While many of the areas youth celebrated a long President's Day Weekend here locally, a group of top soccer players from the Rogue Valley Soccer Club spent their holiday battling on the fields at the Las Vegas Mayors Cup International College Showcase Tournament.
The Tournament, billed as the largest youth soccer tournament in the United States, hosted 330 teams from 26 states and 7 countries and represented an opportunity for players to be scouted by college soccer coaches from across the country.
Competing for the Rogue Valley Soccer Club were the Girls U15 Power Strikers, Girls U18 Fusion and Boys U18 Fuego. The teams represented the area with pride and dignity both on and off of the field and in doing such, brought back some hardware to the valley.
RVSC U18 Girls Fusion Wins Las Vegas Mayors Cup
The girls U18 Fusion coached by Phil Littleton and Jame Figeroua had the most successful tournament as they won the Girls U19 Division. The girls began their run by drawing 0-0 with Gillete Edge, the number 1 ranked team in Wyoming. In their second game, Fusion got on the scoreboard as they defeated Cal North's Atwater Elite 2-0 on goals by South Medford's Katie Littleton and Ashland's Annika Hearn. In game 3, Ashland's Riley Smith opened the scoring giving the Fusion a 1-0 lead only to see Canada's Tswwassen Blues tie the game up with a late penalty kick. In the end, the girls from RVSC advanced to the semifinals via a Penalty Kick Shoot Out.
The tight games continued for the the Fusion as they ended regulation of the semifinals against Washington's River City Premier deadlocked in a 1-1 with a goal by South Medford's Littelton tie. In the end the girls once again advanced via a Penalty Kick Shootout!
The final game against 49er United Auburn Academy from Cal North brought much of the same as the score was deadlocked 0-0 after regulation and overtime and would need to be resolved with kicks from the spot. Once again the girls from Rogue Valley dug deep. After going through the first 5 shooters, the score was again tied at 4-4. Saint Mary's Gina Barbieri made a diving save to the left on California's 6th attempt and in doing so, opened the door for the Rogue Valley Girls. With the game on the line, Ashland's Kysa McSky calmly approached the ball and slotted it home in the left corner of the goal giving Fusion the championship!
Rogue Valley Soccer Club Fusion Roster-
Gina Barbieri (St. Mary's), Michelle Benitiez (North Medford), Amber Black (North Medford), Kayla Burns (Crater), Malia Charter (Ashland), Jasmine Figeroa (St. Mary's), Mattie Gambee (St. Mary's), Danielle Greene (South Medford), Annika Hearn (Ashlnad), Nancy Ibarra (North Medford), Katie Littleton (South Medford), Kysa McSky (Ashland), Amber Parker (Crater), Ellen Radcliffe (Eagle Point), Riley Smith (Ashland), Brooke Stewart (Henley), Katelyn Walker (Ashland).
RVSC U15 Girls Power Strikers Reach Las Vegas Mayors Cup Final
The Rogue Valley Soccer Clubs U15 Girls Power Strikers brought home some hardware of their own this past weekend finishing as Tournament Runners Up.
In the Power Strikers first game, the girls fought off the long drive and Defeated Alsaka Rush 2-1 on Goals from North Medford's Amanda Hisey and Cascade Christian's McKensie Ragan. RVSC won game two in easy fashion defeating Las Vegas Surf 8-0 on goals from North's Hisey and Morgan Barry, South Medford's Cassidy Herrick, Mazama'a Kaitlyn Crowell and Ashland's Montanna Pindell.
After taking a quick 1-0 lead on a goal by Mazama's Kaitlyn Crowell in game 3 over Canada's Edmonton West Raiders, the Power Strikers found themselves behind for the first time all weekend 2-1. Late in the game, Crowell found the back of the net again to pull the game even at 2-2 and with 7 minutes left to go in the game, Hisey worked her magic again as she dribbled the ball across the box and rifled a 20 yard shot into the top corner of the net. The Defense held strong and Power Strikers escaped with a well earned 3-2 victory.
