A pair of teams from the PV United soccer club got the opportunity of a lifetime this week to showcase their skills in front of hundreds of soccer enthusiasts in Sweden.
The 2006 girls’ and 2010 boys’ soccer teams competed in the Gothia Cup, an international youth association football tournament that featured 1,900 teams from 74 nations that played 5,000 games on 112 pitches.
PV United girls’ head coach Luis Guerrero, an assistant for the Watsonville High boys’ varsity team, called the tournament the “World Cup” for youth soccer.
“I’m looking for the girls to have a good experience,” Guerrero said. “I still see some of my [former] players and just reflect on those moments, and they talk about it like we just lived it yesterday.”
The trip to Sweden had been in the works since 2020, but the plans derailed as the Covid-19 pandemic prevented them from leaving. A series of fundraisers and private donations helped make this year’s trip possible.
“The whole process of fundraising and coordinating is what makes it very tricky, but the team has been very successful,” Guerrero said.
Prior to flying across the pond, Watsonville High incoming senior Gimena Núñez said she was looking forward to playing in the games and enjoying the memories with her teammates.
“Especially with my sister [Melanie Núñez] since it’s gonna be my last time playing with her on [PV United]. I’m excited for that,” Núñez said.
Apart from Núñez’s sister, Melanie, other fellow ‘Catz teammates include Jackeline Cano, Alondra Guerrero and Aileen Parra.
PV United got off to a rocky start following a 4-2 loss to Alingsås IF of Sweden in the opener of Group 7 play on July 15.
Yet, there was no need to panic after PV United recorded back-to-back shutouts.
Delilah Vega Aguilar of Salinas High and Danya Rodriguez of Alvarez High each scored twice in Tuesday’s 5-0 victory over Lunds FF of Sweden. Scarlett Stateler of Aptos High scored in the 12th minute that extended PV’s lead at 2-0.
Vega Aguilar and Rodriguez once again led the charge with two goals apiece in a crushing 9-0 win against Altona 93 of Germany on July 17.
Pajaro Valley High incoming senior Valeria Acosta scored twice, while Anely Flores of Watsonville and Alexa Ruacho of Soledad High each notched one goal. Stateler capped off the scoring in the 48th.
PV United qualified for the “Playoff A” bracket. The trip came to an end Thursday following a 2-1 loss against Stureby FF of Sweden in the opening round of 16.
Other locals include Alessandra Zúñiga of Aptos High and Janelle Quintero of Ceiba College Prep.
PV United is also composed of other players from Salinas such as Natalie Vargas of Álvarez High; Mia Grijalva of Salinas High; Alison Vega of North Salinas; and Cadence Walters of Rancho San Juan High.
The rest of the squad features Alexa Cuevas, Eleanor Johnson and Alessia Torrente of York School; Janelle Garcia of Gonzales High, Destiny Mosqueda of King City; and Sarah Connors of Mission College Prep in San Luis Obispo.
“I think we grow like sisters,” Núñez said. “We’re really tight with each other. We bond so much. I think that helps.”
It’s not the first time Guerrero has taken a PV United team to compete in Europe. He took one squad to France and then won a 2016 IberCup championship in Barcelona.
The journey to Sweden began after PV United captured the U.S. Youth Soccer Cal North State Cup after beating East Bay United Bay Oaks, 5-0, in the U18/U19 Division championship game in April.
PV continued in June with a trip to Honolulu, Hawaii for the USYS Far West Regional Championships at the Waipi’o Soccer Complex. They lost to Hawaii Rush 05G East in the 18U/19U Division semifinals.
A group of eight players including Núñez recently took a trip to Jalisco Mexico to try out for professional soccer club Atlas F.C. based in Guadalajara.
“I’m very glad and happy that we got good results,” Guerrero said.
Rodriguez and Yasmin Ávalos of Greenfield High were asked to stay but they couldn’t because both players were missing certain documents and had to be at least 18 years old.
“They wanted all players, but just given that they were not all 18, they had to come back,” Guerrero said.
Those same eight players plan to return to Mexico in December.
“It means a lot, my work is dedicated to soccer,” Núñez said. “I feel very blessed to be there and to show them the talent that I have. I feel really proud of myself.”
Núñez mentioned the players at the camp played at a high level of intensity and there’s no slacking off for one minute. She learned sleep is critical and a new diet, along with managing her time more effectively.
“It was intense,” she said. “A lot of the girls were really supportive. They had complimented a lot of [our] girls. We connected really fast with other girls.”
Guerrero said these types of trips not only expose them to other cultures, but it basically opens the door for younger players to have the same opportunity.
“And given the fact that they were very impressed with the talent that we have, we basically created a relationship,” he said.
