Surf Cup wants to give a big congratulations to BU15 Surf Academy. After winning the Cal South National Cup Championships in May, the Surf team won the Far West Regional Championship in Boise, ID, beating out the impressive Neusport (Las Vegas, NV) team with a 4-2 Finals win.

Coached by Paul Currie, the BU15 Surf Academy will now face off against winning teams from Regions I, II and III Regional Championships & National League for the National Championship showdown during the final week of July in Phoenix, Arizona.

The tournament-unbeaten Neusport started out strong, with a 1-0 lead in the first five minutes, but the Surf team’s usual ‘Barcelona-style’ brand of soccer triumphed. The game switched when a Justin Fiddes steal and cross resulted in a Bryce Flores finish. With the game tied 1-1, things shifted in the BU15 Surf Academy’s favor.

Top row, from Left to Right: Coach Paul Currie, Lucas Doucette, Adrian Zendejas, Erik Holt, Marcos Ramirez, Coach Mike Iloski 2nd Row, left to right, Andrew Ogilvy, Tyler Adamos, Zack Pinnix, Isaac Miselewicz, Luis Jimenez, Mario Gutierrez. Bottom Row, left to right, Brian Iloski, Mitchell Rincon, Brandon Liu, John Aguilar, Justin Fiddes & Bryce Flores.

After a perfect set-up by Surf teammate Mario Gutierrez, Isaac Miselewicz made the game 2-1. Surf’s ball possession passing was replaced by its overpowering defense, led by Erik Holt, Zack Pinnix, John Aguilar and Fiddes. Surf goalie Adrian Zendejas made up for the breach by Blake Damato that led to Neusport’s first goal by commanding all Neusport attempts for the remainder of the game. Mid-fielders Flores, Marcos Ramirez, Gutierrez, Luis Jimenez, Andrew Ogilvy and Tyler Adamos unfailingly set up Brian Iloski and Miselewicz for attack.

Justin Fiddes ran from his attacking left-back position in the 50^th minute, meeting Miselewicz to make it 3-1. In the 53^rd minute, Miselewicz made it a Finals hat trick on a throw-in close to the Neusport goal box. Lucas Doucette, Mitchell Rincon and Brandon Lie perpetuated the constant ball pressure and possession game and although the last goal went to Neusport in the 70^th minute, the Surf team secured the win long beforehand.

Surf competed against teams from New Mexico, Oregon, Northern California and Colorado before besting Neusport of Las Vegas in the Far West Regional Championship tournament, which is only open to State Champions from Region IN (Hawaii, Alaska, Northern California, Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado).

Well done Surf U15 Boys and Coach Paul Currie – good luck at Nationals and we’ll miss you at Surf Cup!