2015 Sports Authority State Cup Governors Division Champion: Bakersfield United
Bakersfield United BU10 head coach Jorge Lopez remembers his team’s experience as a U9 finalist in last year’s Sports Authority State Cup all too well.
“We made it all the way to the final and we lost in penalty kicks,” said Lopez. “There were a lot of people that doubted us and told us we couldn’t make it and had no chance.”
Lopez’s Bakersfield United team, a year older and wiser, found themselves back in the 2015 Sports Authority State Cup Governors Division ready to take on all comers. The team had a very successful year leading up to State Cup, having won not only their regular season fall league, but also the Ventura County Fusion Spring Cup and the LA Galaxy Cup.
“[Last year’s State Cup] was a great learning experience and we came back stronger,” Lopez added. “Our team has a core of players that have been together for the last three years. Victor Melendez transitioned from defense to a top-notch goalie. Fernando Ortega plays sweeper and secures the defense. Our left mid Shia Clayton runs up and down the field nonstop and gives all he’s got every game.
“Jordee Magaña, who has the best overall footwork and ball skill, makes it very difficult for teams to focus on our forward when he is coming in playing from behind. Our center mid Jorge Lopez is the team captain and the workhorse of this team. He has the instinct of a forward and the calmness and complete viability of a great midfielder. Oscar Rodriguez is our striker and our leading scorer. His game is so simple — nothing fancy — all strength and drive to the box to score. Michael Palma Chavoya, Arturo Mendez Olivo, Uri Moreno, Elias Ortiz, Angel Ramos, Kevin Garcia Suazo, and Griffin Thompson complement this squad with their teamwork and drive to succeed.”
Bakersfield United started off strong indeed in the 2015 Sports Authority State Cup, capturing all three of their opening group matches, and then followed up with convincing wins against Hemet Juventus and Albion SC Premier in the Rounds of 64 and 32.
“The moment we had a feeling we could go all the way and win State Cup was in the Round of 16,” said Lopez. “We played Colton America, and we pulled out a very hard 2-1 win without our forward and leading scorer. We felt [Colton] was the best team in this tournament and we had just beat them.”
The United team next met fellow Bakersfield area U10 team — the Fusion — in a tough Semi-Final overtime match that ended 4-3, and then shut out Freedom FC, 3-0 to make it to the Governors Division BU10 Finals match against Rialto Fire in San Bernardino on February 8. Lopez wanted his team to approach the situation calmly. “I told them to go in there and finish the job… it’s just another game. Win or lose, I’m proud of you guys.”
In the second half of the final, striker Oscar Rodriguez scored Bakersfield’s second goal of the match to solidify their 2-0 championship win. Adds Lopez, “It was a sense of relief, and we knew the Cup was ours at that moment. We proved everyone wrong. [Last year] we were finalists, and a year later, we came back and finished what we started. I’m so proud of these kids.”
Lopez is unreserved in his appreciation of his club and the parents, families and volunteers that comprise it. “Their support is immensely important. It lets the players know that everyone is here for them, win or lose. Bakersfield United is a non-profit soccer club, and there are no club fees or training fees whatsoever. More than half of our kids cannot afford the regular club fees, so we give them an opportunity to play club soccer, something I wasn’t able to experience either when I was child. More than just a soccer club, we are a big family, and we are showing you can accomplish anything if you work hard for it.”
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