The Crusaders Soccer Club continues winning with four strong competitive teams advancing to the elimination round for the 2023 So Cal State Cup Soccer Tournament.

Coach Evan Betancourt has two teams advancing. His Boys 2012 team won their three games and advanced to the elimination round. Their next game will be on Saturday, Feb. 11, in Temecula. His Boys 2014 team is also advancing to the next round and will play in Del Mar on Saturday at the Surf Sports Park.

Coach Enko Telahun and his Boys 2012 team advanced as well and will be playing on Saturday at the Polo Grounds. Enko’s boys won 5-0 over the Oceanside Breakers. Coach Andy Ortega and his Boys 2013 team advanced and will be playing on Saturday at the Polo Grounds.

Our Competitive Division is continuing with tryouts for the 2023/2024 season. The next round is for all interested boys and girls born between 2009 and 2013. The tryouts will be held in the evening at Skunk Hollow which is adjacent to the Allied Gardens Recreation Center on Feb. 13-15 and on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Pershing Middle School.

Go to our website at cruzadossoccer.org and click on the Competitive Tryouts graphic for more information and to register.

There will be a round of tryouts for players born between 2005 and 2008 on April 4-6. Check the website for more information and to register for tryouts.

The 2023 spring program for our Grassroots (Recreational) season is underway.

Our volunteer division coordinators are working diligently to form the teams for more than 600 boys and girls born between 2009 and 2019. The teams may begin practicing the week of Feb. 13. The Grassroots season consists of eight games. The season is set to commence on Sunday, March 12, with the final game scheduled for Sunday, May 7. There are no games on Easter Sunday.

We always want to thank our volunteer coaches for our Grassroots teams for dedicating time each week for a practice and then on Sunday to play a game.

Victor Melendez, our assistant director of coaching, will be conducting a soccer camp for all boys and girls Tuesday through Thursday, March 28-30 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Pershing Middle School. The camp is open to all soccer players. You do not have to be a member of the Crusaders Soccer Club to participate. Go to crusaderssoccer.org for more information and to register.

The Crusaders Soccer Club has been serving the soccer youth of San Diego and developing leaders one goal at a time for more than 50 years.

Photo credit: Melisa Selenak-Lerch