MACSA FUTSAL Winter League 2007 Highlights

The 2007 winter league was one of the most exciting and busiest in MACSA Futsal’s recent history. Since the start of the winter league in early January and to the end in late March over 810 games were played. During the winter league, 81 teams and hundreds of players from a number of soccer clubs and leagues from throughout the San Jose area including De Anza Force, PAC, MVLA, West Valley, South San Jose, Mt. Hamilton, Central Valley, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara Sporting , Almaden, and Milpitas participated in the winter league. There were a total of 41 boy teams ranging from high school boys, U14B, U12B, U10B, and U8B. There were approximately 40 girl teams ranging from high school girls, U14G, U12G, U11G, and U10G. Although the final statistics have not yet been compiled, approximately 6 teams went undefeated and were crowned champions and over 2900 goals were scored during the season. There were also an impressive number of 65 shutouts reported, and three teams scored over 100 points each.

During the championship games, the parking lot was full and parents, siblings and spectators were in the gym to cheer on their favorite team. All the finals were filled with excitement, with some games going into overtime. One championship game also included veteran coach Mario Gonzalez vs. his protégé Edwin Luna. Yet another championship game ended in some controversy with the other team walking off the court during half-time and deciding not to play the second half. Another highlight of the finals was a parent game between the U12 B championship team and some parents and spectators. The U12 B players had the opportunity to verse one of the spectators that included Ismael “Easy” Perez, a stand-out player that is extensively involved with bay area youth soccer and is a former player for the San Jose Earthquakes as well as San Jose State University and the U.S. Olympic team.

Also during the winter league a number of MACSA teams scrimmaged and played friendly futsal matches against other futsal teams from outside the MACSA Futsal League. One of the friendly highlights was MACSA’s Men’s team vs. World United Futsal Club. The World United Futsal Club is the reigning NorCal State Champion and U.S. Futsal National Champion in the Men’s category. The World United Futsal Club also has two MACSA Futsal alumni on their world class team. World United has won six of the last ten U.S. Futsal National Championships.

Another highlight during the winter league play was four MACSA teams traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah to participate in the 2007 Regional Championships / President’s Day Cup. Some coaches, players and parents traveled by train, while other took their car and some went by airplane. However, all arrived and gathered as the MACSA Futsal Family and came away with three tournament championships and one 2nd place finish.


2007 Regional Championships / President’s Day Cup

MACSA -- U10B – Regional Champions
MACSA -- U12B – Regional Champions
MACSA -- High School Girls – Regional Champions
MACSA -- High School Boys – Regional Finalists – 2nd Place


Next up for MACSA Futsal is the start of the Spring League, which will be followed by the MACSA 2007 Futsal Challenge Tournament to be held at U.C. Santa Cruz from May 26 - 28th. Of course Coach Mario and Edwin Luna will be taking a number of teams to the 22nd U.S. Futsal National Championship in Anaheim, California between July 12 - 15, 2007.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com