National Cup

After U12 national cup players & teams moved on to other leagues, DA intially about 4 yrs ago but now the two npl leagues, other usclub offerings have spread things out even more for spring competition.

No less than what 5? different "National" cups or playoffs now: DA, ECNL, NPL, Cal South, USclub National Cup West, etc. Not to mention all the leagues.
 
Interesting results in group play round 2 as none of top seeds won their groups going into the knockout rounds.
https://cysa.affinitysoccer.com/tou...mentguid=79606225-46F4-49EA-B288-87778F984824

Seeds #4,5,6,10, 13 didn't advance, TFA the defending champs on 6 pts lost out on tiebreakers and didn't advance while #18 SD Navy was defeated 4-1 by #26 Safc - CHIVAS B2003 who won their group.

Going into the knockout rounds seems like it's up for grabs, so who's your picks for the final four?
 
Interesting results in group play round 2 as none of top seeds won their groups going into the knockout rounds.
https://cysa.affinitysoccer.com/tou...mentguid=79606225-46F4-49EA-B288-87778F984824

Seeds #4,5,6,10, 13 didn't advance, TFA the defending champs on 6 pts lost out on tiebreakers and didn't advance while #18 SD Navy was defeated 4-1 by #26 Safc - CHIVAS B2003 who won their group.

Going into the knockout rounds seems like it's up for grabs, so who's your picks for the final four?
Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Boca, Fullerton Rangers.
 
Santa Barbara and Fullerton should meet in the quarters - I would take Santa Barbara.

I think Oxnard will have its hands full with winner of Santa Monica and Laguna Blue. Oxnard looks a little disjointed.

Boca Jrs looked a little vulnerable and Boca OC stronger than expected. If Jrs win they would likely face a tough Rebels team.

I pick Boca Jrs to get to the finals and be the favorite against Santa Barbara or Santa Monica.
 
Santa Barbara and Fullerton should meet in the quarters - I would take Santa Barbara.

I think Oxnard will have its hands full with winner of Santa Monica and Laguna Blue. Oxnard looks a little disjointed.

Boca Jrs looked a little vulnerable and Boca OC stronger than expected. If Jrs win they would likely face a tough Rebels team.

I pick Boca Jrs to get to the finals and be the favorite against Santa Barbara or Santa Monica.
Laguna United Blue vs Boca Jrs in the Final with Laguna United FC winning it!
They’re a solid team and extremely well coach.
 
If this is the LAGSD Ritchie team from the discovery league and the same player, this team is going to be hard to beat , and nobody see it coming, early prediction LAGSD BO3 Elite Ritchie 4-0 Colton America SC Academy - B2003.
 
If this is the LAGSD Ritchie team from the discovery league and the same player, this team is going to be hard to beat , and nobody see it coming, early prediction LAGSD BO3 Elite Ritchie 4-0 Colton America SC Academy - B2003.

When you look at the ladder you will notice that only one team for each of the four groups make the Semis:
https://cysa.affinitysoccer.com/tou...F4-49EA-B288-87778F984824&BeginDate=&EndDate=

For example bottom half of the ladder
Safc - CHIVAS B2003 v. FC Slammers - HB B03 Reserves, LAGSD B03 Elite-Ritchie v. Colton America SC Academy - B2003
Boca OC B2003 White v. Boca Jrs LA B03, Premier CYSA Premier Academy v. Rebels Soccer Club East- B03 Elite

LAGSD B03 Elite should have good chance at final 4 but what about Safc - CHIVAS B2003? 4-1 vs SD Navy.

Rebels and what other team from the other 4 group

Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Boca, Fullerton Rangers.

Good picks but not possible due to ladder; Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Fullerton Rangers all in top half and only 2 of those can make final 4

Santa Barbara and Fullerton should meet in the quarters - I would take Santa Barbara.

I think Oxnard will have its hands full with winner of Santa Monica and Laguna Blue. Oxnard looks a little disjointed.

Boca Jrs looked a little vulnerable and Boca OC stronger than expected. If Jrs win they would likely face a tough Rebels team.

I pick Boca Jrs to get to the finals and be the favorite against Santa Barbara or Santa Monica.

Good stuff, the Santa Monica Blue pick? Any more background on this pick. With a single win in round 2 they seems a bit fortunate to advance.
 
Santa Monica Blue fortunate to advance for sure, but they were best team in the group. Let's call them a dark horse, although #9 YSR isn't that much of a long shot. They look more balanced than some of the favorites.

Haven't seen LAGSD. They are in by far the easiest quadrant, but party stops at Boca Jrs, or Rebels.
 
Nothing against Boca OC but the word is Oxnard threw in the towel in this game so they wouldn't have to face BOCA Juniors in the Round of 16. Surprised that SD Navy Academy, TFA and Pats LA were eliminated. Suprised Laguna did so well after their recent SCDSL Showcase performance.

Top Teams Remaining:
FRAM (beat BOCA Jr. & Pats LA), BOCA Jr., SAFC Chivas (surprisingly strong), LA Galaxy Ritchie (very strong recently), Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Rangers and SM United.
 
I watched the Boca/Oxnard game. I couldn't tell if Oxnard was throwing in the towel. It seems like an extremely hard thing to have 16 year old boys do and also a bad message/strategy. If true, it could really bite them, but who knows?

I would add Rebels to your list of top teams remaining.

I am not sold on LAGSD at all. I haven't seen them play, but I also don't see any impressive results. TFA is a shell of its former self.
 
