Ruckus dominant in regional soccer

Even with three starters missing, the South San Jose/San Juan Ruckus moved closer to its goal of a national title Sunday after capturing the U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Under-19 championship with a 1-0 overtime victory over San Diego Surf White.

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn berths into the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships scheduled for July 24-29 in Frisco, Texas.

The Ruckus, representing Northern California, earned its trip to the Dallas suburb by finishing 6-0 and outscoring opponents 19-2 at the regional, which concluded at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in Summerlin.

The team from San Juan, Calif., won the title game when leading scorer Jeffrey Meyer tallied with about four minutes left in the 15-minute overtime period. Meyer drove toward the front of the goal and blasted the ball past the goalkeeper after receiving an assist from Jeff Coggin, who had intercepted a San Diego pass.

Meyer had scored four of the Ruckus' six goals in Saturday's semifinal win over Washington Premier FC 87, but he was held scoreless in regulation against San Diego. Goalkeeper Ryan Kenny posted a shutout against San Diego.

"We had one starter break his foot in the first game, and then we had another go down with an ankle injury," Ruckus coach Billy Wiskel said of his players' injuries. "Today, we had David Estrada leave the game with an ankle injury, which was a significant blow."

Meanwhile, the Neusport FC 95 Green Under-12 girls team was the lone Las Vegas team to claim a regional crown. It also became the first Nevada girls team to earn this honor, according to a U.S. Youth Soccer representative.

Neusport was a 2-0 winner over Southside Ireland of Oregon in the title game. The local entry, however, will not advance to the nationals due to the age-14 minimum requirement.

Zhane Dikes scored Neusport's first goal and assisted on teammate Jessel O'Dell's tally. Ayana Muhammad assisted on Dikes' goal.

"We played awesome," said Neusport coach Eric Garriss, whose team went 4-0-2 in the regional. "It took all 17 girls for us to win. We're the first Nevada girls team to win (a regional title), and only one Nevada boys team has ever done it.

"Nationals are now our goal (once the team moves up to Under-14 in 2008). We put this team together three years ago, and that's the ultimate goal of this team."

Also, Arsenal FC Under-18 Boys, from Southern California, won its fourth regional title in four years with a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rush.