Monday, June 25th, 2018 -- Tuzos Academy 02 Boys are back-to-back Far West Regional Champions after defeating Boca Juniors (CA-S) on penalties Sunday afternoon in Hawaii.
In the championship match, Tuzos found themselves trailing late. Boca Juniors scored to go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute and in the dying minutes of regulation, Julian Aceves, scored the equalizer. After two scoreless overtime halves, Tuzos defeated Boca Juniors on penalties, 5-3.
Tuzos will now head travel to Frisco, Texas for the 2018 National Championships where they finished as a finalist in 2017.
Three other Arizona teams were in championship matches on Sunday. The lone girls team, Arizona Arsenal 01, suffered a 3-2 loss to Rebels Elite (CA-S). RSL Arizona 99 Boys fell to FC Golden State (CA-S), 4-0, and Tuzos Academy 03 Boys dropped their match to Total Futbol Academy (CA-S), 2-1.
There were other highlights from this past week.
Five Arizona players led their age groups in goals. Molly Griswold (Arizona Arsenal 01) led the 17U girls and all Arizona players with 11 goals. Jessie Boult (Arizona Arsenal 03) led the 15U girls with five goals, Jason Villalba led the 16U boys with five goals and both Ivan Pino and Richard Ochoa led the 15U boys.
Seven teams advanced to the quarterfinals: Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer 05 Girls, SC del Sol 04 Boys, Tuzos Academy 04 BOys, RSL Arizona 00 Girls, Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer 00 Girls, CCV Stars 99 Boys, and Classic Ahwatukee 99 Girls. Two teams advanced to the semifinals: Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer 05 Boys, and Arizona Arsenal 03 Girls.