'Lovely' River Islands Fields Get Rave Reviews in State Cup

John Doyle’s grin told the tale.
Here it was, the grand opening of the lush soccer complex at River Islands in Lathrop on Saturday morning, and John and his wife, Kaarin, were watching a riveting NorCal Premier State Cup boys match play out right in front of them. The U-14 San Mateo County Earthquakes took a dramatic 3-2 win over Vallejo Futbol FC on a last-minute goal by Anthony Alatta in the quarterfinals.
“Great game!” Doyle declared.
In a colorful swirl of competition on a beautiful April day, boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, U14-U19, competed in the christening of the $2 million River Islands soccer complex.
State Cup coaches were thrilled with what they experienced. The six new Bermuda grass fields had a wow factor, especially for teams in the East Bay or Peninsula desperate for field space in their own communities.
“Great complex,” declared 2005 Belmont United Napoli head coach Rich Williams after a 6-1 win over Fresno Heat FC in the knockout round. “Lovely grass fields, flat, big, just ideal conditions to play in. Today not too hot with the breeze. Beautiful. I wish I was 15 again and I was playing.”
The fields were freshly chalked, with brand new lights, new corner flags, and first-class goals.
These last two years Doyle and his partner Fred Wilson have been methodically preparing the grounds for weekends like these. Doyle has enjoyed some incredible landmarks in his career: 1990 FIFA World Cup-Italy, 1996 MLS inaugural Game, 53 caps with the U.S. National Team, opening the Earthquakes Avaya Stadium. But this opening at River Islands holds a special place in his soccer soul.
Indeed, these soccer fields, located next to the majestic San Joaquin Delta River, are Doyle’s baby.
“Everything looks great, fabulous, perfect,” Doyle beamed. “Our objective was to build something special so the kids could play soccer. It’s for the families and the kids. It was a long process and we have a lot of things to add to it, but it’s a great feeling to be right here, right now.”
More than 70 boys’ and girls’ teams participated in Saturday’s quarterfinal knockout rounds. Sunday’s second-day action is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
While the massive UC Davis site is also hosting State Cup action this weekend, River Islands seems like a revelation to coaches and players.

"I love it," San Mateo County Earthquakes coach Brian Mansell said. "Next to Davis these are the best fields right here. This is fantastic. I'd love to play here more."

Mansell also marvels at the River Islands community which includes soccer and baseball parks packaged with the schools, lakes, trails, attractive homes and much more.

"This is great, man. This is fantastic. I'm very impressed with the field," he said.

Woodland Arsenal U-14 girls team coach Fausto Morales also gives the fields high marks.
“It’s a great complex and it seems like you guys are just starting too,” Morales said.
Dillin Ton, whose son Kyle is a center midfielder for U-14 Orchard Valley-Morgan Hill, appreciates just having a nice field in the area. “I like it. Much better location, especially for teams coming from the East Bay. It’s more centralized. I love the grass and the parking lot is good.”
GREAT ACTION: Coach Williams also enjoyed what he saw from his team. Kyle Chan led Belmont with a hat trick, Eugenio Garcia scored twice, and Trevor Johnson rounded out the scoring with a rocket shot just across the goal line off the crossbar. Goalkeeper Kevin Martinez was also a hero against an offensive-minded Fresno squad with a clutch save to keep his team ahead, 3-1.
“Recently we’ve had difficulty scoring goals, but we’ve controlled the game with possession,” Williams said. “Today we didn’t control the game with possession so much which made it more of an end-to-end game. At halftime I said it was kind of like a basketball game from one end to the other, which I didn’t like so much, but we finished our chances and put the game away with that fourth goal.”
DUE FOR A BIG FINISH: Alatta pounded home his big finish after Romeo Vasquez shot off the crossbar.
"It felt good because I hadn't scored in four games," he said.
His thoughts on the field conditions? "Really good," he said.
NOTE: State Cup division quarterfinal games are also taking place this weekend at the massive Davis Legacy Soccer Complex. Premier through Copper divisions are at River Islands. For scores and more information, visit https://norcalpremier.com/.