Downey soccer club wins state championship in its first season

DOWNEY -- Downey FC 2005 Boys are the State Cup champions, winning the title after finishing the regular season undefeated in their first year as a club. 

The boys won the Cal South regular season without a loss, qualifying them for the State Cup, a tournament of 256 of the best soccer clubs in California. Only first place teams from their areas qualify for the State Cup. 

The first few rounds were in Temecula to narrow the field down to 128, then 64. The next week was in Lancaster, where the boys defeated FC Premier, 7-0; then P2KS L.A., 3-0, in the round of 16; then Pateadores SC, 6-0, in the round the of 8. 

The last two games were also played in Temecula, with Downey defeated BF310 Galaxy, 2-1, in penalty kicks in the Final Four, and then International Futbol Club, 3-0, in the championship game. Downey FC scored 21 goals and allowed only one in the last five rounds of the tournament. 

“The boys played wonderfully, representing our city with great sportsmanship and pride,” Downey coaches said. 

Top row, from left: Coach Rolando Gonzalez, Daniel Castillo, Christian Fausto, Sebastian Figueroa, Joseph Jaimes, Joshua Jaimes, Diego Gonzalez, Jorge Perez, Christopher Almaguer, Samuel Chukwurah, Head Coach Jose Jaimes.

Bottom row: Andrew Gonzalez, Anthony Cardenas, Adrian Diaz, Andrei Pater, Ethan Gonzalez, Jesse Ramirez, Julio Jimenez, Nikko Viramontes. 

Not pictured: Ramiro Sanchez and Team Manager Christina Almaguer.