Making soccer history, the Culver City AYSO under-16 all-stars won two major tournaments in one day, proving that with a little luck and determination teams can achieve much like the USA Women’s Soccer team manifested in its run to the recent World Cup finals.
Reflecting on the remarkable feat a few months ago, in which the upper division all-stars won the Sony Classic and the North Valley Soccer Classic in one day, perennial all-star soccer and baseball mentor Jim Pochick said, “The team was coachable, which made my participation rewarding as I look back on it this summer.”
The all-stars won their three games in the North Valley tournament in Granada Hills, topping Burbank 2-1, blanking Castaic, 4-0, and edging Rowland Heights, 2-1. A rainout forced Culver City to appear the following week when the Sony tournament was being held in Culver City.
Culver City earned its place in the Sony final by winning all three qualifying games.
Pochick was forced to make a choice: forfeit the championship game in Culver City and play the final in Granada Hills or do the opposite. Many of the Culver City team members had won in 2007 and 2009 in the Sony Classic.
Pochick called the North Valley tournament director to explain his squad’s plight. He learned that based on the results of games just concluded, no team could amass enough points to eclipse Culver City’s total. Consequently, in absentia, Culver City would win the North Valley crown. Pochick made the trophy run to Granada Hills, picked up the championship award, made a speech and drove back in time to make the Sony final.
Culver City had defeated perennial adversary North Torrance, 4-3, in a rough first outing in the Sony Classic. They faced the same excellent ball-control Rowland Heights team they defeated in Granada Hills the week before, this time winning 3-0. They also defeated Walnut, a good pass-and-move team, by a score of 3-1.
The championship was a rematch with North Torrance, which Culver City defeated, 3-1, in the Sony final two years ago, 5-1, in the North Torrance Thanksgiving Shootout last November, and 4-3 the day before.
Trailing 1-0 in the spirited final, Culver City’s speed and perseverance wore down North Torrance for a 5-2 victory.
The hard-working team enjoyed their two trophy ceremonies minutes apart.
Culver City won with frontline speed, sharpshooting, midfield courage and sophistication. The backline controlled oncoming forwards and had flawless goalkeeping, noted Pochick.
The team’s assistant coach is Don Mesina and the team business manager is Fabiola Mesina. The players are Saul Garcia, Ryan Dobson, Andy Landaverde, Andres Moreno, Jason Segura, Tyon Westby, Shota Watanabe, Oscar Orellan, David Tapia, Christian Palacios, Victor Mendez, Victor Randall, Devin Mesina, Franky Jacobo and Tyson West.
Volunteer administrators and referees in the annual Sony Classic worked well under the direction of Region 19 tournament director Laura Love and regional commissioner Vonda Stone, according to Pochick.