Tag Archives: Tournaments

Blog Posts, Coaching

SYHS Girls Varsity Has a Matrix Flavor, Reaches CIF Semi-Finals

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A shout out to South Bay Matrix FC Director of Coaching and AYSO United G2002 Coach Polo Aviles, who also runs the SYHS Girls Soccer Program and Head Coaches the Girls Varsity team. SYHS is loaded with South Bay Matrix/AYSO United players and staff. Coach Rene Venegas SBMatrix GK coach heads the Novice team, Coach Antonio Govea is the JV head coach and Coach Luis Sanchez Asst. Coach Varsity. The squad reached the CIF Semi-Finals of San Diego County, losing a heartbreaker to Escondido HS. The team captains for Coach Polo’s squad include Captain Isella Olivera, Melina Hernandez, Andrea Martinez and Monique Dominguez who play for G2002 South Bay AYSO United CSL team, and Analucia Rosales, who plays on the G2004 SB Matrix team this fall. So much for the theory that you have to play on a high-priced club soccer team to make a high school team, much less captain the squad. SYHS upended Southwest High in the CIF Quarter Finals. The CIF Semi-Finals were played on February 26.

These past three seasons San Ysidro Lady Cougars team has had an infusion of talented players from the G2002 United and G2004 Matrix team coached by the Romo brothers Hector & Frank as well as Polo and Nicole.

South Bay Matrix/AYSO United players are now starring on Varsity squads across the San Diego county.  Mar Vista High, Southwest, Bonita, Montgomery, University City, Eastlake, Olympian, San Ysidro and this years CIF Champions Grossmont High School.

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Blog Posts, News, Tryout Information

SDDA Champs: South Bay B2005

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The Boys 2005 South Bay Matrix team coached by Ramiro Ramirez took first place in the San Diego Development Academy Flight 2 Gold Division. Coach Ramirez recently shared the excitement of receiving the team’s SDDA championship medals.

“This is for everyone!” Coach Ramirez said. “Thanks goes out to Director of Coaching Polo Aviles for sharing his knowledge with us. He passes on everything he learns at AYSO United to our coaching staff. Thanks also to SB Matrix Coordinator Anthony Millican and South AYSO Regional Commissioner Marco Beltran for all the administrative support.

“And kudos and thanks to all the coaches on our South Bay staff. I definitely learn from all of them. I watch their training sessions and take away something I can use every time. Go South Bay!” 

South Bay Matrix B2005 followed up its impressive Fall 2019 SDDA season by reaching the finals of the 2019 Las Vegas Thanksgiving Classic.

“This used to be just a fun trip,” Coach Ramirez said. “We would win one game and get blown out all the other games every year. The competition was so fierce. This year we are competing. Three wins and a tie gave us a chance for another championship.”

Although the South Bay boys lost in the tournament final, the effort was followed by additional individual accomplishments. A number of the boys made it on to their respective high school soccer squads.

“When they started the tryouts, I thought they would take one or two of my boys because there was a lot of competition,” Coach Ramirez said. “There were bigger and faster kids. But day after day I saw them weed out players that perhaps didn’t have the same desire or knowledge. So I have to say this is a proud moment for South Bay.”

DOC Aviles praised Coach Ramirez for his willingness to learn and apply his knowledge in his training sessions. “That is where matches are won and lost,” Aviles said. “Ramiro is a teacher by profession, and it shows in his ability to transfer his knowledge to his players. His boys have a great understanding of the tactical side of the game, as well as the skills necessary to compete among the higher levels of youth soccer.”

News

South Bay Teams Dominate Memorial Weekend Tournaments

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South Bay Matrix competitive soccer teams put on an impressive show over the holiday weekend, with six teams making the finals of Memorial Day tournaments. As of press time, at least two champions were crowned. Overall, the following South Bay teams made finals: B2007 (Memorial Day Super Cup Champions), G2004 (Memorial Day Super Cup Champions), B2005 (Memorial Day Super Cup Finalist), G2006 (Poway Country Shootout Finalist), B2009 (Memorial Day Super Cup Finalist), G2002 (Albion Las Vegas Memorial Cup Finalist). South Bay Matrix is the competitive soccer arm of South Bay AYSO. “We only have eight teams overall, and to have six of them make tournament finals in one weekend is an impressive accomplishment,” said Anthony Millican, South Bay Matrix Coordinator.

South Bay teams have a noticeable style of play, blending skillful soccer with tactical awareness. An example is B2007, which is coached by father and son combination Jose Govea and Jose Antonio Govea, respectively. The younger Govea was a South Bay AYSO standout in his youth, and is passing on his soccer knowledge to a new generation of South Bay players. The B2007 won their tournament final 3-2 vs. GPS SD, with a “golden goal” in the waning minutes of sudden death overtime.

