Both SOCA U12 Apprentice Teams Advance in State Cup
Both the boys and girls U12 Apprentice teams advanced in State Cup play on Saturday, April 28, by taking very different routes to the next round.
The boys enjoyed the comforts of home at South Fork Soccer Park, where they cruised to a 7-1 win over Virginia Legacy. The match was tight at half-time, with SOCA narrowly leading 1-0 on a Sam Calhoun goal just before the interval. The early lead resulted from SOCA high pressure and Calhoun’s one-touch interception turned into the opening tally.
After the half-time break, SOCA went on a tear with striker Jamey Williamson scoring a hat trick in a 12 minute span to start the half. Williamson’s trio was followed by a Daniel Sanchez blast from 22 yards at the 15 minute mark, making it 5-0 at that point.
The SOCA attacking strike force combined to free up Trip Janucik who danced through the defense to score the sixth tally from inside the box. Sanchez closed out the SOCA scoring in the 25th minute, before Legacy pulled back a consolation goal three minutes from time.
The Boys Apprentice squad will next play a Cup quarterfinal match-up on May 5, facing SYC at South Fork Soccer Park in a 1:00 pm kick-off on Field #5.
The SOCA U12 Girls Apprentice had a more difficult path to their semi-final round. Having made the long trek to Virginia Beach to face Beach FC, the #7 seeded locals pulled off the improbable upset by holding the second seeded hosts to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation, before prevailing 5-3 on penalty kicks. The girls will next face third seeded Arlington in a semi-final match on May 19 at the Publix Virginia Training Center in Fredericksburg. If they win, the young ladies will play in the final the following day.
Saturday, May 5 will be a big Cup date at South Fork. SOCA will be hosting three matches in addition to the U12 Boys’ game. The U13 Boys (4 seed) will take on LMVSC at 1:00 pm, the U14 Girls (3 seed) will face Loudoun at 3:00 pm, and closing the day will be the second seed U14 boys at 5:00 pm. All three are quarterfinal matches, held on Field #4. Winners will advance to the Cup semi-finals on May 19.
See all VYSA State Cup info here: http://www.vysa.com/statecup/index_E.html
