The IR Academy 2013 Boys Pre-NPL were among four IR Academy teams to win championships this weekend at events throughout Northern California.
“This was one of the most successful weekends we have had in club history,” said Kyle Crist, IR Academy President. “This shows how much effort our players and coaches put in on the training fields to prepare for high-level events.”
The 2013 Boys Pre-NPL won the NorCal State Cup in the Platinum Division with a 3-1 victory against Butte United. The victory came one day after IR Academy defeated East Bay United 5-1 in the State Cup semifinals. That victory included goals by Oliver Ryan and Evan Arechiga.
“I’m proud of these boys and how they worked together to win the State Cup,” said head coach Pete O’Donnell. “The teams we played along the way presented different challenges for our players but each time we took the field they were focused on advancing to the next stage and that mindset paid off.”
In the Bay Area, the IR Academy 2015 Girls Purple and 2015 Boys White won championships at the San Mateo Winter Classic. The 2015 Girls went undefeated and gave up a single goal in the tournament. The 2015 Boys also finished undefeated and beat San Mateo County FC 5-1 in the championship match. Both teams are coached by Carlos Lomeli.
At the Sacramento United Spring Shootout, the IR Academy 2013 Boys White finished undefeated and defeated Roseville Youth Soccer Club 2-1 in the finals. The 2017 Boys Purple finished as finalists at the Spring Shootout.
“For many of our younger teams, these were their first matches of 2025,” said Araia Berhane, IR Academy Youth Director of Coaching. “To see so much early season success for our teams will pay dividends throughout the spring.”
The IR Academy 2017 Girls Purple also captured an indoor championship this weekend, finishing undefeated in their winter league.
In local high school soccer, four players from the IR Academy 2007 Girls Purple helped Liberty Ranch High School of Galt capture a CIF-Sac Joaquin Division Four Section championship. Several IR Academy players helped the Liberty Ranch boys varsity team win their Division Four Section championship. The Liberty Ranch boys team is coached by 2007 Girls Purple coach Garett Arechiga.
On Wednesday, Pleasant Grove High School of Elk Grove will take on Del Oro High School of Loomis in the CIF-Sac Joaquin Division One Section semifinals. The team from PGHS includes four IR Academy 2007 and 2008 players, as well as head coach Rich Moorhouse and assistant coach RJ Moorhouse. Rich is the IR Academy Community Relations Director and RJ serves as head coach of the IR Academy 2009 and 2016 Boys Purple teams.
NorCal Premier Spring League for all IR Academy teams begins March 8.
