Eighteen Richmond teams will go title hunting next weekend with the start of B.C. Soccer’s 65th annual Coastal Cup Championships.
The single-knockout tournament features an “A” Draw for Metro League teams and a “B” Draw for the club rep level. Berths are determined by the various Mainland and Vancouver Island district winners, along with wild card spots based on league and cup play.
The various winners will meet at next month’s finals in Aldergrove, while spots for this summer’s Provincial “A” and “B” Cup Championships are also on the line.
Richmond happens to be host the Provincial “A” Cup in early July at Minoru and Hugh Boyd parks.
One team already assured of home field advantage this summer is U14 the Richmond Strikers thanks to capturing the Metro League regular season title. The girls will take aim at a Coastal Cup too, starting in two weeks when they get to host a quarter-final game.
Also assured a spot in the final eight is U17 Richmond F.C. The defending Coastal and Provincial Cup champions will host the Coquitlam Metro Ford Shock on April 15.
Rounding out Richmond Girls Soccer entries in “A” Cup play is the U13 Thunder taking on Fraser Valley.
On the boys side, a trio of Richmond United teams will be in action next weekend.
The U18s will be in Vancouver to face the KLM Santos. U15 United will take on the West Vancouver Rangers while U13 United is up against Vancouver.
Meanwhile, the city is well-represented in the “B” Cup divisions with teams competing in every age group.
The most intriguing round of 16 match-up will see the Richmond Gunners take on South Delta United in U18 boys play.
These teams were the class of the B.C. Coastal Soccer League this past season, winning their respective West and East divisions. The luck of the draw has them colliding in the first round. South Delta was Coastal and Provincial Cup silver medalists at the U17 level last year.
Other Richmond F.C. boys teams in action next weekend include:
U17- Richmond Wolves vs. GAC Dynamo; U16- Richmond Renegades vs. Vancouver Lightning; U15- Richmond Rangers vs. Surrey United Rangers, U14- Richmond Strikers vs. Langley United; U13- Richmond Rangers vs. West Coast Spurs.
On the girls’ “B” side, U18 Richmond FC will look to close out a dominating final season in style.
The locals went undefeated in league play (10-0-1) and also captured their group in the league cup. They will travel to Maple Ridge next Sunday to take on the AFC All-Blacks in the opening round.
The rest of the Richmond Girls Soccer teams in round of 16 action are: U17- Richmond Selects vs. Sur-Del Storm; U16- Richmond F.C. vs. Surrey United Heat; U15- Richmond F.C. vs. VUFC Electricity; U14- Richmond Galaxy vs. Vancouver Fire; U13- Richmond Lightning vs. Chilliwack.
