3 MORE CHAMPIONS WIN NATIONAL CUP TITLES

U14 Girls - The X-treme Breakaway
U18 Boys - Atlas S.D. Herrera
U18 Girls - Slammers FC

May 11, 2009 (Temecula, CA) - Cal South National Cup champions in the Girls Under-14 bracket and both Under-18 brackets were crowned this weekend at the Cal South College Showcase Weekeend in Temecula. While the weekend is largely comprised of the National Cup Round of 16 and Quarterfinal action for the U15-U17 brackets, three championships were contested while the Semi-Final matches for the Boys Under-14 bracket were also held on the fields of Temecula's John Blanche Memorial Soccer Complex.

The U18 girls of Slammers FC walked off with a championship crown thanks to their shutout effort against the Eagles SC. The Atlas San Diego SC U18 boys coached by Arturo Herrera had a wider margin of victory on their way to a trophy, by routing Brasil FC, 4-1.

The X-Treme Breakaway U14 girls met up with a So Cal Blues team that had shut out all six of their previous opponents, but the Breakaway managed to pull a shutout of their own in topping the Blues, 1-0, to capture a National Cup crown.

The Cal South National Cup continues next weekend for the U15-U17 Semi-Finals round on the fields of Rancho Capistrano on Saturday, May 16, with the Finals round to follow on Sunday, May 17. The U19s will begin play on May 23, with their Finals round to be held on June 7. All winning teams at the Cal South National Cup in the U12 to U19 brackets will move on to Lancaster, CA on June 15-21 for the Cal South-hosted U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regionals. Teams that succeed as champions there in the U14-U19 brackets would then move on to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships from July 20-26 in Lancaster, Massachusetts.

CAL SOUTH STATE CUP CHAMPIONS NIGHT WITH CHIVAS USA!

MAY 16, 2009, HOME DEPOT CENTER, 7:30 PM

STATE CUP PARTICIPATING TEAMS GET SPECIAL "BUY 1, GET 1 FREE" OFFER, PLUS FREE CHIVAS HAT WITH EACH TICKET PURCHASED

Cal South wishes to invite its entire membership to visit the Home Depot Center on Saturday night, May 16, for State Cup Champions Night with Chivas USA. Game time is 7:30 pm.

Chivas USA will be taking on DC United that evening in an intense battle between both current conference leaders that will surely go down to the wire. In addition to this, Chivas USA will join forces with Cal South in honoring the teams that won State Cup Championship titles for 2009 with a special on-field ceremony during the match.

If your team participated in the Cal South State Cup this year, be sure to let your teammates and coaches know that your team can get "Buy 1, Get 1 FREE" game tickets to this match. Plus, a Chivas USA hat comes with each ticket purchased as well. Show up and celebrate everything great about Cal South soccer, and cheer on your fellow players on the State Cup Championship teams as they get honored on the field of the Home Depot Center.

Participants of the Cal South State Cup should contact Chris Wode at cwode@cdchivasusa.com for more details on obtaining tickets to this special event.

CALSOUTH.COM GETS A NEW LOOK

Cal South launched a new look on the web today by introducing to its membership an updated, more user-friendly Cal South.com. The revised site went live at midnight. This is the first upgrade for the Cal South website since April 2005.

The revision was undertaken in part to reduce the number of clicks for visitors to find what they want. All of the features of the previous CalSouth.com also exist on the new site, and the most heavily used parts of the site now have their own sections.

There are exciting new features, too, on the updated CalSouth.com. The "Connect" button gives Cal South members a number of different choices in how they can receive information directly from Cal South. These choices include e-mail, Twitter, Facebook and blogs. The latest videos and photos will give members the opportunity to show off their best efforts. The "Search" feature is also new, and will give visitors access to archived materials and quick links to what they want to find fast.

On the operating side, the new site signals a switch to using a content management system. This allows for easier updates and less reliance on coding or HTML. Cal South Webmaster and Senior Graphic Designer Sal Rahimi coordinated the site changeover and is very enthusiastic about the change. "The CMS means less time building pages and more spent on making content more informative and fun for our site visitors."

Cal South CEO John Weinerth likes the cleaner design and the reduced scrolling on the home page. "We've tried to streamline the site so that it isn't overwhelmed with lots of banners and add-ons. It loads fast and clean, and really puts the focus on the most important information of the day about Cal South."

Sales and Marketing Director Bill Lewis is really pleased with the result, but says there is more to come. "Our goal for the launch of the new site was to have all the content from the previous site available on day one of the new site. We have that, but what we're really looking forward to is adding new features that will make the site more useful and fun." Lewis, ever the wet blanket, also sounds a note of caution. "Every new launch, no matter how much time is spent trying to get it perfect, will have a few hiccups." Cal South asks that if you find any, please shoot us a note at info@calsouth.com. "We want to know so we can get it straightened out for all the other users," says Lewis.

We invite you to enjoy the new look of Calsouth.com!

