soccer Club  from the greater Cleveland area of Ohio North. In total, there are 56 teams at the National Championships seeking the 12 National titles to be determined in Little Rock. They are the survivors from the 10,000 teams who started State Cup play around the country in the U14 through U19 boys and girls age groups.

The four U17 boys teams will play a round robin schedule Wednesday through Friday with the top two finishers moving to Sunday’s winner-take-all championship game. Cal South champion Real So Cal won the U14, U15 and U16 titles in this age group over the past three years at Nationals. Clearly the favorite this year with Real So Cal not back to defend its three-peat is FC Delco, which has taken second and third in the past two Nationals, has gone to the Region 1 tournament six consecutive years and is ranked #1 in the country.

U17 Boys Nationals 2008 Schedule

Wednesday, July 23, 5:00 p.m. (All times Pacific)
U17 B Diablo FC 90 vs. Andromeda 91
U17 B FC Delco Hammerheads vs. Everest Soccer Club

Thursday, July 24, 5:00 p.m.
U17 B Diablo FC 90 vs. FC Delco Hammerheads
U17 B Everest Soccer Club vs. Andromeda 91

Friday, July 25, 5:00 p.m.
U17 B Everest Soccer Club vs. Diablo FC 90
U17 B Andromeda 91 vs. FC Delco Hammerheads

Sunday, July 27, 6:00 a.m.
U17 B Championship Game

Coach John Badger’s Diablo FC 90 U17 boys will play all three of their round-robin games at 7 p.m. Central time, hopefully avoiding some of the heat expected in Little Rock. Should they reach the Sunday championship game they will be playing at 6 a.m. Pacific time (8 a.m. Central time)! The weather forecast is for temperatures in the mid 90s with thunder showers expected every day.

This year marked FC Delco`s 6th appearance at the US Youth Soccer Region I championships and their 3rd consecutive title as Region Champions. They played the same team, FC Blazers, in the finals all three years and ended up the right side of the same score each time, 2-1.
"Before the tournament even started, I told them it would be a `one game at a time` approach. We had the toughest bracket and each game was a championship game," said Delco head coach Adrian Cox. "We executed our game plan. They are all great players, but when you play as a team, special things happen. That`s why this team is so great – because they play for each other. The core group of this team has been together for 6 or 7 years."

Andromeda 91 of Plano, Texas played strong defense and worked together in the Region 3 U17 finals against powerhouse CASL Elite of Raleigh, NC for a 2-0 victory. They barely missed making it to the 2007 National Championships as a U16 team after finishing second in Regionals. The Under 17 boys from Andromeda 91 coached by Michael Powers are following the lead of their older U18 clubmates, Andromeda 90, who won the USYSA U17 National Championship a year ago and are back in Little Rock looking to add the U18 crown to their trophy case.

Everest SC played Scott Gallagher of St. Louis and extra time was needed to determine the Region 2 champion. After overtime periods the score remained deadlocked 1-1 and a shootout victory gave Everest their ticket to Nationals. Everest finished second in their State Cup and got a wild card berth to Regionals (where they were semi-finalists in 2007). "This is a team that`s been together since they were eight-years-old," said John Fenix, head coach for Everest. They are the first boys team from the greater Cleveland area to reach Nationals in over 20 years. They feature players from the Cleveland area and as far away as Toledo and Erie, PA.

Diablo FC had to get through CYSA North State Cup, where they were top seeded after winning titles as U15 and U16. They won all seven State Cup games to advance to the Region 4 tournament for the third time in a row. They opened with a 1-1 draw against the Oregon State Champions (who knocked DVSC Black Pearl out of Regionals at the quarterfinal stage a year ago and then went on to be 2007 Regional finalists to Real So Cal) and then they ran off five consecutive wins to claim the local club’s first-ever Regional title.

Diablo FC 90 was the only CYSA North boys team to get as far as the semifinals at Far West Regionals this year. They are the only Bay Area team at USYSA Nationals, joined by the U14 San Juan Spirits of 94 girls team from Sacramento as Cal North’s sole representatives in Little Rock.

Overall, Diablo FC 90 scored 14 goals while surrendering 4 at Regionals. Counting the 6 games in Regionals and 7 in State Cup earlier this spring, the Diablo FC 90 boys scored 38 goals and gave up just 6. They never gave up more than one goal in any of those 13 games.