Nothing against Boca OC but the word is Oxnard threw in the towel in this game so they wouldn't have to face BOCA Juniors in the Round of 16. Surprised that SD Navy Academy, TFA and Pats LA were eliminated. Suprised Laguna did so well after their recent SCDSL Showcase performance.

Top Teams Remaining:
FRAM (beat BOCA Jr. & Pats LA), BOCA Jr., SAFC Chivas (surprisingly strong), LA Galaxy Ritchie (very strong recently), Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Rangers and SM United.

Boca OC is a decent team give them credit for winning their group.
Again Laguna it’s a really good team and that’s a fact I’ve watched them play in Vegas and in National Cup and they are GOOD.
You say you’re surprised how well they’ve done and your reason is how poorly they did in SCDSL Showcase where they only play one game and was missing 7 starters, and played the entire first half with a field player on goal..IDK look at their results lately.
 
Laguna has always been solid. Good recently in National Cup, decent results in CRL, but pretty poor in Discovery and Discovery was pretty weak overall. Perhaps Laguna's results show that they are getting better as the year goes along.
 
Laguna has always been solid. Good recently in National Cup, decent results in CRL, but pretty poor in Discovery and Discovery was pretty weak overall. Perhaps Laguna's results show that they are getting better as the year goes along.

Discovery was anything but weak- National cup for many of the teams is not a priority- Its taken backstage to ENCL, NPL, DA and college showcases, All the Strikers teams didn't play and South Coast (Dallas Cup their priority) and Irvine (NPL) would have been favorites. If DA teams took part they sent their 2nd or 3rd teams as the top teams are battling it out in NPL.

If you take out the top 3-4 teams like happened with SCDSL from Coast the Premier teams are sitting at about the same number

What is impressive is the CSL Gold teams and their advancement.
 
Discovery was anything but weak- National cup for many of the teams is not a priority- Its taken backstage to ENCL, NPL, DA and college showcases, All the Strikers teams didn't play and South Coast (Dallas Cup their priority) and Irvine (NPL) would have been favorites. If DA teams took part they sent their 2nd or 3rd teams as the top teams are battling it out in NPL.

If you take out the top 3-4 teams like happened with SCDSL from Coast the Premier teams are sitting at about the same number

What is impressive is the CSL Gold teams and their advancement.

The high seeds into the Knockout rounds can anyone of them pull the upsets and go all the way?

If I use the rankings to predict:
https://youthsoccerrankings.us/rankings/CAS/16/Boys/

24 : FRAM B03-Britton 38.49 v. Oxnard United Soccer Club 40.54

#28 : FC Man United - B2003 Red 38.46 v. Santa Barbara S.C. B2003Elite 40.08

#29 : Strikers FC South Bay - B2003 Black 39.13 v. Fullerton Rangers B03 SYL 39.74

#21 : Colton America SC Academy - B2003 39.21 v. LAGSD B03 Elite-Ritchie 38.72

#19 : SMU B03 Blue Elite 39.73 v. Laguna United FC-B2003-Blue 39.54

#26 : Safc - CHIVAS B2003 39.27 v. CDA FC Slammers - HB B03 Reserves 37.36

Boca OC B2003 White 39.33 v Boca Jrs LA B03 Premier 40.77

CYSA Premier Academy 38.10 v Rebels Soccer Club East- B03 Elite 39.80

The other 3 games without a bold pick I would say toss up anybody's game, won't be surprised to hear about some drama, PK's so post up the good stuff...
 
I Think that Safc chivas will advance one more game but that is it. Lucky seeding against weakest team remaining. I am picking LAGSD over Colton, they have no NPL game this weekend so they will be bringing their best 18. My money is still on Santa Barbara.
 
Ok so after further research it appears Rebels should be included in my "Top Teams Remaining" predictions. This is based primarily on their run in CRL plus their play in Nationals. Somebody noted above re: Laguna and how they are playing well... probably true but I also based my view on their performance in the Discovery League towards the end of the season they seemed to tail off. Best strategy is to shut down #4 on Laguna as he controls their game. Regarding Galaxy SD Ritchie... I watched them tie Strikers South Coast in their recent SCDSL showcase game down at the Polo Grounds. This game is NOT listed on the youthsoccerrankings. I believe Strikers SC was missing their beast center back during this game though.
I have to agree with GalaxyDad and his analysis of the Discovery league and how half of that league is not participating in Nationals due to other priorities. Also, thanks JPeter for breaking down the upcoming knock out matches with the youthsoccerrankings rating for each team by game. Good stuff!
 
I Think that Safc chivas will advance one more game but that is it. Lucky seeding against weakest team remaining. I am picking LAGSD over Colton, they have no NPL game this weekend so they will be bringing their best 18. My money is still on Santa Barbara.
Re: Santa Barbara.... to beat Man United simply shut down their left Striker. He is very shifty and can pose problems for the defender who is tasked with marking him.
Also, SAFC Chivas handily took out a VERY strong SD Navy Academy team... these guys could do some damage.
 
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Quality games in the afternoon yesterday-
The Score lines are deceiving
Boca OC had MANY opportunities to win the game. They missed several 1v1s Vs the keeper
Rebel’s look good Vs CYSA
Richie/Colton & CDA/SAFC both went into overtime 1-1 with both the losing teams missing key chances to take the lead. Both teams gave up the extra goal pushing players forward to equalize late into overtime
CDA had a golden opportunity early in overtime on a quick counter taken away as a Chivas player went down with a cramp and the ref paused the game as the CDA player was going at goal with the keeper way off his line

Fun stuff to watch as all teams competed and left it on the field
 
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