South Bay’s G2004 and B2009 teams are coached by Hector Romo, whose girls cruised to a 4-1 victory over Santee Matrix and whose boys lost a nail-biter in overtime on a golden goal.

South Bay’s G2002 team is building momentum for its second appearance in the Far West Regional Championships in three years. The reigning CalSouth State Cup Presidents Division Champions start play the Regionals in Salt Lake City starting on June 12. As part of its preparations, the team entered the Albion Las Vegas Memorial Cup tournament for the long weekend. The South Bay girls reached finals, which were to be played at 12:30 p.m. Monday, and the results were not known at press time.

“The G2002 team is so dominant, we needed to place them in the Coast Soccer League the last two seasons, which is the gaming circuit north of San Diego County,” Millican said. “Their games are in Orange County, and the Inland Empire because there was no competition left for them in San Diego County.”

Nearly all of South Bay’s G2002 squad consists of “home grown” players developed in South Bay AYSO Region 712, from South San Diego and Imperial Beach. Coach Polo Aviles himself is a Mar Vista High alumnus. Winning the State Cup was an incredible accomplish, a first for South Bay Matrix.

The South Bay girls are pioneering in another sense as well. They will play under the new “AYSO United” brand, in South Orange County. AYSO United is AYSO’s official club program, where players are selected through a tryout. Once selected, players are guaranteed 50 percent of playing time. Players will also enjoy a more advanced play, participate in intense competition and receive cutting-edge training while still enjoying the benefits of AYSO and its Six Philosophies.

The G2002 team is actively fundraising for assistance in travel costs associated with the Far West Regionals. To help the team with a donation, please contact Luisa Dasis at ldasis@cox.net

 

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B2007
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Coaching, News

South Bay Teams Dominate Memorial Weekend Tournament

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Four South Bay Matrix FC soccer teams reached the finals of the Memorial Weekend Super Cup Tournament, and all four won championships.

South Bay’s Boys 2002, Girls 2002, Boys 2004 and Girls 2004 teams each won their respective brackets in impressive fashion. “To go four for four is amazing, and really shows the quality of our program,” said Anthony Millican, South Bay’s Executive Director.

A fifth South Bay team, Boys 2005, reached the semi-finals and lost in kicks from the mark (PKs). The sixth South Bay team entered in the tournament, Boys 2007, made a quality showing in its first competitive club soccer tournament.

“We’re really proud of all the teams,” Millican said.IMG_8494 (1)

The Girls 2002 team played up in age in the G2001 division. The South Bay girls won the final 3-0 vs. Tactical FC of Las Vegas. The Boys 2002 team won its final 2-1 vs. a CVFC team. The Boys 2004 team won its final 4-1 vs. Hotspurs Academy. And the Girls 2004 team won its final with a similar 4-1 score vs. Matrix Santee.

“We have something special growing here in South Bay,” Coach Santiago Villanueva said. “Our grassroots efforts will only continue to grow and attract more people as we develop players the proper way. I am glad to be part of this special movement.”

The tournament marked the transition to South Bay Matrix Football Club’s new branding and new color scheme logo. The previous burgundy color scheme will continue to form part of our AYSO Region 712 programs. South Bay Matrix is the competitive soccer arm of South Bay AYSO, which is based in the Imperial Beach, South San Diego and San Ysidro communities. The new Blue and Teal colors are similar to partner club, Pacific Soccer Club, which is the AYSO competitive soccer program in Orange and LA counties. The words “South Bay” are across the chest, front and center of the new uniforms.

“In selecting a new color scheme and rebranding, we wanted the primary focus to be on South Bay,” said Director of Coaching Polo Aviles. “We really wanted to embrace our community orientation and make it a focal point. That has always been our strength. We wanted to give our competitive club members and fans something that readily identifies the club as South Bay’s.”

Established in 2003, South Bay Matrix FC has consistently crowned Presidio League Champions, starting in its first season of competitive soccer participation. Since the early beginning, South Bay has been a club to be reckoned with and has consistently won competitive/club soccer championships year in and year out whether in the Presidio League to San Diego Developmental Academy (SDDA), and now even in Coast Soccer League. Its teams have reached the CalSouth State Cup President Division Finals. South Bay teams annually compete and succeed in several high level showcase tournaments. South Bay’s G2002 is also currently participating in the National Premier League (NPL), which is an invitation only prestige travel league.

