NorCal State Cup Finals

January 18, 2009

Manteca, CA

The U12 Girls FSC Fire ended the season just as they began it; a Div III team in a Div I finals match. And it was a barnburner against #21 Diablo FC Shockwave.

Just one weekend earlier the girls were up against Div I Sacramento United in the consolation game at the El Dorado United Winter Classic. FSC Fire dominated the game from the opening kick through the final horn ending with a 2-0 blistering of the Sac United Fireballs. With that the girls finished third in the standings for the weekend leaving them hungry and focused.

State Cup finals; a game the Folsom Fire had been burning towards for months. The Fire had yet to surrender a goal in State Cup division play. Folsom torched the Shockwave early keeping the ball in the opponent’s end of the field most of the first half taking a 2-0 lead. Shortly before the end of the first 35 minutes Diablo went on a quick blast and jolted the girls evening the score at 2-2 and the stage was set for an intense 2nd half of play. How would the girls react to such a startling turn of events? The way the Fire always has: the way that has led them to finals after finals. Like winners.

FSC Fire rekindled and came out quickly in the 2nd half to score once again pulling ahead 3-2. But the Diablo were not about to freeze over and returned the favor tying the score. After 70 minutes of grueling soccer there was no champion. Once again, as they had in the State Cup semi-finals, the Fire found themselves going into overtime.

After 2 scoreless overtime periods , the winner would have to be determined by penalty kicks. Crossbar after crossbar, save after save, both teams again were clearly evenly matched. But alas one winner must emerge and the PK round ended 2-1 in favor of the worthy Diablo. The FSC Fire accepted there NorCal State Cup 2nd place medals with honor, knowing that they had just completed their most successful season ever. With 6 first place finishes, 2 second, and 1 third place finish, the girls never once went home this season without a medal. From the twists and turns of Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the elevators of the SC Beach Inn, the s’mores and gopher holes of Ft. Bragg, to the slopes of Cherry Island, the U12 girls Folsom Soccer Club Fire showed Northern California what good soccer and good friends are all about.

Thanks for a great year girls!