The RSC BU10 went 4-0-1 over the past two weekends to bring home the Presidio Cup 2011 Boys AA-C Championship! They edged out Albion in pool play to win their bracket and advance to the semi-finals. They scored a combined 10 goals in 3 games to move on to the semi’s the following weekend against a determined and newly strengthened Nado team… on their home turf. The semi-final game started off very evenly matched until RJ LaRocco squeaked in a rebound and get the go ahead goal. The RSC BU10 would not look back and kept putting on the pressure. Jake Donlon would find the side of the net with a convincing shot from about 20 yards, followed by another rebound goal from Micah Selby off of another shot from Donlon halfway thru the 2nd half to seal the victory and put the boys into the Final and Championship game later on that day.
The anticipation was high for the final and it was set against a TierraSanta Matrix squad that had just won a nail biter and scored a last minute goal in their semi to earn their spot in the final. This would be the teams’ second meeting of the year as they met back in the summer when the RSC BU10 captured the San Diego Open, going thru a tough Matrix squad in a 2-1 victory to advance in that tournament in July.
Matrix came out strong trying to establish the midfield and they capitalized on an RSC communication break down and netted the first goal on a break away to go ahead 1-0 early in the first half. The Matrix lead was short lived and with 10 minutes left in the first half, RJ LaRocco found Will Neves with a beautiful through ball and Neves beat two defenders to rifle a shot on goal, that deflected off the Matrix goalie and rolled in front of the open net and Micah Selby, completing his run, was there to put it away and tie the game. The boys felt good going into the second half tied 1-1. They came out strong as did the Matrix squad and the game was back and forth. RSC was led by commanding goalkeeper play in each half from Evan Grim and RJ LaRocco. Timmy Short created all kinds of pressure up top while winning balls in the midfield as well, and the back line of Henry Spoor, Linus Ticho and Line Leader, Reed Harris was at a tournament best and the Matrix squad simply could not penetrate and get any real threatening shots on goal. RSC would get a few corner kicks and free kicks that would ooh and aah, but none to find the back of the net. Halfway into the second half, Jake Donlon picked up a loose ball outside of the box, towards the corner flag and put a commanding shot on goal that the goalie would deflect high into the air, and Micah Selby was there again to head in the deflection and get the go ahead goal. Matrix would press and create some tension at mid-field. The game would continue to go back and forth with several moments of opportunity upfront created by Evan Grim and Will Neves as the RSC BU10 were holding on tight to the one goal lead. With about 3 minutes left, it was another shot from Donlon from the left side that this time would find its way clear into the upper right hand corner and put the boys up 3-1. This would seal the victory as time ran out and the RSC BU10 would finish on top as tournament Champs.
“These boys once again showed great poise and determination. They were not rattled by an early lead in the final and would pick apart their opponents to expose their weaknesses and eventually take advantage of the opportunities that were presented to them. They work together and exemplify real teamwork. No one person can do the job on their own and they realize that and they trust one another and the results that they have been getting is proof of that. Its been a remarkable year and these kids have just been a blast all year long… What a ride! They really deserved this, and they earned it.”
