Features

The Albany-Berkeley Soccer Club Panthers defeated the Elk Grove Attack 4-0 on Sunday to win the under-14 Boys Association Cup state soccer championship played in Danville. 

The Attack had no answer for Panthers’ star Manuel Ramirez Jara, who scored three of the Panther goals. Thomas Rocroi also scored. Throughout the tournament, the Panther defense kept opponents from scoring, allowing only three goals in seven tournament games. 

During preliminary round play in Sacramento, the Panthers easily defeated teams from Stockton, Petaluma and Brentwood. In the “sweet 16” played in Morgan Hill, they defeated a very good Oakland Tigres team 3-0.  

The Panthers barely escaped their quarter-final game against the Rockridge Sting, another mostly Berkeley Team. The Panthers prevailed in sudden death “golden goal” overtime after the game was deadlocked 1-1 at the end of regular play. 

The Panthers advanced to the final with a 2-0 win over Almaden Newcastle.  

As an indication of the strength of local soccer, four of the eight quarter-final teams were from the Alameda/Contra Costa County District 4 competitive playing league. 

This was the second consecutive state championship for Panther coach Miguel Jara. Last year, his under-12 girls’ Dragonfly team also won their state championship.