From a collection of 32 elite club teams, the two Pateadores BU16 first flight SCDSL teams beat all challengers and competed in the finals for the 2011 Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament championship. In the end, Francisco ‘Pancho” Diaz’s BU16 “Academy” team edged-out Joe Cantu’s BU16 “Black/Torrance” squad 1-0 in extra time on a sunny afternoon at the University of California San Diego.
The success of the two Pateadores BU16 teams reflects extremely well on the Pateadores organization and the new Southern California Development Soccer League (SCDSL). Considering the fact that the best teams from other Western U.S. soccer leagues, including Coast Soccer League and Presidio Soccer League, were represented at Nomads, one can only say that the Pateadores and the SCDSL are setting a very high bar for the competition.
In his medal ceremony “speech”, Coach Diaz spoke of how proud he was of the great strides his team has made during the past three months. After starting the season in SCSDL Flight I South with a few setbacks, the BU16 “Academy” gelled into a team that can play attractive, technical soccer, while defeating the most formidable opponents. This last fact was confirmed as the team gave-up only one goal in the three knockout rounds that included games against heavyweights Aztecs Premier (Presidio Soccer League champions) and Golden State Black.
As for Joe Cantu’s BU16 “Black/Torrance” team, it has been nearly impossible to beat this season. Playing with Cantu’s signature, full-throttle, attacking style, the BU16 “Black/Torrance” won SCDSL Flight I North and won three straight tournaments this past summer.