Boca Jrs 91 Girls Advance to State Cup Sweet 16

Lemoore, CA -- Despite wet and cold conditions the Capital Athletic Boca Jrs 91 girls took care of business in CYSA State Cup group play to advance to the Sweet 16.

Boca opened the competition early Saturday morning with a 4-0 victory over the West Marin Mavericks.  In the first minute of State Cup play Boca got on the scoreboard when forward Timery Mueller passed the ball to Mallory Creamer.  Less than a minute later outside back Brianna Levinson hit a diagonal ball to forward Rachel Mercik who beat a defender and slipped the ball through the goalkeepers legs for the second goal of the match.  Then in the 13th minute Mercik and Creamer combined to assist Danielle Lovato for another goal.  Boca took a 3-0 lead into the half.  With eight minutes remaining in the game Boca struck once again when Mueller and Alli Kelly combined to assist Creamer for her second goal of the match.

In the afternoon Boca matched up against Santa Rosa United Gold.  Once again Boca got off to a very quick start.  In the opening minutes Creamer slipped a pass to Mueller who shot it first time from 35 yards over the SRU goalkeeper for the 1-0 lead.  Moments later Mercik beat her defender down the left flank and crossed the ball to Creamer who out jumped the SRU goalkeeper and headed in the 2-0 advantage.

Despite outstanding defending by Kelly, Courtney Strombeck, Jen Ericson, Rachel Rodman, and Alex Del Agua, and goalkeeper Erin Roster, SRU pulled within a goal just before the end of the first half on a corner kick.  In the second half Rost was forced to make three outstanding saves to preserve the lead.  Forward Natalie Perez helped control the possession for Boca and she created multiple opportunities in the final 20 minutes of the game.  With less than 10 minutes remaining in the match Mueller put the game out of reach when she beat her defender down the right flank and chipped the goalkeeper for the 3-1 win.

Boca entered the final match of group play needing to win or tie.  The team they were playing, CVSC Cyclones Red from Fresno, had also won both of their games defeating SRU 3-1 and West Marin 1-0.  It didn't take long for Boca to gain the advantage as their crisp passing led to the first goal of the match.  A combination play down the flank led to a cross by Mercik.  CVSC's cross was blocked by Mueller and allowed Creamer to slot the ball back post for the 1-0 lead in the third minute.  Three minutes later midfielder Teagan Seman slipped a perfect pass to Lovato who shot the ball from 30 yards low and to the back post for the 2-0 advantage.  Almost exactly three minutes later Creamer passed the ball to Mueller who for the second time in the weekend blasted a shot into the goal from 35 yards out.  Mueller scored again, this time unassisted, just before the half to make it 4-0.

In the second half Mercik took over the scoring duties finishing two goals in a two minute period early in the period to give Boca the 6-0 victory and assure them of advancing to the Sweet 16.  Once again an outsanding defensive effort by Rost, Kelly, Del Agua, Rodman, Ericson, and outside backs Stephanie Collins and Nicole Wilson were too much for CVSC to overcome.  In addition Boca received outstanding contributions for forward Margaret Alvarez.