CAL SOUTH STATE CUP CROWNS U14-U17 CHAMPIONS

All 8 Champs Move On to Presidents Tournament Regionals in Washington in June

(San Bernardino, CA) – The 31st edition of the Cal South State Cup competition closed with a flourish this weekend as eight teams in the U14 through U17 age brackets took home championship trophies. Semi-final and final matches for the last of the 2009 Cal South State Cup Olders brackets were held on Saturday, April 25 at San Bernardino’s Blast Soccer Complex. All eight championship teams will now travel to the state of Washington in June to take part in the US Youth Soccer Region IV Presidents Tournament.

The Santa Barbara Soccer Club made the biggest single club impact through the weekend, as two of their boys’ teams captured State Cup titles. Santa Barbara SC’s BU14 White team found themselves knotted at 2-2 with the Los Alamitos Titans after both overtimes, and then locked up the title on penalty kicks, outshooting the Titans, 5-4. The boys of the Santa Barbara SC BU15 White also moved into overtime against the UIFC South Gate team, but then two extra Santa Barbara goals in the late frames left them on top, 3-1. The Bakersfield Brigade B92s slipped past the Legends FC Black team 2-1 for the Boys Under-16 title, while the BU17 crown was awarded to ConquistAmerica, who outlasted the Crusaders Soccer Club SD White squad by the same 2-1 score.

On the girls’ side, another of the day’s overtime finals matches was held between the U14 contenders, which ended with America United Blue on top of Real So Cal Black, 2-1. The GU15 So Cal Rush G93 Nike team had a smoother time on their way to a State Cup crown, more than doubling the goals of the PVSC Exiles Black team, 5-2. The Valley United girls in the U16 bracket topped Matrix Soccer Club Black by the score of 2-1, which also proved to be the scoring outcome of the Girls Under-17 final match as well, with Real Madrid Futbol Club edging out California Futbol Club to solidify their trip to the Presidents Tournament.

Around 1400 teams take part annually in the Cal South State Cup for the honor of being crowned as State Cup champion. State Cup champions in the U13-U17 brackets will move forward to represent Cal South at the inaugural US Youth Soccer Region IV Presidents Tournament in Tri-Cities, Washington from June 11-14, 2009, where they will face teams gathered from the 13 other western states that make up US Youth Soccer’s Region IV. Champions at the regional level would then move on to the US Youth Soccer Presidents Tournament National Championships, scheduled to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina from July 16-19, 2009.

Team photos of all Cal South State Cup champions and finalists can be accessed here.
For more information on the Cal South State Cup competition, please click here.

2009 Cal South State Cup Olders Champions U14-U17

BU14 Santa Barbara SC White
GU14 America United - Blue
BU15 Santa Barbara SC White
GU15 So Cal Rush G93 Nike
BU16 Bakersfield Brigade B92
GU16 Valley United
BU17 ConquistAmerica B91
GU17 Real Madrid FC G91

US Youth Soccer Presidents Tournament Regional Championships
Tri-Cities, Washington, June 11-14, 2009

US Youth Soccer Presidents Tournament National Championships
Raleigh, North Carolina, July 16-19, 2009

CAL SOUTH STATE CUP CROWNS U18, U19 CHAMPIONS

Competition Continues in U13-U17 Brackets This Weekend

April 21, 2009 (San Bernardino, CA) – Four talented teams in the Under-18 and Under-19 age brackets left the fields of San Bernardino this weekend with some very impressive hardware in their hands: a 2009 Cal South State Cup championship trophy. Semi-final and final matches for the two oldest of the seven State Cup Olders brackets were held on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19 at San Bernardino's Blast Soccer Complex.

Monarcas USA, a team registered through Coast Soccer League, won the Boys U18 crown by shutting out Fram CQ 2-0, after decisively winning all four of their games leading to the final. So it went, too, for Corona United as they sought to capture the Boys U19 title, taking a string of solid victories to the final, which proved a bit closer as they walked away with a narrow 1-o shutout over UIFC Tapatio, also of Coast.

On the girls’ side of the blazing State Cup competition, the U18 Poway Vaqueros coached by Brendan Kelly took the Carlsbad Lightning Red team into overtime, where the Vaqueros prevailed, 2-1. When the Westside Breakers White shut out the Del Mar/Carmel Valley Sharks White 1-0 to nab the GU19 State Cup title, it was their third consecutive match with that same score, as well as their fifth shutout in six games during the tournament.

Now deep into its 31st year, around 1400 teams annually take part in the Cal South State Cup for the honor of being crowned as State Cup champion. State Cup champions in the U13-U17 brackets will move forward to represent Cal South at the inaugural US Youth Soccer Region IV Presidents Tournament in Tri-Cities, Washington from June 11-14, 2009, where they will face teams from the 13 other western states that make up US Youth Soccer’s Region IV. Champions at the regional level would then move on to the US Youth Soccer Presidents Tournament National Championships, scheduled to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina from July 16-19, 2009.

Team photos of the Cal South State Cup champions and finalists can be accessed here.

For more information on the Cal South State Cup competition, please click here.

