In the final week of regular season play, Salinas Soccer Academy knocked off first place San Pablo FC by a score of 2-1. Despite losing for the first time this season, San Pablo clinched the top seed in the conference playoffs by virtue of goal difference over Atlético East Bay, which did not play last weekend. Salinas clinched the seventh seed and will play Atlético in the first round of the playoffs.
Vallejo Omega FC clinched the third seed with a 2-0 home victory over American Canyon Rising. They open the playoffs at home against Stockton TLJ FC, which beat Dahlak FC 3-0.
The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh playoff spots were decided on goal difference, as Richmond, Oakland, Stockton, and Salinas all finished with 17 points. The Oakland Stompers had an opportunity to open the playoffs at home with a victory, but settled for a 2-2 draw at San Leandro United. The Stompers opened the scoring in the 5th minute, when Andres Ponce’s pass from 35 yards out bounced off of the artificial turf and into the path of Isaac Ikyurav at the top of the penalty area; Ikyurav’s one-timer settled inside the far post. San Leandro tied the match in the 28th minute, and took the lead on a Stompers’ own goal in the second half. But in the 86th minute, Noah Benvenuti took possession of the ball at midfield and played a long ball to Cuco Orozco, who collected the ball at the left edge of the penalty area. The goalkeeper came out halfway to cut down the angle, but Orozco’s soft left-footed strike trickled past him and into the net. The goal ensured that the Stompers would finish as the fifth seed and secured them a date with Richmond SOL FC on Sunday afternoon.
Real San Jose clinched the eighth and final playoff spot with a 6-0 victory over NorCal Rush. They will play San Pablo FC next weekend.
Be the first to comment