For the diverse group of South County boys who represent
Portuguese Athletic Club Impact soccer, culminating their long
season with a trip to the California Youth Soccer Association State
Cup championship has become something more than an aspiration.
MORGAN HILL
For the diverse group of South County boys who represent Portuguese Athletic Club Impact soccer, culminating their long season with a trip to the California Youth Soccer Association State Cup championship has become something more than an aspiration.
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For them, it is a requirement. After back-to-back CYSA Northern California State titles, back-to-back trips to the prestigious San Diego Surf Cup and a quarterfinal finish in the 2010 U.S. Regional tournament in New Mexico, this team has learned how to win.
Comprised of 12- and 13-year-olds from Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin and Hollister, PAC Impact has become something more than a successful youth soccer team.
“These boys are like brothers,” coach Joe Cordeiro said. “They may not all look alike, or all speak the same language, but their bond transcends their differences.”
Cordeiro noted that teams at this level are usually coached by professionals.
“Most teams of this caliber spend thousands of dollars on coaches, equipment, facilities and training,” he said. “PAC Impact does not.”
Cordeiro is a parent who volunteers his time. His son, Alek, is a midfielder for the Impact. His assistant coaches, Frank Juarez, Alejandro Flores and Tony Jimenez, are parents, too. Although Cordeiro comes from a soccer lineage and played for San Jose State, he coaches this team out of a passion for the game and love for his players.
For a majority of the year, PAC Impact practices on unkempt grass fields with no goals. They travel as families in vans and cars when other teams are flying to tournaments on commercial airlines.
“Every time this team has … this team has earned by hard work, fundraising, and the generosity of the community,” team treasurer Frank Carrubba said. “It is not unusual to find Impact families huddled together in a parking lot barbecuing after a game. This type of camaraderie is as valuable to this team as any practice or any training.”
Saturday, coach Cordeiro’s team etched its own place in history, beating Redwood City’s Juventus Heat 2-1 at the State Cup final in Elk Grove to claim a third straight title — a first in CYSA boys competition.
Alexander Balleza scored both of Impact’s goals, burying a header in the first half and banking home the game-winner off the far post in the 55th minute. Juventus pulled even in the opening minutes of the second half, but Impact prevailed behind stellar goalkeeping by Carlos Arroyo.
With the win, PAC Impact qualified for the Far West Regional Tournament, held June 20-26 in Boise, Idaho, and the Surf Cup in July.
PAC Impact Roster: Brenden Park, Alek Cordeiro, Jordan Juarez, Andres Jimenez, Alejandro Flores, Dylan Carrubba, Damien Zuniga, Luke Newquist, Noel Perez, Jorge Morales-Reyes, Jaime Silva, Uriel Gonzales, Carlos Arroyo, Gustavo Vargas, Luis Martinez, Jesus Martinez, Lalo Buenfil, Alexander Balleza.