Anthony Ahedo, Garrett Biel, Jose Cabeza, Harjan Cheema, Jaysen Dyal, Omar Ortiz, Ryan Quigley, Adrian Rincon, Andrew Shapiro, Jose Gonzalez, Edwin Velasquez, Miguel Perez, Edgar Villagrana, Alex Lopez, Scott White and their injured teammate George Valente will forever be Diablo FC 90, 2008 USYSA Far West Regional Champions.

This team was formed in the spring of 2000 as DVSC Atlas at the U10 age group, coached by Todd Ferro and assistant Jason Bedecarre. They reached the semifinals of their first State Cup in 2002 as an U11 team and then were in the round of 16 in 2004 as U13 when Badger took over the coaching reins. They were known as DVSC Black 90.

In the summer of 2005 when they were U14 and now called DVSC Black Pearl 90 (officially still their name) they won the US Club Soccer Regionals in Boise, Idaho, earning a spot in National Cup IV in Jacksonville, Fla. They reached the National Cup IV Championship game before losing to Bridge FA of South Carolina. They were the first team from DVSC to ever make a National Championship final game. After that near-miss in their first time on the National stage, Clayton Valley High School freshman Cheema wrapped up his feelings, "Now we have seen some of the national teams. The boys and I are aware of the challenges outside of California. Now we plan to train hard and return to Nationals to claim our 1st place medals!" Cheema, who is going to Cal State Chico as a freshman this fall, and his teammates are indeed getting another chance.

Ironically, Bridge FA, the victors over the local team in that 2004 National Cup, was a recently merged soccer club in the Charleston, S.C. area. Now DVSC Black Pearl 90 has morphed into Diablo FC 90 and is making an auspicious debut for the brand new Diablo Futbol Club, which came about earlier this year with the merger of Concord youth soccer clubs Diablo Valley Soccer Club and Mt. Diablo Soccer League.
The Diablo FC 90 boys success places a real exclamation point on the history of the Diablo Valley Soccer Club. DVSC teams participated in USYSA Far West Regionals in 10 of the past 14 years since 1995 without winning a championship until this June. The DVSC Nightmare girls twice reached the Regional finals and another time were in the semifinals. Coach Badger was taking part in his 5th Regional as a head coach in the club, with his four previous efforts all ending at the quarterfinal stage, including the past two years when the Black Pearl 90 boys feel at that hurdle.

Diablo FC teams (still representing MDSL and DVSC) had impressive results this year in CYSA North State Cup with teams reaching the finals and semifinals in several age groups. Coaching Director Brian Voltattorni and Technical Director Marquis White assembled an outstanding coaching staff for the 48 competitive teams in the inaugural season of Diablo FC. Two of those teams recently captured US Club Soccer Regional Championships in Boise over the July 4th weekend. Coach White’s Diablo FC 94 U13 boys and Badger’s Diablo FC 95 U12 boys each won a Regional Championship in the Premier Division of US Club Soccer play. 

By winning the recent US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships, the Diablo FC Black Pearl Under-17 Boys from Concord has qualified to compete in the US Youth Soccer National Championships at Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, Arkansas, July 22-27.

The tournament will consist of four teams that won their respective regional championship in the under-14 through under-19 age groups as well as the top two teams from the inaugural US Youth Soccer National League in the under-15 and 16 age groups for boys and girls.

The traditional 48 teams have advanced to the national finals through the first two legs of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, where more than 10,000 teams began their journey at the US Youth Soccer State Championships. State champions advanced to one of four US Youth Soccer regional championships, where over 900 teams compete. The national championship field consists of 56 teams from these regional champions and national league representatives.

Joining Diablo FC Black Pearl in the Under-17 division are FC Delco Hammerheads (PA-E), Andromeda 91 (N-TX), and Everest SC (OH-N).

By Bay Area News Group East Bay

Wednesday, July 23: 7:00 p.m.
U17 B Field 1 Diablo FC 90 vs. Andromeda 91
U17 B Field 2 FC Delco Hammerheads vs. Everest Soccer Club

Thursday, July 24: 7:00 p.m.
U17 B Field 3 Diablo FC 90 vs. FC Delco Hammerheads
U17 B Field 4 Everest Soccer Club vs. Andromeda 91

Friday, July 25: 7:00 p.m.
U17 B Field 1 Everest Soccer Club vs. Diablo FC 90
U17 B Field 2 Andromeda 91 vs. FC Delco Hammerheads

The complete 2008 US Youth Soccer National Championships schedule as well as game scores and highlights are available at the Series Website.

