Two Hometown Champs in Novato Soccer Classic

The 25^th Annual continues in five divisions of girls play this weekend, with Novato United teams hoping to recapture the success of two of their boys squads last week.

The Novato United U12B and U9B teams won championships last weekend when the tournament kicked off with competition in eight divisions.

After recording 5-2 and 4-0 wins in pool play last Saturday, Novato's U12B entrant swept the single-elimination competition Sunday, beating the Briceno Soccer Spartans 6-1, the Novato U11 squad 3-0 and finally the Inter Rage Academy of Sacramento 3-2 in an exciting finale.

Nathan Lopes scored the game-winner in the finals after Jack Singer and Collin Farrel had contributed goals to the win over the rival Novato team, which was playing up a level in this tournament.

“We know how good they are because we practice at the same time and have regular scrimmages,” U12B coach Yasert Ortega said of the U11 squad. “It is always hard to play against your own club, but our boys played hard.”

Lopes’ decisive goal in the finals came with about five minutes to go and broke a 2-2 tie.

“This final was an epic game by any standards -- very exciting to watch with great plays,” Ortega observed.

Irvin Gonzales, Blair McTaggart, Raul Rodriguez, Ryan Clark, Oliver Reyes, Chris Loza and Jacob Kennedy also contributed to the championship run, which occurred despite the fact Novato had two key players missing from the finals because of injuries.

The U9B team, meanwhile, had 2-1, 8-3 and 5-2 wins leading into a tough semifinal showdown against Vacaville, a match that went to penalty kicks.

Goalie Charlie Knapp was the hero in more ways than one – coming out of the net to score Novato’s third goal, then returning to the goal to record a save on Vacaville’s final shot, clinching the home team’s 3-2 win.

Aidan Baraban’s goal in the final minutes of regulation had tied the match for Novato, leading to the penalty-kick finish.

The final against the Tahuichi Club was easier, with Novato prevailing 3-0.

Baraban and DJ Lopez were Novato’s leading scorers in the tournament, aided up front by Cassius Anderson, Micky O’Leary and Bercli Cabrera Gomez. Knapp got plenty of help in the back from defenders Christopher Kenney and Jack Campbell.

This weekend’s competition will take place at Indian Valley College, the Hill Recreational Fields and Novato High, with six Novato teams going up against 24 squads from out of town.