Game 4 saw a tough physical game against Joga FC from Utah. But once again, the girls were up to the challenge as they won 2-0 on goals from both Hisey and Crowell and a stout defense anchored by North Medoford's Anna Smith, Grace Bishop and Brittany Granstrom along with South Medford's Renae Rivero and Stephanie Grubb and Cascade Christians Ragan.
The magic ran out in the Championship Match as the Power Strikers fell to Canada's Thompson Okanagan FC 4-0. After a rocky start and going down 1-0 25 seconds into the match the girls picked themselves up off of the turf and battled hard in the second half. The effort earned them both pride and respect.
Girls U15 Power Strikers Roster
Morgan Barry (North Medford), Grace Bishop (North Medford), Jessica Bocchi (Klamath Union), Kaitlin Crowell (Mazama), Jamie Dirksen (Crater), Brittany Granstrom (North Medford), Stephanie Grubb (South Medford), Cassidy Herrick (South Medford), Amanda Hisey (North Medford), Araceli Jimenez (North Medford), Montana Pindell (Ashaland), McKensie Ragan (Cascade Christian), Rachel Raniele (St. Mary's), Renae Rivero (South Medford), Anna Smith (North Medford), Sydney Thomas (North Medford)
RVSC U18 Boys Fuego Have Solid Weekend at las Vegas Mayors Cup
The U18 Boys opened the Las Vegas Mayors Cup with a 1-0 Victory over host club Downtown Las Vegas SC on a first half goal by Ian Murray. A Stout Defense lead by Ashlands Mack Tulley, Zane Pindell and Zack Hartman, and North Medford's Connor Ginder, Jorge Jimenez, Brandon Schoemann and Arturo Torres stood firm keeping the host club off of the scoreboard.
Game 2 saw the Rogue Valley boys fall 2-0 against eventual Tournament Champions Dixon FC from Cal North. After dominating much of the first half, RVSC found themselves down 1-0 at half time as a Dixon Striker got behind the defense and rifled a 20 yard shot into the Rogue Valley goal. The second half started out in favor of RVSC as they continued to pressure the back line of the California Club. In the end, Dixon scored a second goal with about 3 minutes left to go and sealed the victory.
The Fuego found themselves in a must win situation in game 3 against Colorado's Pueblo Rangers. After Pressing for most of the game, the score remained tied 0-0 with 7 minutes to go in the match. The Fuego Coaching Staff decided to pull a defender an go with a third striker to push for the win. Unfortunately, a Pueblo player got onto the end of a break away and put the Colorado boys ahead 1-0. With 3 minutes remaining Phoenix High Schools Jose Mancias knotted to score at 1 as he delivered a 30 yard free kick into the top tight corner of the opponents goal. Unfortunately the tie was not enough to keep the boys in contention to advance to the finals.
With nothing left to play for but pride and experience, a banged up and exhausted RVSC Squad mustered the energy to soundly defeat Canada's South Burnaby Gunners 6-0. Goals by North Medford's Jesus Solorio and Brandon Schoemann, Hidden Valley's Jason Kellogg, Ashland's Dylan Molnar, St. Mary's Harrison Leep and Phoenix High's Jose Mancias led the way as the boys secured a second place finish in their bracket.
RVSC U18 Boys Fuego Roster
Kodie Artner (South Medford), Connor Ginder (North Medford), Zack Hartman (Ashland), Jorge Jimenez (North Medford), Jason Kellogg (Hidden Valley), Chris Landt (Ashland), Harrison Leep (St. Mary's), Jose Mancias (Phoenix), Dylan Molnar (Ashland), Ian Murray (Ashland), Zane Pindell (Ashland), Jorge Ruiz (South Medford), Brandon Schoenmann (North Medford), Jesus Solorio (North Medford), Arturo Torres (North Medford), Mack Tulley (Ashland), Tyler VanDyke (Eagle Point), Kevin Wilcox (Grants Pass), Dakota Wolff (Ashland).