About the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series

The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer`s 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships. These champions and selected wildcard teams through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-14 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Adding to the excitement in 2008, the national championships will feature two teams from the newly formed US Youth Soccer National League in the U-15 and U-16 age groups. Overall the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation`s top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.

U17 Boys National Final 4 includes Top 3 rated teams in USA, including Diablo FC 90

Wednesday, July 2 - The top 3 ranked U17 boys teams in the country are slated for the USYSA National Final 4 later this month in Little Rock, Ark. Three-time National tournament entry
FC Delco Hammerheads  of Pennsylvania is ranked just ahead of Andromeda 91  of Plano, Texas and Diablo FC 90. Filling out the Final 4 in Little Rock is 10th ranked Everest SC of Hudson, Ohio. The top three teams are separated by less than 100 points in the latest gotsoccer.com listings.

The Nationals begin in less than three weeks, running July 22-27 in the Arkansas capital city.

In the U17 boys age group there is no defending champion as Real So Cal , which won the tournament the three previous years as U14, U15 and U16, did not qualify for Far West Regionals to try for their 4th straight National title. This leaves FC Delco as the favorite since the Eastern Pennsylvania team has been to Regionals six consecutive times and to Nationals the past two years, finishing second at U15 and third as U16.

ROCKFORD, Illinois (June 25, 2008) --- A driving rain and muddy fields added another competitor in today`s US Youth Soccer Region III Championship finals as teams tried to focus on the task at hand and the chance to advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships as one of the top four teams in the country.

Everest SC (OH-N) played Scott Gallagher (MO) and extra time was needed to determine a champion in Under-17 Boys as was the case for five of today`s championships. Alejandro Garcia put Everest out front in the 27th but before the half Jared Gain evened the match in the 45th for Scott Gallagher. After overtime periods the score would remain and a shootout 4-3 victory gave Everest the ticket to nationals.

"This is a team that`s been together since they were eight-years-old," John Fenix, head coach for Everest Coach. "We are one of the few boys` teams from Ohio (North) to advance to nationals in over 25 years. This experience (regionals) is beyond the boys` wildest dreams and expectations and they have really enjoyed it."

North Texas to advance 8 teams to Little Rock

RALEIGH (June 25, 2008) – Teams and sidelines erupted after today`s victories. Winners were crowned US Youth Soccer Region III Champions and have earned a berth to the US Youth Soccer National Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 22-27.

The US Youth Soccer Regional Championships always displays the highest level of competition and in today`s matches, that competition was evenly matched. Several games went into overtime and some went beyond that to penalty kicks and even sudden death elimination.

With targets on their back in the Under-18 boys division, the 2007 US Youth Soccer National Champions, Andromeda 90, held their opponent scoreless and put up two goals to continue in their trek to defending their title.

The Under-17 boys from Andromeda 91 are following the lead of Andromeda 90. By playing strong defense and working together, they too, held their opponent, CASL Elite, scoreless with a 2:0 win.

Diablo FC 90 Ranked #1 in the USA among U17 Boys Teams

Tuesday, June 24 - Fresh off their victory in the USYSA Far West Regionals in Honolulu, the Diablo FC 90 boys are ranked #1 in the USA in the latest gotsoccer.com national poll of U17 boys teams.

The rankings list the top 1172 U17 boys teams from the 50 states. Needless to say, the team coached by John Badger is also #1 in Region IV and Northern California. This is the highest national ranking ever achieved by our club. DVSC Nightmare girls were ranked in the Top 10 Nationally for several years but never got to #1.

The team is continuing on a busy summer schedule of major tournaments around the country, including the USYSA National Championship Final Four in Little Rock, Ark July 22-27, where they will compete against the other three Regional champions.

Diablo FC earned its #1 ranking based on the Regional title plus three straight CYSA North State Cup championships, the prestigious 2007 NHB Cup title and other strong performances in invitational tournaments. They are currently in first place in the 2008 Super Y-League Pacific Division.

See complete U17 boys national rankings.

Move over Bill & Hillary, Diablo FC 90 is Coming to Little Rock!

Sunday, June 22 - Little Rock, Arkansas is the capital city of Arkansas and the home to Bill and Hillary Clinton during his 12 years as governor. Now it will be the temporary home of Diablo FC 90 when the U17 boys team coached by John Badger takes part in the USYSA National Championships July 22-27.

Diablo FC 90, known as DVSC Black Pearl 90 during their three-year run as 2006-2008 State Cup champions, are now Far West Regional champions after defeating OSC Rage of Southern California 2-1 in the finals Sunday in Honolulu.

