LOCAL TEAM BLAZES TO CHAMPIONSHIP ON 4/20

April 22, 2008 by PT Rothschild.

ELITE BESTS CHIVAS SIMI VALLEY 2-1 ON SCENE KID’S EFFORTS

Temecula, CA – Hundreds gathered here as Cal South Soccer League played their 30^th soccer cup championship (1978-2008) matches on a field in T-town this past Sunday, April 20^th. Though there were a number of matches being played in different age brackets for the individual state titles of that age, the match that I was there to see was the U19 teen slot.

Playing to their home court advantage, Temec’s Elite U19 soccer team was coming off a devastating prior victory that had cost the team 3 players (all red carded) and sent a player on the opposing side to the hospital with a tragic leg injury. As the parents and soccer moms discussed the prevailing drama attached to the unfortunate accident, both teams took the field for the state championship in the 19 or under category.

The action was brisk, the calls fair, and both teams played gallantly with each tied at one apiece when the half came. After catching their collective breaths, the Simi Valley Chivas joined the Elite club back on the field and action again commenced. This time when the whistle sounded the game’s end and after a close goal miss by the Chivas brought an ‘Oooo’ from the home crowd, Temecula’s Elite club was the indeed that, elite, as the State Champions in their age category, brought about in part by the efforts of Marcus the goalie, and ‘scene kid’ Tyler, known as ‘TJ’ to his teammates and coaches.


I had met Tyler during the last few months that Cuppy’s (new music venue) was open before being shut down unjustly (see archives for stories).

“This is the greatest game I have ever played in,” said Tyler, breathing heavy just after the game’s end as the award ceremony was being readied to go. “This Chivas team is a real class show. They really played us hard.” Then turning to me he said, “You know, I started on this (Elite) team when I was 11 years old, and this game is the culmination of all those years. It just hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Tyler’s foul set up the penalty shot that gave the Elite a 1-0 lead during the first half and Tyler’s ‘bend it like Beckem’ shot scored the winning gooooaal. Stay tuned here to see what other scene kids are doing to make a difference. After all, they aren’t scene to be unseen.

Posted in Family Attractions, News | Print | No Comments »