SCA Under-12 Boys Win Nor Cal Premiere Soccer State Cup Gold

By Shannon Scott

The Sonoma County Alliance (SCA) under-12 Boys team beat Danville's Mustang Lokomotive, 5-4, in extra time Sunday to claim the Nor Cal Premiere Soccer State Cup Gold Division tournament title.

With the State Cup trophy on the line, the match headed to extra time with emotion and intensity at a peak level.

The golden goal format meant that the first team to score would claim the trophy.

It looked like Mustang would win in early in the first overtime period, only to have a breakaway attempt hit the crossbar and the ensuing rebound shot stopped on a fingertip save by SCA keeper Brady Scott to preserve a 4-4 tie.

During the second extra period, both teams traded strong attempts on goal but with less than 30 seconds remaining a SCA cross was received by Dominic Cristobal who was able to sneak it by the keeper for the match-winner.

SCA coach Neil Turnbull praised his team after it rallied from a late 4-3 deficit.

"The character that the boys showed after going down was impressive," Turnbull said. "They could have easily put their heads down and packed it in. The work ethic they displayed during the season all came together in the end. I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishment".

Mustang scored early in the first half, only to be matched by a beautiful bending corner kick by SCA’s Dino Santia to tie the match at 1-1.

SCA took the lead in the first half with a blast from Steve Proctor from well beyond the 18-yard box to go up, 2-1.

The composed Mustang squad was able to answer back and leveled the contest at 2-2 going into halftime.

SCA’s Cristobal opened the second half scoring with a left-footed strike high into the goal to put his club on top, 3-2.

The very disciplined opponent scored the next two goals to take the lead, 4-3.

With less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation time SCA goalkeeper Scott came well off his line to clear a tricky ball down the field and found Proctor again on the receiving end who slammed the ball into the back of the net and tied the game 4-4.

Members of the championship team included: Raleigh Berry, Michael Buzard, Nicolas Carle, Dominic Cristobal, Thomas de Jong, Sumeet Dulai, Angel Gutierrez, David Luis, Jared Miller, Jeffrey Mondragon-Vivas, Jackson O’Neil, Steve Proctor, Grant Sandwina, Dino Santia, Noah Schneider, Brady Scott and Ethan Waters.

Shannon Scott is a SCA club parent.