GIVOVA Pacific Coast Super Cup produced 11 winners

Eleven winners emerged from more than 100 teams and 1,600 players to make the second-annual Givova Pacific Coast Super Cup a special event for players, clubs and college coaches.

This year, the winners were nearly evenly split between Oregon and Washington teams. Five of the champions came from the Puget Sound Premier League and six hailed from the Oregon Premier League. Last year, the PSPL took home most of the championship cups.

The second leg and finals took place in the Portland region over President’s Day holiday weekend. The first leg was held at Starfire, near Seattle, at the end of January. All teams played four matches over two legs -- but 22 teams got a fifth match when they qualified for the Super Cup finals.

Several of the finals offered some dazzling displays of individual skill and quality soccer. The best match of the day turned out to be the last one -- Tynecastle FC v BSC Portland clash for the boys U18 Super Cup.

The fast-paced, physical and skillful display of both teams was a testamount to the clubs and coaches that have developed these players. Tynecastle went up in the first half and could have likely secured victory in the second half but missed a penalty kick. BSC Portland fought back and snatched the tying goal late in the game. Both teams produced shots on goal during the Golden Goal overtime but could not get it past the keepers.

The game then went to pks and BSC Portland was able to finish more of its chances from the mark. But the level of intensity that both sides showed for 80 minutes as well as the level of skill certainly impressed those watching the match. Several Tynecastle and BSC Portland players either have already committed to colleges or were being watched by college coaches, who seemed as satisfied with high quality of play that both teams displayed as everyone else.

Other fascinating twists and turns to the Super Cup finals:

• NK Storm defied the oddsmakers and upset some powerhouse teams on its way to capturing the Super Cup at boys U17.
• Cascade FC also shook up conventional wisdom and figured out how to beat the heavily favored U15 Tynecastle FC boys, 2-1 in the finals.
• Pacific Avalanche took Kajumulo FC Farasi to penalty kicks before eking out a 2-1 victory at girls U16 -- one of two matches to be decided by pks.
• Oswego Southside Soccer Academy (OSSA) delivered three teams to the finals -- the most of any club --and won two. Their U15 girls and the U16 boys caputured championship cups.
• Westside Metros (OPL), Maple Valley Premier (PSPL) and Tynecastle FC (PSPL) supplied two teams each to the finals and none of them won.
• Of the 11 finals, eight had PSPL and OPL teams matched up against each other. Just two final games pitted all-PSPL teams and one was an all-OPL final.

SUPER CUP RESULTS:

• U13 Boys CHELSEA FC ACADEMY 4-0, MVP Rapids 98 Navy
  
• U13 Girls ASE Emerald 98 Castilla 3-2 Westside Metros
  
• U14 Boys FPSC FURY ’97 3-0 Westside Metros
  
• U14 Girls THUSC Onyx 2-0 FC Edmonds Quiet Riot
  
• U15 Boys Cascade FC B96 2-1 Tynecastle FC
• U15 Girls OSSA 96 White East 1-0 MVP Marauders 96 Navy

College Showcase Groups:

• U16 Boys OSSA 95 Green 2-1 Hillsboro Chivas
  
• U16 Girls Pacific FC Avalanche 2-1 (pks) SSC Kajumulo FC Farasi
  
• U17 Boys NK Storm 94 2-1 OSSA 94 Green
  
• U17/18 Girls FC Portland 94G White 2-1 Legacy G94 Wright
  
• U18 Boys BSC Portland 2-1 (pks) Tynecastle FC
  

 Among some of the colleges that have confirmed their attendance: Purdue University, University of Idaho, Portland State University, Willamette University, Evergreen State College, Peninsula College, Everett Community College, Portland State University, Bellevue College, Linfield College, Shoreline Community College, Tacoma Community College and Concordia University of Portland.