Mustang Stampede featured 72 soccer teams at River Islands

The River Islands Soccer Complex proved an idyllic fit for the ‘Beautiful Game’ this past weekend as 72 boys’ soccer teams converged on the new site for two days of intense competition in the Mustang Stampede.

Two exciting Washington Premier squads guided by former Major League Soccer superstar Roy Lassiter took part.
“The event went great,” said John Doyle, Mustang Director of Coaching who is helping River Islands usher in its soccer program. “We had teams from San Francisco, Fresno, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Danville, Cupertino, the Concord area, De Anza, Sunnyvale. It was a pretty neat mix. Everyone I spoke to said they were impressed with the fields and thought it was a great community with new homes and lakes."
There were 300 games for ages U13 to U17 on the fast Bermuda-grass as 2,000 people visited the master-planned River Islands community. The Boathouse Restaurant was packed by the lake.
ALL HAIL THE ‘BIG MAN’: Mustang 2006 Academy player Colin Sturridge, aka “Big Man,” provided a big highlight in the Stampede for his club. His right-footed power shot from distance found the top corner and clinched a 3-1 win over a strong Modesto Youth Soccer Association Ajax Academy side. Colin Davis led Mustang with two goals in the victory. Mustang took second place in its division.
Mustang Director of Boys Coaching Joe Owen saw his 2006 team rise to the challenge against formidable Ajax.
“Just still trying to find our identity a little bit with this team,” said Owen, who played professionally in England, Germany, Holland and Brazil. “We played a preseason tournament down in Silver Lakes and each game we got better. You could see the chemistry between players improving, and then we had a few weeks when we didn’t have games, just training. A little rusty to start, just timing, passing, possession and chemistry between players.”
But as the game unfolded, Mustang began to find its rhythm. Owen felt he needed to bolster the defense, so he told Colin and Alejandro Riofrio, two of his “very tall guys,” to go in and win balls and distribute. But Sturridge did more than that.
“He finds himself in front of goal and gets a great goal,” Owen said happily. “I think both those kids are taller than me. They’re big, imposing players but they can play with their feet and I love that.”
The Mustang U14 squad has had a memorable summer, also including traveling with Doyle to Holland and bringing home the trophy. Doyle had a great view of Sturridge’s big finish on Saturday.
“It’s a neat group, awesome!” Doyle said of the 2006 squad he formerly coached.
DON’T SLEEP ON SEATTLE: Washington Premier, based in Puyallup, WA, must be thrilled to have the likes of Lassiter heading its program. He amassed 27 goals and four assists in the league's inaugural 1996 campaign with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and ranks No. 13 all-time in MLS scoring.
On Saturday, Lassiter’s 2006 team notched an impressive 3-1 win over Silicon Valley FC on Saturday en route to the championship of its Super Group.
“It was good to see Roy Lassiter and it was good to see him bring two teams,” said Doyle, a former San Jose Earthquakes center back, of his former MLS rival. “He wanted good games and good fields. I spoke to him afterward and he was real happy with everything.”
EXTRA KICKS: River Islands is also hosting a Developmental Academy event for top teams this weekend. In July, River Islands Football Club partnered with Manteca Sol to provide recreational soccer opportunities for River Islands residents and give the Manteca club a home base.