2009 Cal South State Cup Olders Champions

BU18 Monarcas USA
GU18 Vaqueros - Kelly
BU19 Corona United
GU19 Westside Breakers White

US Youth Soccer Presidents Tournament Regional Championships
Tri-Cities, Washington, June 11-14, 2009

US Youth Soccer Presidents Tournament National Championships
Raleigh, North Carolina, July 16-19, 2009

FREE NCSA COLLEGE RECRUITING SEMINARS AT STATE CUP NEXT WEEKEND

Cal South Partners Helps Parents & Players Negotiate Some Often Tricky Waters

In an effort to provide our players with the most comprehensive soccer experience in the country, Cal South will be offering FREE world-class college recruiting seminars at the Cal South State Cup Round of 16 at the Kern County Soccer Park in Bakersfield, CA next weekend on Saturday, April 18th.

The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA), the Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education for Cal South, will present multiple “College Recruiting Simplified” seminars, taking place at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. The seminars will be presented by Jeff Schlicht, a former Student-Athlete of the Year at Eastern Michigan University and Player of the Year and captain at Western Michigan University, and an expert on negotiating the often tricky waters of college recruiting. Each “College Recruiting Simplified” seminar will explain the five things every student-athlete needs to know and the five things every student-athlete must do to get recruited.

Each seminar lasts about 45 minutes, and all seminars, as a Member Benefit to Cal South Members, are absolutely free to anyone interested in attending. There is no RSVP required. Just show up at the designated Cal South tent and soak up the college recruiting knowledge! We’ll see you there!

For more information on the National Collegiate Scouting Association, please click here.

Directions to Kern County Soccer Park:

Address: 9400 Alfred Harrell Hwy., Bakersfield, CA 93306-9621

View Map: Google Map

Web Site: http://kernsoccer.com/index.html

From the South - Take Highway #5, North, through the Grapevine to SR99 North to Bakersfield. Exit Rosedale Highway/SR178 East (Locals call it the Cross-town Freeway or 24th Street). 178 is a surface street for 2 miles. then merges with the off-ramp for the 178 for Lake Isabella. Continue east for about 11 miles. Turn left on Alfred Harrell Hwy (signal light) and proceed 2.2 miles to the Soccer Park on the right side of the road. (Go past the four-way stop and fire department).

From the North - Take SR99 South exit SR178 East (Locals call it the Cross-town Freeway or 24th Street ). Continue east for about nine miles. Turn left on Alfred Harrell Hwy (signal light) and proceed 2.2 miles to the Soccer Park on the right side of the road. (Go past the four-way stop and fire department).

From the East - Take I-58 West exit Comanche Drive and travel North about 5 miles to SR178. At the signal continue straight through as it becomes Alfred Harrell Hwy and proceed 2.2 miles to the Soccer Park on the right side of the road. (Go past the four-way stop and fire department).

From the West - Travel East on SR166 or SR46 to SR99 then follow appropriate North/South directions above.

Kern County Soccer Park Rules: No Smoking Near Fields - No Pets - No Solicitation - Parking fee is $5.00 per day and $25.00 per day for all trailers, motorhomes or boats. No overnight parking.

CAL SOUTH WINS APPROVAL AS STATE ADULT ASSOCIATION

US Soccer Gives Unanimous Approval At March 14th AGM

Cal South Soccer recently announced confirmation that it has become the adult state soccer association for Southern California. The U.S. Soccer Federation National Council formally admitted Cal South at its March 14 meeting. The net effect is that Cal South is now a joint state soccer association, responsible for administering both youth and adult programs.

Cal South President Gregg Falk welcomed the news. “Cal South is extremely excited about working with all of the existing adult leagues and programs towards growing the game in Southern California. We look forward to building on the great tradition of adult soccer that has been established in Southern California over the last forty plus years and working together toward building the best soccer association in the world.”

The council vote was unanimous.

“U.S. Soccer is very pleased to name Cal South as the official adult soccer association for Southern California,” said U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati. “We are confident that the future of adult soccer under their leadership will be very strong. We will look for ways to support Cal South’s efforts going forward.”

Cal South has been the state youth soccer association for more than 30 years and has overseen the strong growth of the youth game. It currently governs more 230 clubs and leagues, 10,300 teams and 127,000 players. The Cal South staff will apply its professional management as the joint adult and youth association to continue to expand and improve the opportunities for players of all ages to enjoy the beautiful game. Sanctioning for Cal South adult fall leagues will begin later this spring.

The adult league application period will open on May 1, 2009 and close on August 1, 2009. Questions and requests for additional information on adult league sanctioning should be directed to Luis Salcedo at 714.451.1507 or lsalcedo@calsouth.com.

About Cal South
The California State Soccer Association - South (Cal South) is a 501c(3) California public benefit corporation and is the official youth and adult state soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. Cal South represents 230 Member Leagues and Clubs comprising our membership of more than 160,000 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. The organization, with a service area that extends from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, provides rewarding recreational and competitive opportunities for players of all ages, genders and skill levels. For more information about Cal South, visit www.calsouth.com.