Earthquakes Hall of Famer Doyle Brings State Cup To River Islands

The state of California has a new home for elite youth soccer. Make that a dream home.

River Islands in Lathrop, the largest master planned community in Northern California, has a brand new $2 million soccer complex and will be hosting the NorCal Premier State Cup tournament for the first time on the weekend of April 27-28.

The NorCal Premier State Cup at River Islands will feature 72 elite boys’ and girls’ teams playing on six brand new, top-class Bermuda-grass fields in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. The soccer complex boasts state-of-the-art lights and a spacious parking lot, set in the backdrop of the San Joaquin Delta.

“The soccer fields are beautiful. The community is first class,” said John Doyle, a San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Famer and the event organizer. “Susan Dell’Osso, Board Director of River Islands, spared no expense for the River Islands community and the Northern California soccer community.”

Doyle, a 1990 World Cup player and the 1996 Major League Soccer Defender of the Year, has brought in a top grounds crew to produce soccer fields modeled after the Earthquakes’ pitch at Avaya Stadium in San Jose.

Home of the 7-day weekend, River Islands has approximately 4,800 acres with a projected 11,000 homes, a business park and nine schools, in a community-serving environment. The Boathouse Restaurant at River Islands will serve as a convenient gathering place for soccer teams and families.

“The River Islands lifestyle is both active and engaged,” Susan Dell’Osso says. “Building soccer fields, a baseball park and neighborhood gathering places are all important parts of community building. We are pleased to welcome John Doyle and his organization to River Islands.”

Plus, there’s a convenience factor for Cal North teams at River Islands, which is front and center in the state.

“We’re centrally located, perfectly positioned between Sacramento and the Bay Area,” Doyle says, also noting that the region will benefit greatly by having an expansive soccer facility in a destination community.

Northern California soccer has produced many legends in the world’s most popular sport, including current San Jose Earthquakes captain Chris Wondolowski, a Danville native. Other former Cal North stars include Joe Cannon (former Earthquakes keeper; radio voice); Megan Rapinoe (Women’s World Cup), Troy Dayak (Earthquakes Hall of Fame, Olympian); Brandi Chastain (Women’s World Cup); Tiffany Roberts-Sahaydak (Women’s World Cup); Tisha Venturini-Hoch (Women’s World Cup); and Albertin Montoya (five-time State Cup champion, U17, U23 national teams).

For information about the NorCal Premier State Cup at River Islands, contact Fred Wilson at (925) 759-6267 or via email: info@riverislands.com.

For information about River Islands, visit http://riverislands.com/ or call (209) 805-5168.