Rohnert Park's Dulai and O’Neil Stand Out in Soccer Championship

By Shannon Scott

The Sonoma County Alliance under-12 Boys Team beat Danville's Mustang Lokomotive, 5-4, in extra time Feb. 13 to claim the NorCal Premiere Soccer State Cup Gold Division tournament title.

Rohnert Park soccer standouts Sumeet Dulai and Jackson O’Neil were part of the championship team that rolled to a title last Sunday in Woodland.

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 soccer team keeper Brady Scott to preserve a 4-4 tie.

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

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 along with Rohnert Park's O'Neil and Dulai were: Raleigh Berry, Michael Buzard, Nicolas Carle, Dominic Cristobal, Thomas de Jong, Angel Gutierrez, David Luis, Jared Miller, Jeffrey Mondragon-Vivas, Steve Proctor, Grant Sandwina, Dino Santia, Noah Schneider, Brady Scott and Ethan Waters.

Shannon Scott is a SCA club parent.