The Nevada Wonders Academy 13 and under boys team, the Fusion and its 18 and under girls team, the Alliance, were able to make the finals of the USYS State Cup in soccer held this past weekend in Las Vegas.
The Fusion went on to win the title and advanced to play in the Western Regionals in Spokane, Wash., in June. It was an outstanding accomplishment for both the Fusion and the Alliance as Northern Nevada teams rarely advance to the finals in the State Cup.
In the 13 and under boys division, the top state's top three teams were placed in the same flight in the Wonders Fusion, the Las Vegas Premier and Las Vegas Neusport FC. The Fusion opened with a 3-1 win over Neusport as midfielder Eddy Vega scored twice and strike Brady Roser scored the other goal
The Fusion then played the Premier to a 0-0 tie which moved both the Premier and the Fusion into the semifinals. The Fusion moved past the Henderson Heat and the Premier beat the Incline Invasion to move into the finals.
In the finals, the Premier scored first off an own goal by the Fusion when a defender was trying to clear a head ball which found it ways into the goal. Ten minutes into the second halfm Roser took a shot from 20 yards out which deflected off a Premier defender and past the keeper. After two 10 minute overtimes the match came down to a shootout. Roser, John Nuthall, J.B. Olson, Blake Moreland and goalkeeper Brandon Briggs were the five to shoot for the Fusion. Briggs stopped the first shot by the Premier and then knocked another shot over the crossbar. After four shots each the Premier had missed two and the Fusion missed one. Briggs fired in the last shot for the victory.
In the 18 and under girls division, The Alliance beat the Premier in double overtime in
in the semifinals to move into the finals against a strong Las Vegas Tabagator team. The Alliance lost to the Tabigators 2-0.
The Wonders Academy 15 and under girls team also played in the State Cup and had a strong performance.
