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After an unbeaten run in the State Cup playoffs, the Mill
Valley Fusion bested a very talented and physical Union City Eagles squad
1-0, to win the California North State Cup Championship. The game-changing
goal occurred midway through the first half, when a spirited Joe Lang broke
free on the right flank and crossed a dangerous ball into the Union City
penalty box. The ball was headed out by an Eagle defender, and found its way
to Teddy Mauze, who lobbed the ball back into the box, where it bounced
through the goalkeeper’s hands and into the back of the net. The goal proved
to be the only score in what was for the most part a stalemate of a game,
although each team managed to generate a handful of scoring chances.
Eloi Vasquez came very close to scoring on a couple of occasions, as he used
his pace to get behind Union City’s defense and go to goal. Koji Gormezano
and Joey Tillepaugh connected on a beautiful combination play, to set up a
corner kick that nearly produced a Fusion goal. Sterling Kirk also caused a
lot of problems for Union City up and down the right sideline. And a free
kick shot by Tucker Nichols also fell just short of the mark in the final
moments of the first half.
In the second half, the Fusion started out strong, with Willie Halsted
earning a corner kick in the early minutes, and Joe Lang sending a ferocious
shot just wide of the post. But most of the second half consisted of the
Eagles demonstrating an increasingly desperate effort to even the score. No
doubt, the real story of the game was the Fusion’s unrelenting and
disciplined defense. Matt Fields, Chris Orozco, Darien Miller-Gowan and Jake
Feldman all made excellent defensive plays to keep Union City at bay. Chris
Orozco made a potentially game-saving play when he made a 70-yard run to
chase down a Union City forward on a breakaway, ultimately tackling the ball
away from the player just yards from the Fusion’s goal. Sterling Kirk,
Julian Bonorris, Willie Halsted and Joe Laland fought hard in the outside
mid positions, and Teddy, Mause, Tucker Nichols and Sam Pearson did a
stalwart job neutralizing the Eagles star central midfielder. The last
twenty minutes of the game were an unending display of the Eagles offensive
surge, which the Fusion matched with stamina, courage, and determination.
Standout goalkeeper Philip Otto was surehanded and poised, smothering away
every shot, cross and attempt at goal. Philip’s confidence and strength
under fire earned him the game ball after the final whistle of the Fusion’s
1-0 victory.
The Fusion’s State Cup Championship win marked the culmination of a highly
impressive season. The team ended up 30-3-2 (Win-Loss-Tie) in competitive
play over the course of the fall and winter seasons, with first place
finishes in league play and in two fall tournaments, and a second-place
finish in the prestigious Premier Division of the Norcal Cup. Coached by
Rick Fullerton, the Fusion is the first Mill Valley team to win the State
Cup in three years.
The Mill Valley Fusion will represent Cal North in U.S. Soccer’s Far West
Regionals in June this summer.
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