We have finally concluded the 2024 NISA Independent Cup. We had two matches left to finish over the last couple of weeks as Irvine Zeta FC crushed ALBION Silicon Valley to win their first Pacific Region Championship in the NISA Independent Cup. The Maryland Bobcats FC scored a late winner in Norfolk, VA, to defeat Golden Ball Soccer Academy, win the East Region, and clinch their fifth regional championship trophy in the tournament. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get recap all the action.
Irvine Zeta FC 10 ALBION Silicon Valley 2 (Sunday August 4)
Irvine Zeta FC dominated this match from start to finish as they defeated ALBION Silicon Valley 10-2 to win the NISA Independent Cup Pacific Region Championship. Marcel Salceda strikes first for Zeta FC, followed by goals from George Almeida, who found the back of the net twice; Greg Stratton, Miguel Pena, and Alex Culwell all scored to give Zeta FC a 6-0 lead going into halftime. Stratton adds another goal in the second half before Edson Cardona Adonis scores to get ALBION on the board as they trailed 7-1. Edson Alvarado adds his name on the scoresheet to increase Zeta FC’s lead to 8-1. Salceda also scored another goal to make it 9-1 for Zeta FC before ALBION grabbed another goal from David Woodruff to make the scoreline 9-2 after the 77th minute. Aaron Keita would add the tenth goal of the night for Irvine Zeta FC as they wrapped this match up with a massive 10-2 victory and earned their first piece of silverware this season, winning their first Pacific Region championship trophy. Irvine Zeta FC’s next match will be the 405 derby as they host the LA Force on Sunday, August 18, at Championship Stadium in the battle for first place in the NISA Western Conference.
Golden Ball Soccer Academy 0 Maryland Bobcats FC 1 (Sunday August 11)
In the final match to conclude the 2024 NISA Independent Cup, we had to wait until stoppage time for a goal as Caleb Prichett scored the game-winner in the 95th minute to seal a 1-0 victory for the Maryland Bobcats FC over Golden Ball Soccer Academy yesterday on the road at Norfolk Christian Stadium in Virginia and win the East Region final. It’s the fifth consecutive time the Maryland Bobcats FC have won a regional championship in the NISA Independent Cup. The Bobcats won the Mid-Atlantic region in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 before winning the East region this year. Caleb Pritchett is my MVP for this region, scoring five goals in three NISA Independent Cup matches for Maryland. The Bobcats also scored six goals, conceding just two while stretching the team’s winning streak to thirteen matches across all NISA competitions (10 in league play, 3 in NISA Independent Cup). The Bobcats next match will be on the road on Saturday as they travel to Georgia to take on the Savannah Clovers FC.
That wraps up this year’s edition of the NISA Independent Cup. Your recap of all the region champions is below.
West Region: LA Force (NISA)
Pacific Region: Irvine Zeta FC (NISA)
Great Lakes Region: FC Milwaukee Torrent (NPSL)
East Region: Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA)
Southeast Region: Club de Lyon FC (NISA)
Now, we return to league action with five NISA league matches this week, but what are your thoughts on the 2024 NISA Independent Cup? Let me know in the comments below. Stay tuned for more NISA content later this week.
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