Finals Preview: U15 Boys
Group D: Southern California, the Toronto Lynx, Sunrise SC and Diablo FC
USL News Release
Thursday, October 09, 2008
TAMPA – Last season the Southern California/Coast Soccer League charge into United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League North American Finals was led by Arsenal FC, who won both the U14 and U15 boys titles. And with seven of their 11 matches this season completed, at least one of those sides still has a chance at becoming repeat champs.
To date – Arsenal FC’s U15 boys have compiled a record of 5-0-2 in the Super Y-League’s Southern California Division, which, due to the differences in birth date restrictions between the Super Y-League and the Coast Soccer League, is considered the U16 Boys Premier Division.
Should Arsenal FC remain atop the tables following their upcoming matches with Canyon (3-2-2), West Coast FC (3-1-3), Los Angeles Rampage Blue (3-4-0) and South Bay Force Blue (1-2-4), they will join these three clubs in Group D of the U15 North American Finals.
Toronto Lynx
The Lynx have had a historic year in 2008, advancing to the Super-20 Men’s North American Finals before falling to the Chicago Fire 2-1 in the Championship match. The club’s senior team also earned a playoff berth for the first time in nearly a decade, much a result of the increasing numbers of youth players moving up the Lynx development ladder. This U15 side, which qualified very early this season, is just the next batch of talent coming up through the ranks of the Lynx system.
Coached by Hector Loranca and Managed by Kim Ashton, this side ended the regular season with a mark of 8-2-0. They scored 35 goals this season while allowing 14. Nine of the goals they surrendered went to Mequon United and Kalamazoo in back-to-back matches in June. Seemingly a fluke, Toronto is undefeated and holds a 35-5 advantage over their opposition when not playing on June 28-June 29.
"The competition at the finals is fierce with state champions, MLS Academies and conference winners from across North America," commented Toronto Lynx Head Coach and Academy Director Duncan Wilde. “This provides a fantastic platform to challenge every player and every team that participates. Our previous experiences at this level will help us to prepare this year’s teams for the challenges that lie ahead in Florida.”
Sunrise SC
Sunrise SC advanced to the North American Finals out of the 10-team Southeast Division, winning Group B with a record of 11-1-1. Their only loss of the season was a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Orlando SC in the third match of the season. Since that match, Sunrise has peeled off a 10 game unbeaten streak including landmark victories over big-name clubs Schulz Academy and Kendall SC. Fittingly, the one match Sunrise didn’t win in their last ten regular season games was a dramatic 4-4 draw with Southeast Group A Champion H.C. United.
Diablo FC
 The fourth team in this dangerous group is Diablo FC out of the Super Y-League’s Northern California Division. Diablo ended the regular season with a record of 6-3-1. That total was good enough for a second place finish in the division behind Juventus Sport Club. Juventus, who won 3-1 and 2-1 over Diablo during the regular season, will be placed in Group A. The two clubs would only meet again if both teams made it to the U15 Boys North American Championship.
The team has relied on their stout defense to carry them through the season and has steadily filled in the holes as the year progressed. Heading into this tough cross-country tournament, Diablo FC has allowed only two goals in their last six games, four of which were shutouts.
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