How an East Salinas youth soccer team became no. 3 in the U.S.
For many of the players on the El Camino Football Club’s under-14 team, last week included the second plane flight of their lives. Taking off and landing were still relative unknowns.
The uncertainty didn’t change much upon landing. They were in Frisco, Texas, for the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships where the heat hovered around 90 degrees in the morning and exceeded that in the afternoon. The humidity held the air still in the summer heat.
It was a long way from Salinas.
But the 18 players made their way out to the soccer field, the only constant for this team of 13- and 14-year-olds. And they did what they’ve done all season: make a lasting mark among the best clubs in the country. This under-14 team based in east Salinas made the semifinals in Frisco and ended this club season ranked as high as third in the U.S. and Canada.
Financial Inclusivity
The El Camino Football Club (ECFC) is not an average travel youth team.
A typical team like it can cost players and families thousands of dollars per player to make it to tournaments, book fields and referees, pay coaches and sport impressive kits.
But not the ECFC.
Sonya Garcia, who manages the under-14 United team, and her husband Ken wanted to make it more accessible to players regardless of financial situation.
“As long as you pay for the uniform, registration fee and pitch in for tournaments, you’re all good,” Ken said.
With players whose families can’t afford much more than that, it works perfectly. They’re able to come out and play without any pressure. To make up for that, the ECFC does multiple fundraising events.
“We did barbecues, a lot of car washes…the kids sold a bunch of candy bars, too,” Sonya said. “You have to kind of figure what these kids are able to fundraise.”
For some of the athletes, that meant visiting different neighborhoods in and around Salinas and Monterey County.
“One of our kids said, ‘I can’t sell candy bars in my neighborhood,’” Sonya said. “‘I’ll get beat up and my money stolen.’”
They did what they could and raised $30,000 for the trip to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Far West Nationals last month that qualified the team for the National Championships in Texas. That week-long trip to Frisco cost another $1,000 per player.
Donations also came from a number of local business. Clinica De La Salud let the team use its parking lots for car washes. Gonzalez Equipment, Dynamic Food Group, Salinas Valley Medical Aesthetics and Allure Salon were some of the other donors as well.
This comes after help from Tanimura & Antle, Mann Packing and Gino’s restaurant in 2017 helped the team compete in different events.
“We are so appreciative to everyone that has helped us take this team to compete at these events,” Sonya said.
Getting to these tournaments is one thing. It takes a tremendous coach to put the team in a position to win.
A local at the helm
The head coach for the squad, Adrián Moreno, isn’t too much older than his players. The 26-year-old Moreno played for Salinas and Hartnell and does his best to scout out local talent for the team.
“He’ll stop by parks where kids are just playing and ask if they want to try out,” Ken said. “He knows where to find the talent.”
Moreno played midfield for the Cowboys and was all-league his senior season. Though winning and having players amass impressive statistics is fun, Moreno has a bigger picture goal in mind for the athletes.
“For me, my goal is to have these kids go to college and play at the next level,” he said. “From there, it’s their decision. If they really want to do it, good. But if not, at least they’re having a professional life in whatever they choose to do.”
He coaches multiple teams in the club, including the under-13 team that’s 97th in the country.
With an area that’s produced the likes of Ramiro Corrales, David Estrada, Jerry Ayon, Enrique Montaño and the sixth-best high school team in the state (Alisal) this year, there’s no shortage of players.
Between Moreno and the Garcias, the situation is there. It was all down to the product on the field.
Talent on the field
When the United started their competitive season in late August, the team was expected to do pretty well. Youth Soccer Rankings USA had them in the top 10 at the time.
And then they started playing.
The United won their first game 1–0 over Briceno S.C. August 19. They’d proceed to win 16 of their next 20 games to finish 2017. By the turn of the new year, the United were 17–2–2 and winning by an average of three goals per game.
Those winning ways didn’t let up and the team finished the competitive season 34–4–8, outscoring their opponents 149–55 in the process.
Their ball-control, possession-focused offense drew opponents out of their comfort zone and let them dictate the pace of play. The goals and wins piled up easily over time.
For the players, this is the end of a journey a year in the making. Many of them are entering high school and will be seen on the field sporting colors for Alisal, Seaside and King City.
And they’ll likely be back at it again starting this fall.
“It’s a lot of dedication from the coaches, the parents trying to fundraise for them,” Sonya said. “We’re competing against clubs with a ton of money and resources. But these kids have heart. They’ve played soccer since day one and that’s what they do, what they know.”
Contact Sports Reporter Ayrton Ostly at 831–234–1565 or aostly@thecalifornian.com. Follow on Twitter @Ostly_Scribe or on Facebook at “Ayrton Ostly, Journalist.”
Originally published at www.thecalifornian.com on August 3, 2018.