Jose Cabeza and Jaysen Dyal scored goals to give Diablo FC a 2-0 halftime advantage. OSC possessed the ball through large parts of the game but was unable to get behind the Diablo FC defense to threaten goalie Anthony Ahedo. Off a corner kick in the 89th minute OSC finally broke through for a goal but Diablo FC then held on to the ball through 4 minutes of added time to claim the first-ever Regional title for the Concord-based youth soccer club.

Badger credited his defensive back four of Alex Lopez, Edwin Velasquez, Ryan Quigley and Jose Gonzalez for the team`s strong showing throughout the tournament. The back four played every minute of the team`s six games in Honolulu. Overall, Diablo FC scored 14 goals while surrendering four at Regionals. Counting the six games in Regionals and seven in CYSA North State Cup earlier this spring as they won their third straight title, the Diablo FC 90 boys scored 38 goals and gave up just six. They never gave up more than one goal in any of those 13 games.

All 15 players making the trip to Hawaii contributed to the team`s success, according to Badger. Ahedo, Garrett Biel, Cabeza, Harjan Cheema, Dyal, Omar Ortiz, Quigley, Adrian Rincon, Andrew Shapiro, Gonzalez, Velasquez, Miguel Perez, Edgar Villagrana, Lopez, Scott White and their injured teammate George Valente will forever be 2008 USYSA Far West Regional Champions.

The National Championships in Little Rock will feature four U17 boys teams. The Region 1 tournament begins Friday in Maine. Region 2 started yesterday Illinois while Region 3 concludes this Wednesday in North Carolina. The four Regional champions will play a round robin in Arkansas with the top two finishers then playing for the championship in a single game.

The Diablo FC 90 boys success places a real exclamation point on the history of the Diablo Valley Soccer Club and an auspicious debut for the brand new Diablo FC, which came about earlier this year with the merger of Concord clubs DVSC and Mt. Diablo Soccer League. DVSC teams had participated in Far West Regionals in 10 of the past 14 years since 1995 without winning a championship. The DVSC Nightmare girls twice reached the Regional finals and another time were in the semifinals. Badger was taking part in his 5th Regional as a head coach with his four previous efforts all ending at the quarterfinal stage, including the past two years when the 90 boys feel at that hurdle.

Diablo FC had an impressive debut this year in CYSA North State Cup play with teams reaching the finals and semifinals in several age groups. Coaching Director Brian Voltattorni and Technical Director Marquis White expect the nearly 50 teams representing Diablo FC in the 2008-2009 season to enjoy similar results.

Diablo FC 90 was the only CYSA North boys team to get as far as the semifinals at Regionals this year. Two Cal North girls teams are playing for Regional championships today in Honolulu. By comparison, 39 of 42 Cal South teams made it to the Regional quarterfinals and 20 are in the finals.

Complete U17 Regional results.

Diablo FC Wins PK Shootout to Reach Regional Finals

Saturday, June 21 - Diablo FC 90 scored the tying goal in the last minute of regulation play to stun an overflow crowd of local supporters for Honolulu Bulls SC 91 Ka`ula and Coach John Badger`s team went on to take the penalty kick shootout 5-4 to advance to Sunday`s U17 boys championship game of the Far West Regionals in Honolulu.

The Hawaiian team, making its 6th straight appearance in the Regionals and rooted on by nearly 500 partisan fans (there were exactly 5 Diablo FC parents in attendance to counter the home crowd), had the better run of play in the first half but Diablo FC (aka DVSC Black Pearl 90 as the team was known while winning the last 3 Cal North State Cup championships) had the better scoring opportunities.

HSC Bulls countered off a corner kick by Diablo FC during the second half and scored, although CYSA North officials on site thought the scorer was clearly offsides. In the final minute of the 90 Diablo FC got a corner kick, it came out to Miguel Perez, who put a left-footed volley into the net to disappoint the home crowd and send the game to OT. Neither team scored in the 30 extra minutes.

Diablo FC 90 was reduced to 12 healthy field players when Adrian Rincon pulled a hamstring in the first few minutes of the game. The iron crew lasted 120 minutes of play before Andrew Shapiro, Edwin Velasquez, Jaysen Dyal, Garrett Biel and Jose Cabeza all put their penalty kicks in the goal while HSC missed its second attempt. Backup goalkeeper Scott White was the only team member not to play Saturday although he has played in the Regionals. Starting keeper Anthony Ahedo and White have only allowed 5 goals in 12 State Cup and Regional games while their teammates have scored 37.

