Given what has happened in recent years, the weather conditions in Carson City were no problem Saturday morning when the 11th annual Comstock Shootout kicked off.
Tournament co-director Fred Schmidt certainly didn't seem to mind the wind and cold as he walked from field to field collecting game scores at Edmonds Sports Complex.
"We've had four weekends in a row where the weather here has been 70 degrees, but this isn't bad," Schmidt said, laughing. "Last year, it rained and we had sleet during the goalie wars," Schmidt said. "Two years ago it rained, and of course, three years ago we had to come out with snow shovels to clear the fields before we could play.
"There was no snow on the ground this morning, but snowflakes were starting to fall. We got a little scared, but it stopped snowing at about 8:30 and it's been fairly nice since then."
The tournament has attracted 84 age group boys teams from Nevada, California and Idaho to play in five age categories at Edmonds and Mills Park. Championship round games are scheduled to start today at 1:30 p.m.
"There's lots of good soccer being played out here," Schmidt said.
Among the local highlights, the Carson City Chivas pitched two shutouts to win both of their matches in the Under-19 Sierra Division. The Chivas - whose roster includes four players selected to the Nevada Appeal's high school All-Carson Country team last fall: David Sturgess, Chase Zumpft, Colten Mellows and Jesse Gutierrez - opened with a 2-0 victory against Diablo Valley Soccer Club White, followed by a 4-0 win over South Lake Tahoe Milan.
The Chivas are scheduled to play again this morning at 8 against the San Jose Outlaws, whose roster includes John Pinelli of West Valley College and Ernesto Bueno of DeAnza College.
Las Vegas Premier has two undefeated teams after one day - Premiere '92 in the under-12 Sierra Division and Premier '93 in the Under-11/12 Coastal Division. Premier '92 defeated Sparks RSU United and Truckee Lightning by 6-0 scores. Premier '93 defeated the Boise Nationals Blue 8-0 and the Mammoth Lakes Storm 8-1.
"Las Vegas Premier is one of the top boys programs in the state," Schmidt said. "They've won more than half the boys' championships at the State Cup for the last several years."
The Carson City Avalanche emerged as a challenger in the boys Under-12 Sierra Division bracket on Saturday by winning both of their matches to finish first in Flight A. The Avalanche won their opener 7-3 over Diablo Valley Soccer Club then came back to post a 12-0 victory over the South Lake Tahoe Lakers. The Avalanche face the Lightning in the division semifinals this morning at 8.
While the boys finish today, a field of 96 girls teams is scheduled to come to town for the second half of the Comstock Shootout next Saturday and Sunday.
