Six current Empire Strykers players were part of the winning team claiming this year’s The Soccer Tournament (TST) prize.
Mounir Alami, Brandon Gomez, Momo Gueye, Jose Gonzalez, Alan Perez and Andy Reyes all were members of the Bumpy Pitch FC side that defeated Pumas de Alabama 2-1 in dramatic target score time on Monday, June 9, to capture the Cary, N.C.-based tournament’s $1 million prize.
“The chemistry that we found with Bumpy Pitch FC was incredible,” Gomez said. “I was blessed to be put on the field with guys who are so experienced.”
Gomez was named to the all-tournament team after producing several acrobatic saves and contributing to a goal in the tournament final.
“It all comes so fast,” Gomez said. “This year it went from 48 teams to 16 in two days, so every game you play you get a little bit more belief and that’s what helps you grow.”
Empire Strykers’ former head coach and executive vice president, Jimmy Nordberg, was Bumpy Pitch FC’s general manager and pivotal in constructing the trophy-winning roster.
“It’s an eight-month endeavor, scouting players, recruiting players,” Nordberg said. “I like the 7-v-7, and the indoor game, obviously, has a special place in my heart but it was (team owner) Alan Ponce said he wanted to do this and he deserves a lot of credit because he went all in on it.”
Billed as the world’s premier small-sided soccer event, this year’s TST featured international icons Sergio Agüero, Luis Nani and Sebastian Giovinco alongside more than 110 Major Arena Soccer League players.
Six TST teams had players who played for Empire Strykers during the 2024-’25 season, with five advancing to the tournament’s knockout rounds. In all, more than 100 Major Arena Soccer League players participated.
“Teams are starting to notice that you do need that hybrid mix of 11-a-side and 7-a-side players, and even teams like West Ham and Borussia Dortmund had MASL guys on their rosters,” Gomez said.
Trailing 1-0 and the target score set at two goals to win, Gomez’ attacking ability produced a shot that rattled the opposing keeper before he pinged a pass into the middle that led to the equalizing goal in the 12th minute of 40 target score time minutes.
Former Ontario Fury forward Charlie Gonzalez scored the match-winning goal for Bumpy Pitch FC in the 23rd minute.
“When we won it felt so amazing,” Alami said. “Almost every game we were down 1-0, and nobody thought we could make it.
“Everyone was so happy. We celebrated on the field and then we went to a bar that was nearby. It was the whole team and two other teams were celebrating with us,” Alami said.
I.E. REPUBLIC FC WINS PROMOTION
San Bernardino-based I.E. Republic FC defeated Artesia DES FC to win the SoCal Premier League’s Division Two promotion playoff match on Saturday, June 7.
San Bernardino High graduate Jose Politron’s volleyed goal in the 64th minute highlighted a 3-0 victory for I.E. Republic FC (15-1-1 overall), the SoCal Premier League’s LA/IE Division champion.
The victory secures promotion to SoCal Premier League’s Division One for the 2025-’26 season.
Sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association, SoCal Premier League’s Division One is the only elite men’s amateur league on the West Coast that utilizes a traditional European-style competition calendar.
REDLANDS FC HOSTS THREE
Redlands FC plays three of its final four regular season games beginning this Friday, June 27 against Ventura County Fusion.
More than one month into the team’s third season in USL League 2, Redlands FC (5-2-1 overall) is in fourth place in the Southwest Division with a 2.13 points per match average.
Following a 2-0 win over FC Tucson on Saturday, June 21, forward Javier Hernandez (Arlington High) leads the team with five goals in his first season.
Cody Carlson’s side hosts the SoCal Eagles on Saturday, July 5 before coming back to play their last game of the year at Dodge Stadium against Temecula-based City SC on July 12.
FUTURE FC HOSTS UWS SEASON FINALE
Last year’s unbeaten SoCal Premier League Women’s Division champion, Future FC has learned on the go during its first United Women’s Soccer (UWS) campaign.
The Corona-based club opened with a 1-1 draw against Tudela FC Los Angeles on May 30 and followed with a 2-0 victory over SoCal SC at Santiago High on Sunday, June 8, but dropped its next two matches before rebounding with a 1-0 win over Tudela FC on Sunday, June 22.
Kamdyn Jalayer (Temescal Canyon High) had the goal in the win for Future FC, which hosts Inland Empire SC at Santiago High on Sunday, June 29.
