2012-13 PSL Season Update

2012-13 PSL Abronzino Cup - THE FINAL

                                                                                                  SANTA CLARA SPORTING  2  GORDON BIERSCH  0

It was a match showcasing the top two teams in the PSL, and it didn't disappoint. Second half goals from Julian Nash & Will Weatherly provided the winning margin as Santa Clara Sporting downed Gordon Biersch 2-0 in the Finals of the 2012-13 PSL Abronzino Cup. It was a hard fought battle in the first half as both clubs tried to dictate their styles on each other. Gordon Biersch had an opportunity to take the lead mid way through the half, but had their shot cleared off the line by a fine defensive play from Jan Hejret. The first 45 minutes ended with the teams deadlocked at 0-0. The second half began with both clubs still trying to find the net as they played a very entertaining, up and down fast paced tempo, but it was Santa Clara Sporting that would break through with the opening tally. In the 63rd minute, a free kick played into the area bounced off 2 Gordon Biersch defenders and into the path of Julian Nash who calmly put it past the keeper for a 1-0 Sporting lead. Gordon Biersch then put on a conserted effort to get the equalizer, but got punished on a Sporting counter attack that saw Will Weatherly finish his chance in the 76th minute to put Sporting up by two. Gordon Biersch continued their assualt and t ried to get back into the game. They actually had another attempt cleared off the line late in the game, as Sporting seemed to have an answer for every Biersch threat. In the end, Santa Clara Sporting maintained their poise and finshed the game off capturing the Abronzino Cup Title for 2012-13. It was a very well played game by both clubs, and the sportsmanship displayed was fitting of a Cup Final. 

Special thanks go to the Game Officials, Chris Hutchison, Albert Montalvo, Luis Nunez Jr. & Lee Berg for a job well done. Congratulations to Gordon Biersch on a terrific season that saw them finish in the number two position in the Majors Division and also for their great run in the Cup. Santa Clara Sporting caps off a fabulous season which saw them grab two titles by winning the Majors Division and Cup Championship. Both these clubs are fine examples of the Penninsula Soccer League.

                                                                                                   2012-13 SANTA CLARA SPORTING

2012-13 PSL Abronzino Cup

                                                                                                                         ROAD TO THE CUP

The Road to the 2012-13 PSL Abronzino Cup began on December 9th 2012 with the First Round featuring teams from the First Division. In matches played that day results were:  Goal Busters 11 Legacy FC 0, FC SSF 2 Portola Concordia 1, Grasshoppers 1 Trabia FC 0 and CLC Sporting B drew a Bye. The Cup continued on December 9th when First Division teams that advanced were joined by Premier Division teams. After the draw was done, results that day were:  FC Palo Alto 2 CLC Sporting B 1, SSFAC 2 Rovers FC 0, San Mateo Dinamo 2 Shaheen 1, Goal Busters 2 Outsiderz FC 1, Club Sport Maritimo 4 FC SSF 1, & Grasshoppers 3 Sunnyvale United 2. 

After the Winter Break and Christmas holiday period, the PSL Abronzino Cup resumed in January with action in Round Three as teams from the Majors Division joined the teams that had advanced from Round Two. The results from that action were: Gordon Biersch 2 Goal Busters 0 (Forfeit), Harmonie 5 SSFAC 2, FC Palo Alto 3 San Mateo Dinamo 2, Santa Clara Sporting 4 DV8 Academicos 1, Palo Alto SC 2 Deportivo Cometa 0 (Forfeit), DV8 SAL 2 CLC Sporting 0 (Forfeit), & Club Sport Maritimo 4 Grasshoppers 0.       

Now the Cup was on to Round Four with some key match-ups featured. With a chance to move on to the Semifinals, games were played at a high level and very competitive. Resutls from Round Four were: Santa Clara Sporting 4 Club Sport Maritimo 0, Gordon Biersch 3 FC Palo Alto 1, & DV8 SAL 2 Harmonie 1. The 3 winners will now join Palo Alto SC, which drew a fourth round bye, in the semifinals of the 2012-13 PSL Abronzino Cup. The 4 remaining clubs are all Majors Division Teams which should lead to a spectacular finish.       

The Cup Semifinals were played on Sunday, April 21st and perhaps fittingly the two clubs that advanced and will meet for the final are the same two clubs that finished in the top spots in the Majors Division. League Champion Santa Clara Sporting downed Palo Alto SC 2-0 in a match played at De Anza College, and Majors Division runner-up Gordon Biersch got past DV8 SAL on Penalty Kicks 5-4 after the teams had played to a regulation tie at 1-1.

In the match played at Bechet in Redwood City, the teams combined for a fast paced up and down match in the first 45 minutes with DV8 SAL having the best opportunity to take the lead only to see thier shot rejected by the crossbar. Early in the second half Gordon Biersch found the net at the 55 minute mark when Ken Anderson won a ball in the midfield leading to a fast break chance as Nick Cukar fed a through ball to Shadi Hawawini who calmly slotted the ball to the near post for a 1-0 lead. A second break into the attack almost provided a two goal lead for Gordon Biersch as a strike from Ricky Olmedo found the woodwork, thus denying the chance. DV8 then started to apply pressure and kept Gordon Biersch pinned in their own end, finally leading to a goal in the 80th minute to level the game at 1-1. After full time, the match immediately went to penalty kicks. DV8 hit the cord on their first four attempts as did Ryan Ulanch, Matt Schembri, Kevin Anderson, and Shadi Hawawini for Gordon Biersch. Sam Krow-Lucal, the Biersch keeper got his hand on one of DV8's attempts, but was unable to save it. DV8's fifth shooter sent his shot to Krow-Lucal's left which he was able to clear with his feet. Now it was up to Biersch's fifth shooter Nick Cukar to get his team the win which he calmly did by sending his shot right down the middle to give Gordon Biersch a spot in the PSL Cup final. A well played game by both sides and congratulations to each of them for a tremedous match.

At De Anza, Santa Clara got a goal and an assist from forward Will Weatherly in their 2-0 win over Palo Alto SC. Weatherly struck in the first half off an assist from Hector Guzman to give Sporting the lead. The game was then put away when midfielder Adrian Alvarado found the cord off a Weatherly assist. Weatherly, a Santa Clara University alumni, has been with Sporting since March of 2006. His first half goal was the 217th goal scored to go along with 92 assists while wearing the Sporting Jersey. Sporting also received outstanding play on this day from the entire defense which was led by Captain Audren Cashman. Santa Clara Sporting now looks to achieve the league double after having won the Majors Division Championship earlier this season. The 2012-13 PSL Abronzino Cup will feature Santa Clara Sporting vs Gordon Biersch.