Tracy Blaze is one of the local teams that will compete this weekend in the fifth annual Tracy Futbol Club Orange Bowl at the Tracy Sports Complex and Plasencia Fields.
Tracy Futbol Club will host 82 teams at the tournament, which has become a Memorial Day weekend tradition for the club’s soccer teams.
Teams from around Northern California, including seven from Tracy, will compete in U.S. Club Soccer gold- and premiere-level play. Games begin today, May 25, and continue through Monday, May 28.
The Blaze began the San Luis Obispo tournament with a 5-0 win against the host club, Madrid Premier. Madison Salazar scored two goals for the Blaze, and Jennifer Romero, Megan Perry and Maria Mendicino also scored. Megan Johnson, Karina Rodriguez, and Jazmine Yaeger provided midfield support.
The Blaze got their second win, 1-0, over the eventual tournament champion, San Luis Obispo Storm. Eliana Schreppel scored the game-winning goal in the final 10 minutes off an assist from Salazar. Goalkeeper Amanda Leal recorded her second clean sheet to lead the Blaze into the semifinals, and defenders Giana Jong, Angelica Gonzalez, Madison Pugh and Rodriguez held off the Storm offense.
Defense again came through in the semifinal match, a 3-1 win against the Central Coast Condors. Salazar scored all three goals, with support from Ashley Wells and Christina Mendoza.
The championship game Sunday afternoon, May 20, at Cuesta College was a rematch with the San Luis Obispo Storm, who got the win this time, 2-0.