The other U17 boys semifinal game also went to overtime with Far West Regional League spring champs OSC Rage of Orange County winning 3-2 over WSM Internationals of Oregon, a Regional finalist last year. The winner of the Diablo FC 90-OSC Rage game Sunday advances to the USYSA National
Final Four in Little Rock, Ark. July 22-27.

Diablo FC is the first boys team from our club to reach the Regional finals. DVSC Nightmare girls twice reached the Far West Regional title game, which determines the champion from the 13 Western States, including both the Northern and Southern State Cup winners from California. Making the tournament even more difficult is that the new Far West Regional League has its fall and spring champs also in the competition. This allowed 42 teams from powerful Cal South to take part in the Regionals, compared with 21 from CYSA North. 39 of the 42 Cal South teams reached the quarterfinals.

Diablo FC 90 was the only Cal North boys team to reach the semifinals.

From earlier in the tournament here`s a Far West Regional press release about the Bulls:

The Honolulu Bulls Under-17 Boys are playing on their home field this week. They have been to every US Youth Soccer Region IV tournament since they were Under-12. Their first year they made it to the semifinals and they have been in the quarterfinals ever since. With their many friends and family supporting them from the sidelines, they hope this year they will advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

"Size is a big challenge this week, we are smaller than many of the teams," said Lucas Lam, "But we are used to the pressure and used to college coaches watching our tournaments on the mainland."

"It is great to have support with more families and friends watching. We don`t often get to compete against such high caliber teams, so this is a great opportunity," said Iain McCoy.

Diablo FC 90 Boys Storm into Semifinals of Far West Regionals

Friday, June 20 - Coach John Badger`s Diablo FC 90 (aka Black Pearl 90) thrashed 5-time Far West Regional quarterfinalists and the only undefeated, untied team in the U17 boys bracket, Classic FC Red Star of New Mexico, 3-0 in today`s quarterfinals to reach the semis on Saturday.

Finding themselves at this stage of the Regionals for the third year in a row, Diablo FC finally advanced into the final four with a comprehensive victory over Classic FC Red Star, which had outscored its three opponents 12-1 and had never scored less than 3 goals in a game.

Diablo FC meets host HSC Bulls 91 in the semis on Saturday. The Bulls blanked powerful Cal South champions South Coast Bayern 2-0 in their quarterfinal match. Ironically, in 2001 when Coach Badger`s U13 DVSC Cosmos United team was eliminated in the Regional quarterfinals it was by the HSC Bulls 88 Red.

The other semi on Saturday pairs Oregon champs WSM Internationals, who drew with Diablo FC during round robin play, with OSC Rage, the Far West Regional Spring League champs. Saturday`s quarterfinals are at 8 a.m. Hawaiian time (10 a.m. Pacific time) and the finals Sunday are at 7:30 a.m. The winner of the Regionals in each boys and girls age bracket for U14 and older advances to the USYSA National Final Four July 22-27 in Little Rock, Ark.

This is the farthest a boys team from our club has advanced in Regional play. The DVSC Nightmare girls made it to the Regional finals twice and the semifinals another time.

To give their accomplishment a little more perspective, the Diablo FC 90 U17 team is the only CYSA North boys team to reach the semifinals of the Far West Regionals in any of the 8 age groups being contested this week in Honolulu.

Of the 9 CYSA North boys teams participating in Regionals, 6 made it to the quarterfinals but 5 of those 6 were defeated Friday. Coach John Badger is making his 5th trip to the Far West Regional quarterfinals with a CYSA North State Cup championship team for our club since 2000. This is the first time his team was able to advance to the final 4 of the Regionals with its 3-0 shutout of previously undefeated and untied Classic FC Red Star of New Mexico.

On the girls side, CYSA North had one team each in U12-U13-U14-U15 age groups reach the semis. In all, there were 12 CYSA North girls teams at Regionals with 9 of them making it to the quarterfinals and 4 of those advancing to Saturday`s semifinals.

Diablo FC 90 Draw Tough Assignment in Regional Quarterfinals

Wednesday, June 18 - Diablo FC 90 U17 boys remained unbeaten in Far West Regional play in Honolulu finishing up round-robin action with a 4-1 victory over Alaska Rush 91 today. Coach John Badger`s team tied with WSM Internationals of Oregon with 7 points apiece in the final Bracket C standings. WSM, rated 14th in the nation, drew with Diablo FC in the opening game 1-1 but won the first seed out of the bracket based on better goal difference +8 to the local club`s +6.

