Courtesy photo
The under-13 Las Vegas Sports Academy (formerly FC Las Vegas) boys team took second at the U.S. Youth Soccer Regional IV Finals. They were ranked No. 1 by gotsoccer.com for most of the year.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
A local group of middle-school-aged soccer players nearly became the first Nevada boys team to win a U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championship on Sunday in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Under-13 Las Vegas Sports Academy (formerly FC Las Vegas) boys team lost in the Region IV Finals, 4-2, to the LAFC Chelsea, an academy squad based out of Southern California.
Still, the team's run to the finals is considered a step in the right direction for local youth soccer. Coaches believe they are the second Nevada boys team to reach the regional finals, the first coming in the early 1980s.
The Chelsea squad recruits the top players out of the Los Angeles area and trains them at an academy. It is comparable to what the top European clubs do with their youth development programs.
"It is insanely good," assistant coach Jeff Manthey said. "California teams are just elite. They always do well at regionals and nationals. For us to go up against them, and do well, is great."
Losing in the finals was a bittersweet ending to an otherwise successful season.
The team spent most of the year ranked No. 1 nationally by gotsoccer.com. It finished with a 26-1 record in tournaments, including winning the prestigious Presidents' Day Tournament in Arizona in February.
The lone loss came in regionals, where they went 5-1.
"This is a huge achievement for the (boys)," coach Ken Cartledge said. "Once they develop that speed and strength there is no stopping them. The good thing about these boys is that they come from different walks of live. They are mixing together fantastically."
Phillip Hopper's goal in the 27th minute of the championship game gave the local team a 1-0 advantage, but Chelsea scored the next four goals and held a 4-1 lead with less than 25 minutes to play. Sergio Borboa netted in the 70th minute for Las Vegas.
Manthey said the success can be credited to a team effort. The 15-player roster saw equal playing time and the starting lineup often changed because of the balanced talent level.
"It was bizarre how a different kid would step up each game. They were all top players," Manthey said.
Several have participated in the Olympic Development Program or Id2 camps, which identify the top players across the country for a potential spot on the national team. Defender Cameron Patterson and striker Miles McRae have participated in national-level camps, while Cartledge feels others could eventually reach the top level — or become the next Herculez Gomez.
The 28-year-old Gomez, who grew up playing competitive soccer in Las Vegas just like the children on the Las Vegas Sports Academy team, played this month on the United States' World Cup team.
"It's a little too early to tell," Cartledge said. "Most of them are still vertically challenged. But we have some very, very good players. Strength and speed will come with age."
Other members of the team include: Genaro Corona, Benjamin DeLeon, Jackson Dietrich, Trace Doehrmann, Robert Kennedy, Austin Mack, Austin Manthey, Adam Musovski, Alex Padilla, Efrain Pinal, Eduardo Renteria and Elijah Ruffer.
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