Scotts Valley Soccer Players Shine in All Star Games

The SV/SLV Soccer League U8 and U10 girls and boys All Star teams played this past week under the lights at Siltanen Park. Two teams were formed from each division and played against each other.

The U12 boys and girls and the U14 girls played on Sunday at San Lorenzo Valley High School against the Santa Cruz Soccer League with each Scotts Valley team winning over Santa Cruz.   

There are some very talented kids in the SV/SLV recreation league and this is their chance to showcase their skills. The players displayed passing, dribbling, trapping and ball control. These kids are the best in the league and are exciting to watch play.

Coach Ryan Pryor said to his U12 players during practice, “Everyone on the team is good, we are All Stars, but it takes a team effort to win.”         

The players are nominated by the season’s coach or players and are selected for their skill, sportsmanship, attitude and participation. Typically, there are three to four players selected from each league team to form the All Star teams.

The night games started with the National Anthem sung by Scotts Valley Middle School eighth-grader Sunshine Popavich and seventh-grader Jianna Andrews. Seamus Ruiz, a seventh-grader from Baymonte represented Boy Scout Troop 614. He held the flag to officially start the night with team introductions.  

Referees Susie Nowak, Mark Giblin and this year’s Referee of the Year, Kian Akhavhein, refereed the games.

Eight-year-old Niccolo Petrini scored a goal with the help of his teammates. He was named MVP for the U8 boys’ game. Niccolo enjoys meeting new friends and the exercise he gets from soccer.

“I would like to move on to a competition soccer team next season,” Niccolo said.

MVP’s of the games are as follows:

Faith Hovey      

The U14 girls played most of their game in the pouring rain on Sunday at SLV High School. Sarah Johnson scored the only goal for the win.    

The U12 girls team also won with a score of 1-0, coached by Nicole Evans, the league's professional trainer. Carley O’Hara scored early on and the team kept the pressure on to control the win. The girls played well together and all had a great time.

The final game was the boys U12 team that won 3-1.

“We played the best game ever,” Coach Wes Koenig said. “The players trusted each other and played as a team with only one week of practice.”  

Zack Snider scored two goals and Aaron Warner added one goal. Seamus Ruiz- Earle was the MVP for playing an unbelievable game at Sweeper.                                       

Congratulations to every All star player for a great finish to the 2011 SV/SLV season.