Two Pacific Soccer Club boys teams won state tournaments on Sunday, while several other area teams advanced to the semifinals of their Washington Youth Soccer state tournaments.
In the Washington Youth Soccer Founders Cup, the Pacific Fire won the title in the boys under-17 age group and the Pacific Strikers won the championship for boys under-16 teams. Both tournaments concluded with semifinal matches on Saturday and finals on Sunday at the Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila.
The Founders Cup is the state tournament for developmental-level teams.
In the under-17 tournament, the Pacific Fire beat the Crossfire Cline 3-0 in the finals. Rafiq Dejesus scored twice and Alex Nielsen once for the Fire in the finals. In Saturday’s semifinal, Spencer Baird and Juan Mosqueda scored for the Fire in a 2-1 win over a Seattle United team.
Also playing for the Pacific Fire were: Magnus Kofoed, Andrew Nyseth, Ian Ryan, Zeke Oien, Jack Bloss, Dane Karlsen, Adam Dejesus, Joshua Polen, John Guiher III, Louis Mendez, Lincoln Corkill and Elliot Olson. The Fire coaches were Jay Troyer and Eamonn Ryan.
In the under-16 tournament final, the Pacific Strikers beat a Mercer Island FC Whitecaps team 3-1. Masaki Rhodes scored two goals and Casey Morgan once in the final match.
On Saturday, the Strikers won in the semifinals on penalty kicks over the Lake Hills Flash. The tiebreaker score was 5-3 following a scoreless draw.
Converting penalty kicks for the Strikers were Brittan “Bug” Gullickson, Rhodes, Brandon Hazlett, Killian Burris and Scottie Mehan.
Other players for the Strikers were: Kyle Orozco (goalkeeper), Jason Osborn, Jayden Ackerman, Zion Moore, Alex Ulman, Drew Williams, Drew Henderson, Noah Miller, Grant Jeffries and. The coaches are Julie Williams and Keenan Burris.
In the Saturday semifinals of the under-16 Founders Cup, Mercer Island FC beat the Washington Timbers Crimson.
Championship Cup
In the most competitive state tournament, the boys under-15 Washington Timbers Red beat Seattle United 1-0 to advance to the semifinals of the Virginia Mason US Youth Soccer Washington State Championships.
Timbers Red will face PacNW Maroon on Feb. 21 in the state semifinals. The winner will play for the state title on Feb. 22.
In the quarterfinal, Alan Gatyan scored for Timbers Red from a corner kick taken by Taye Bundah 17 minutes after halftime.
In the under-16 US Youth Soccer Washington State Championships quarterfinals, the Washington Timbers Red lost 3-0 to Eastside FC.
Winners of the Championship Cup will represent Washington at the US Youth Soccer Far West regional tournament in June.
Presidents Cup
In the Presidents Cup, the state’s second-level tournament for competitive teams, a pair of Washington Timbers teams reached the semifinals in the boys under-15 age group.
In the Division 1 tournament, the Washington Timbers Green beat at Federal Way club 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Levan Zhividze scored two goals, Quentin Petcu scored one and Jeremy Wodesky had two assists. The Green will face Seattle United Tango B in the Feb. 21 state semifinals.
In the Division 2 quarterfinals, the Timbers Forest defeated an Eastside FC team 5-0. Spencer Clark scored two goals, and Kyron Lankford, Nelson Lord and Alex Ferruzca also had goals for the Forest. The Forest will play Washington Rush in the Feb. 21 state semifinals.
Presidents Cup champions are eligible to represent Washington at a regional tournament.