That seeding means Diablo FC faces the only U17 boys team in the tournament to win all three games in the round-robin, Classic FC Red Star of New Mexico, in Friday`s quarterfinals. Classic Red Star of Albuquerque has represented New Mexico in the Regionals as U12, U13, U15, U16 and now U17. They reached the quarterfinals every year but U15 when they made the semi-finals. Diablo FC 90 is making its third straight appearance in the Regional quarterfinals looking to advance past the final 8 for the first time.

The U17 boys bracket is stacked with 3 Southern California teams making the quarterfinals, including two from Far West Regional League, plus powerful Nike Rush of Colorado, Diablo FC, last year`s finalists WSM Internationals, Red Star Classic and host HSC Bulls 91. Semifinals area Saturday and championship games Sunday when a berth in the USYSA National Final Four is at stake.

All teams have Thursday off.

In boys U18 the Turlock Tornadoes, who edged Diablo FC 89 in the State Cup championship game, also made it into the quarterfinals where they meet the WSM Gunners of Oregon.

Diablo FC Boys Near Regional Quarterfinals

Tuesday, June 16 - Diablo FC 90 U17 boys shut out Impact Black 91, the Utah state champions, 3-0 today to move closer to their third straight spot in the USYSA Far West Regional quarterfinals Friday in Honolulu.

The win today moved the local club team coach by John Badger into a tie with WSM Internationals of Oregon with 4 points each in their bracket. Diablo FC plays winless Alaska Rush 91 Wednesday to finish round-robin play. WSM meets Impact Black in the other game. If WSM defeats Utah, Diablo FC will automatically advance to the quarterfinals, regardless of the outcome of their game with Alaska.

Should both WSM and Diablo FC win they will need to go to at least the 4th tie breaker to determine who is first and who is second in the bracket. This is important in terms of setting up quarterfinal opponents. Diablo FC is in Bracket C, which meets Bracket B teams in the quarterfinals. New Mexico`s Classic FC Red Star is undefeated in Bracket B while Surf White of San Diego and Columbia Timbers 90 Red of Washington meet Wednesday to determine the second team to move on from Bracket B.

Diablo FC 90 open with a draw

Monday, June 16 - The U17 Diablo FC 90 boys opened play Monday in the Far West Regionals with a 1-1 draw against last year`s Regional finalists WSM Internationals, the Oregon champions. WSM eliminated coach John Badger`s team in the quarterfinals of last year`s Regionals. On Tuesday Diablo FC faces a critical game in Honolulu against Impact Black 91 of Utah, which won its first game today and thus leads the bracket with 3 points while Diablo FC and WSM got a point apiece in the opening round. The top two teams from the bracket advance to Friday`s quarterfinals.

Teams have Thursday off before resuming with quarterfinals Friday, semifinals Saturday and championship games Sunday. The winner from each age group at the Far West Regionals goes to the USYSA Final Four July 22-27 in Little Rock, Ark.

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Black Pearl 90 Boys in Far West Regionals

Sunday, June 15 - The Diablo FC under 17 boys team coached by John Badger is making its third straight appearance in the Far West Regional championships this week in Hawaii. They are facing a star-studded field of 16 teams which includes three squads from Southern California as they compete for the coveted spot in the National Final Four next month in Little Rock, Ark.

Black Pearl 90 won its third straight State Cup championship last month in Morgan Hill with a 2-0 victory over San Juan Lightning. They jump right into the fire at the Regionals facing 2007 Regional finalist WSM International, the Oregon champions in their opening game Monday. WSM eliminated Black Pearl 90 in last year`s quarterfinals with a 2-0 decision. This Tuesday Diablo FC will square off with Impact Black 91 of Utah and then conclude round-robin play on Wednesday vs. Alaska Rush 91.

The top 2 teams in each of the 4 brackets advance to Friday`s U17 boys quarterfinals. Black Pearl 90 made it to the quarter-final in both 2006 and 2007. They hope this time they will be able to move even further and reach Saturday`s semi-finals and Sunday`s finale.

The most successful team in our club`s history, DVSC Nightmare girls, reached the Regional finals in 2000 and 2001 and the semi-finals in 2002.

                            
             Coach John Badger (in hat) prepares U17 Boys team for Far West Regional Game in Honolulu