Fusion FC will be fighting to keep its season alive when the U16 boys regional rep team concludes its schedule in the B.C. Premier Soccer League on Sunday in Victoria.
The Fusion (6-4-3) can finish anywhere from third to fifth place with only the top four teams being eligible for the B.C. Premier "A" Cup playoffs. The Richmond/Vancouver co-hosted squad, currently in its third season in the provincial high performance league, trail the Vancouver Island Wave and Mountain United (North Shore/Burnaby) by just a single point.
However, the locals will need some help to stay in the hunt. The Wave have a game in hand and will play sixth place Coastal FC on Saturday. Mountain will also conclude its schedule at the same time, taking on first place Coquitlam Metro Ford which is trying to stave off Surrey United for regular season honours.
Fusion squandered an opportunity to control its own destiny with a pair of losses at Hugh Boyd last weekend. Coastal scored a pair of second half goals to defeat the hosts 2-1 on Saturday. Red hot Surrey United then made it six straight wins with a 5-0 triumph a day later.
Even if Fusion manages to sneak into the top four, its work to be in the Premier "A" Cup semi-finals may not be done. The fourth place finisher will have to play Richmond United of the Metro Boys Selects Soccer League in a one game playoff to advance to the postseason tournament. This is the first year B.C. Soccer has allowed teams outside of HPL to challenge for the Premier "A" Cup. United opted to forgo the Provincial "A" Cup playdowns to have a shot at representing B.C. at the U16 club nationals, slated
for October in Mt. Pearl Newfoundland. Richmond was Coastal Cup champions and Provincial "A" Cup finalists in 2013. This past season, United lost just twice in 19 league games, including 12 wins.
Corner kicks... The U13 Fusion boys will also be on the Island Sunday looking secure a Provincial "A" Cup spot. The locals are tied with Thompson Okanagan for the final spot but hold the edge in the goal differential tiebreaker (5-0) and will be playing a winless Vancouver Island team.
Fusion's U18 boys team has already locked up a playoff spot.
On the girls side, Fusion's U14 and 15 sides will also be advancing.
The Premier "A" Cup finals take place June 28-29 at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley.
There will be plenty of youth soccer action in the city next month when the
Richmond Youth Soccer Association hosts the annual Les Sinnott Provincial "B" Cup Boys Soccer Championships. Titles will be on the line in six divisions ranging from U13 to U18. This tournament features four regional winners in each division, along with the
Coastal Cup finalist and the host club. The event runs from July 3-6 at Hugh Boyd, Minoru Park and Richmond High.
