Coach Hector Garcia said “The State 48 FC 2013 Boys Copper (Avondale) team played in the Phoenix Cup Tournament this weekend. We were victorious in all three of our round robin matches, winning 1-0, 4-0 and 4-0 to lead the bracket. In the final, both teams went to war in a physical, back and forth match. Jacob Sahagun secured the 1-0 lead for the team followed by some impressive saves from keeper Nathan Torres, and a spectacular bicycle kick save on the line by Ismael Alcala to preserve the lead as we won the Championship! We finished the tournament undefeated and did not concede a goal as we won the title. Our tournament MVP’s were goalkeeper Nathan Torres and defender Ismael Alcala – a tremendous performance by the entire team!”
Coach Rudy Urquiza said “The State 48 FC 2016 White (Avondale) team participated in the Copper State Challenge Tournament. Our first game was against a solid opponent, and the match was highlighted by GK Omar “Campos” Cortez, who made some brilliant saves to keep a clean sheet and help the team to the victory. We lost our second game 2-3, which meant we had to win our next match to advance to the finals, which we did convincingly by the score of 8-3. The Championship proved to be a very close match against a strong opponent. We were the first ones to strike off a corner goal by Angel Medina, taking a 1-0 lead. We kept the opposition at bay for almost the entire match, but they scored off a free kick late in the game to even the match at 1-1. The champions were to be decided by a penalty shootout! These kids were so excited that they did not fear the moment and gladly volunteered. The first penalty was scored by Akai Lim. Their first shot was stopped by our goalkeeper, Omar “Campos” Cortez. Our second penalty was scored by Angel Medina. They scored their second penalty. Our third scorer was Nolan Alvarez. Their player ended up hitting the crossbar and out. It came down to our Captain, Adam Urquiza – if he made his kick we would be crowned champions. Adam did not let the pressure get to him – he wound up and calmly struck the ball into the bottom left corner for the win! We are the 2026 Copper State Challenge Tournament Champions! We are very proud of each player, as their resiliency, dedication and hard work was evident all season long. Amazing job by the group!”
Coach Cisco Torres said “The State 48 FC 2103 Boys Black (Verrado) team competed in the Copper State Tournament over the weekend and won the Championship! We won our first match 3-0 in the midday heat. In the second match we faced a very strong opponent – the hard fought game was even until the last five minutes, when striker Chase Hammer outran the defense and scored a goal to give us the victory. We won our third game 2-0, showing excellent ball possession and retention as we won the title, with goalkeeper Ricardo Ramirez keeping a clean sheet in every match. Our MVP’ s go to Carlitos Abarca and Chris Martinez, who were amazing in every match. I am so impressed with how much our players have continued to develop – another outstanding weekend for the team – coach is proud!”
Coach Armando Juarez said “The State 48 FC 2019 Black (North) Scorpions played in the Phoenix Cup this weekend, winning our 2nd consecutive tournament. The team played very well, winning the final in dominant fashion by the score of 8-3. The team is making tremendous strides with their communication, ball control, passing and finishing – excellent job team!”
The State 48 FC 2007 / 2008 Boys Black (North) team played in the Phoenix Cup this weekend against some outstanding competition and finished as Finalists. The team won their opening match 1-0 against New Mexico, dominating the match before finally getting the game winner with a brilliant strike from defender Dominic Bartinelli. The team continued to impress with a fine 2-0 win against a tough Canadian opponent in the withering heat with fine goals from Jacob van Buskirk and Danny Castillo. In the third match, the team faced another formidable foe – the effort and commitment were impressive to see as the team won again by the scoreline of 2-0, with goals from striker Alex Bess and Captain / winger Gavin Volckmann. Although the team came up short in the final, the overall play was tremendous. The defense was outstanding all weekend long with three straight shutout performances – led by Captain Jace Barlow, Moses Baca, Dominic Bartinelli, Ethan Crabtree and Tristan Costanza. The midfield of Captain Jonah Banucci, Angel Pacheco, Danny Castillo Riggs Beck, Elias Curiel and Alex Garcia controlled every game while attackers Alex Bess, Gavin Volckmann, Antonio Roque, Jacob van Buskirk and Justin Lee were constant threats to score.”
Coach Anthony Sagahun said “The State 48 FC 2018 White (Avondale) Sharks team capped off a highly successful season with a strong performance in the Gold Bracket of the Phoenix Cup Tournament this past weekend. The Sharks started the tournament with a hard fought 2-1 victory, followed by a dominant 8-0 win in the next match to secure a spot in the finals. The championship match was an intense battle between two high level teams, but we ended up losing the game 2-4. Despite the loss, the team remains focused on growth and learning from the experience. A standout performer this weekend was Adrian Ahumada, who played with exceptional heart and determination. His defensive skills and “grit” were instrumental in creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. Congratulations to the Sharks on a fantastic season!”
Coach Rogelio Aragon said “The State 48 FC 2017 Boys White (Avondale) team played in the Copper State Tournament and finished as Finalists, playing Silver Bracket against some great teams! They played outstanding soccer in the scorching heat and gave it all they had. The passing, energy and teamwork was extraordinary as we made it to the final match after securing two excellent wins (8-2 and 7-0) in bracket play. I am very proud of this group!”
Coach Brian Craig said “The State 48 FC 2013 / 2014 Girls Black (Verrado) team played in the TFC Spring Cup Tournament this past weekend, where we finished with 2 wins and 1 loss. This team defines perseverance – in our second match, we were behind 0-1 in the first minute of the game but battled throughout the match to pull off a 2-1 win, which turned out to be one of my favorite games to watch this season. These girls are connecting passes, implementing attacking and set piece tactics, while also playing excellent defense with coverage and communication. Great job ladies!”
Coach Carlos Bastidos said “The State 48 FC 2017 Boys Black (Verrado) team had a very good experience in the TFC Spring Cup Tournament. It was a scorching weekend, but the boys overcame this and played very well. We placed 2nd in the tournament with 2 wins and 1 loss. The boys have shown growth in their teamwork and technical skill. I’m truly proud of every one of our players – this will only get better as the team grows together.”
Coach Sean Venesky said “The State 48 FC 2010 Boys Black (El Mirage) team entered the Phoenix Cup Tournament facing a tough out-of-state schedule. A Northern California opponent brought high intensity, but our boys matched it with resilience and determination. Bayron Duarte found the back of the net off a well-delivered corner from Juan Maans to give us the lead. Unfortunately, a late goal from the opposition resulted in a 1–1 draw. In Game 2, the team focused on possession and controlling the tempo. Through strong movement and communication, the boys executed their game plan and came out on top against a good Colorado side, with Juan Maans scoring the decisive goal. Heading into Game 3, it was a must-win situation to advance to the championship. The boys battled hard but found themselves trailing 0–1. Refusing to give in, they showed tremendous fight and composure. A perfectly executed set piece from Juan Maans led to the equalizer, finished by Mark Infante. Despite finishing the tournament undefeated with a win and two draws, the team was unfortunately eliminated. Still, the growth, effort, and character displayed by the boys throughout the tournament was undeniable – and they continue to build toward even greater success.”
Coach Rogelio Aragon said “The State 48 FC 2013 Black (Avondale) team had a great run in the Copper State Tournament, playing against top ranked teams in Arizona. We played our hearts out against some tough competition and never backed down. The biggest highlight of the tournament was defeating the #6 ranked team in the state in a rugged 2-1 contest, which is our biggest win of the season. We are extremely proud of our team, because we demonstrated that we are here to stay and will compete against anyone!”
Congratulations to all our State 48 FC players and coaches – we are very proud of you! One Family, One Mission!
