Real So Cal comes up short in 16-under national soccer final

The impressive run of the Real So Cal Blue boys' soccer team ended Sunday with a 2-0 loss to Dallas Texans Red in the 16-under division final at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships at Burns Park Soccer Complex in Little Rock, Ark.

It was the third loss to Dallas Texans Red in the past four months for the Encino-based Real So Cal, including a 1-0 loss Thursday in preliminary competition.

Ray De Leon scored in the 24th minute and Zachery Barnes added an insurance goal just before halftime for Dallas Texans Red, which won all seven of its matches to capture the inaugural U.S. Youth Soccer National League title to earn a berth into the six-team field in Arkansas.

Both teams recorded 10 shots, with Dallas Texans Red placing five on frame to four for Real So Cal, which played without central midfielder Carlos Benavides, who was sitting out after receiving two yellow cards in Friday's 1-1 pool-play tie against Pennsylvania's YMS Xplosion.

Although coach Travis Kikugawa's team featured no holdovers from last year's championship roster, Real So Cal was bidding to become only the second club in tournament history to win back-to-back titles in the boys' 16-under division. Missouri's Busch Soccer Club accomplished the feat in 1988 and '89.

With Real So Cal's loss and Slammers falling in the girls' 19-under final Sunday, Cal South went winless in four championship matches, marking the first time since 2001 the region didn't capture a national title.

It was the first title for Dallas Texans Red in the boys' 16-under division since 1994. The Texas representative also captured the inaugural Larry Harmon Cup after the trophy was renamed from the previous D.J. Niotis Cup following last year's tournament.

Texas wound up winning seven of the 12 national titles this week, including the top four age groups in the boys' competition.