For more information about our program and how to become a member of South Bay, contact: Polo Aviles, Director of Coaching, at sbmfcpoloaviles@gmail.com or 858-336-8529.

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News

U12G Matrix Ready to Make a Statement

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Fresh off a dominant performance in its most recent summer tournament, the U12G Matrix South Bay team is looking forward to the start of Presidio League play in September. Coach Hector Romo has his squad mixing impressive footwork and 2015081695145619fundamentals with the tactical know-how necessary for player growth and development. The girls went undefeated in bracket play in the Riptide Summer Classic on the weekend of August 15-16. In the tournament final, the South Bay squad defeated San Diego SC 4-1 to take home the hardware. Congratulations to the players and coaches!

Coaching

South Bay’s U13G Team Knocks off Nevada State Champs

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In the biggest summer tournament victory in our club program’s history, South Bay AYSO’s Under-13 Girls Matrix team won the Las Vegas Labor Day Classic by defeating the reigning Nevada State champions in the final 4-3. The South Bay girls stormed through bracket play to set up the championship showdown with FC Warriors (Las Vegas), which is ranked #21 in the Southwestern U.S. by GotSoccer. Coach Polo Aviles’ South Bay squad, known as Matrix Elite, has a high flying attack. Including the final, the girls scored 18 goals in four matches. The girls appear to be peaking at the right time, fresh off consecutive victories in the recent San Diego Development Academy (SDDA) College Showcase. The team starts play on Sept. 6 in the SDDA’s Flight 2, as Matrix South Bay U13G Red. By any name, these girls are playing really well!LVchampsU13G

News

U13G Matrix Elite Takes Attack Summer Classic

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The U13G squad took another title this weekend, capturing the Attack Summer Classic. The Matrix Elite (Matrix South Bay Red) team rolled through bracket play the weekend of Aug. 16-17. The South Bay girls won the final 3-1 vs. Arsenal SD, winning their second title in as many tournaments this month alone. “The bracket matches served the purpose of letting us get comfortable with our new formation and new set plays,” Coach Polo Aviles said. “The final was another story, we faced the 1st place finisher of the other bracket and they made us earn the Championship.”

The girls appear to be peaking at the right time. Coach Aviles and Coach Gustavo Padilla are looking forward to the squad’s upcoming showcase weekend in the San Diego Development Academy. Congrats to the team, and keep up the hard work. The SDDA season is just around the corner.

Tryout Information

Two More Tournament Championships–U13G and U10G

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Matrix South Bay U13G and U10G teams were up to the challenge, as each team took the championship title in their respective divisions in the United Summer Challenge on Aug. 2-3. The U13G rolled through bracket play in the highly competitive Black division of the tournament, held at locations throughout San Diego. The South Bay team defeated Poway Vaqueros 3-0 in the semis, and Encinitas Express 3-1 in the championship match. In four matches overall, the South Bay squad recorded 12 goals, with only two allowed. Coaches Polo Aviles and Gustavo Padilla are looking forward to this fall’s San Diego Development Academy Flight 2 season. The girls have defeated Flight 1 teams this summer, and will continue to practice hard in preparation for academy season.

In U10G, the girls coached by Manny Trujillo reached yet another final, and won this one in dominant fashion 5-2 over TVSA Hawks. This young squad continues to improve with each tournament. Congrats to each of our South Bay teams!

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Coaching

SOH Varsity Has a Matrix Flavor, Reaches Tourney Finals

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A shout out to South Bay AYSO Commissioner Marco Beltran, who also coaches the Southwest High Girls Varsity team. SOH is loaded with South Bay Matrix/South Bay AYSO players. The squad reached the finals of the Barons Tournament, losing a heartbreaker to Our Lady of Peace 3-2 after the fourth OT and with just seconds to go until a penalty shootout. The team captains for Coach SOH-AYSO finalistsMarco’s squad include Kimberly Avalos, left in photo, who played U19G South Bay recreational, and Juliana Campos, right, who played on the U19G SB Matrix team this fall. So much for the theory that you have to play on a high-priced club soccer team to make a high school team, much less captain the squad. SOH upended El Capitan High in the semis, and came back from two goals down in the final to send the match to overtime. OLP notched the game-winner on a corner kick right before time expired. The semis and final were played on December 14.

This year’s Southwest High team had an infusion of talented freshmen from the U15G Matrix team coached by Hector Ordonez.

Look for future updates about South Bay Matrix players who are now starring on Varsity squads across the South County, from Mar Vista High in Imperial Beach to Otay Ranch and Olympian high schools in eastern Chula Vista. Mar Vista High in particular boasts a high number of Matrix U19G players (Coach Santiago Villanueva).

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