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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.

The Encino-based Real So Cal Blue club soccer team continued its improbable run by reaching the final in the boys' 16-under division at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships with Friday's 1-1 pool-play tie against Pennsylvania's YMS Xplosion at Burns Park Soccer Complex in Little Rock, Ark.

"We're going to the national championship game with a bunch of kids nobody wanted," said Real So Cal coach Travis Kikugawa, the head of the boys' and girls' soccer programs at Viewpoint of Calabasas. "They've embraced the underdog role and they love it."

Real So Cal rallied from an early deficit to tie the score in the 33rd minute on a goal by Birmingham of Lake Balboa's Manny Cazares, then held off the nation's 11th-ranked team -- according to www.nationalsoccerranking.com -- for the final 14 minutes after El Camino Real of Woodland Hills central midfielder Carlos Benavides was issued a red card.

Although Real So Cal and YMS Xplosion both finished 1-1-1 in the preliminary round, the Region IV champion secured the berth in the final based on the goal-differential tiebreaker. Real So Cal was +1 and YMS Xplosion was even.

Real So Cal, which lost all three games it played at the Dallas Cup in April and needed a wild-card berth to the Far West Regional tournament in Honolulu in July after suffering a 3-1 setback to rival club Rampage of West Hills in the Cal South National Cup final in June, rebounded from a 1-0 loss Thursday to Dallas Texans Red to secure its place in Sunday's national championship game at 8:15 a.m. PDT.

Real So Cal, which suffered a 5-0 loss to Dallas Texans Red at the Dallas Cup, will get a third shot at the Texas squad, which won all seven matches to capture automatic berth from the inaugural U.S. Youth Soccer National League. In years past, only the winners of the four regions advanced to compete in the national championships, but this year, two teams from the U.S. Youth Soccer National League -- Dallas Texans Red and YMS Xplosion -- increased the 16-under field to six entries.

Real So Cal will be looking to win back-to-back national titles in the 16-under division, although this year's team features no holdovers from last summer's group, which was coached by Alberto Bru.

Valley United Blast Red's 15-under team finished pool play with a 2-1 victory over Dallas Texans Red, which entered the competition as the nation's top-ranked team, according to www.nationalsoccerranking.com.

Unfortunately for the Reseda-based team coached by Norman Mejia, a 5-2 loss to another Texas entry, Solar Red, in Wednesday's opener cost Valley United Blast an opportunity to win a second national title in three years, following a 14-under championship in 2006.

After surrendering five goals in its opening pool-play match in the boys' 15-under division at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, Valley United Blast Red took its frustrations Thursday out on Boston Blast with an 8-2 victory.

Boston Blast, which allowed five goals in its pool-play loss Wednesday, took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, but the Reseda-based Valley United Blast Red responded with seven unanswered goals.

Josh Lerner and Andrew Tusaazemaja each scored twice for Valley United Blast, which also received goals from Erick Esquivel, Armando Gaitan, Uriel Rodriguez and Jonathan Simon.

Valley United Blast takes on Dallas Texans Red, the nation's top-ranked team according to www.nationalsoccerranking.com, in today's final pool-play match. Boston Blast faces Texas' Solar Red, which recorded a 5-2 win Wednesday over Valley United Blast.

The Encino-based Real So Cal Blue club soccer team closed the gap against Dallas Texans Red since their last meeting in April, a five-goal loss at the Dallas Cup.

But the Far West Regional champion wasn't able to gain a measure of revenge from its previous setback, suffering a 1-0 loss in Thursday's pool-play crossover match in the boys' 16-under division at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships at Burns Park Soccer Complex in Little Rock, Ark.

"They definitely had the better of us, but they were never dangerous," said Real So Cal coach Travis Kikugawa, the head coach of the boys' and girls' soccer teams at Viewpoint of Calabasas. "We had one breakdown on defense and they scored. That's what great teams do. They finish their chances."

Zachery Barnes scored in the 55th minute for Dallas Texans Red, who faces North Carolina's Triangle United Gold today in the final round of pool play to determine which team advances to Sunday's championship match.

Since Real So Cal, which missed an uncontested shot in front of the net in the first half, and Pennsylvania's YMS Explosion each have one pool-play victory, combined with a crossover loss, today's match will also determine who will play in Sunday's final.

"As long as we win or tie (today), then we're OK," said Kikugawa, citing his team's edge in goal differential over YMS Explosion based on the teams' first two matches. "We just have to forget about the Dallas Texans and move forward. We can talk about woulda, coulda, shoulda, but we need to focus on the fact that we're playing (today) for a chance to be in the national championship final."

Valley United Blast Red knew it had a showdown with the nation's top-ranked 15-under team, Dallas Texans Red, upcoming Friday at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships.

But the Reseda-based club found out Wednesday that the North Texas area has more than one strong team, as the Far West Regional champions suffered a 5-2 pool-play setback to Solar Red at Burns Park Soccer Complex in Little Rock, Ark.

Valley United Blast, which outscored opponents 23-3 en route to winning the Region IV title in Honolulu last month, entered the tournament ranked No. 4 nationally in its age group, according to www.nationalsoccerranking.com. Solar Red was No. 17.

Valley United Blast, which captured the 14-under national title in 2006, must rebound today against No. 7 Boston Blast to have any hopes of playing Saturday in the national final.

To keep track of the progress of Valley United Blast and Real So Cal Blue's 16-under team this week in Arkansas, go to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships Web site for scores and updates.

Local soccer club Real So Cal Blue rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit in its opening pool-play match Wednesday in the boys' 16-under division at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Little Rock, Ark., to knock off Javanon Soccer Club of Kentucky 4-2 at Burns Park Soccer Complex.

Birmingham of Lake Balboa's Manny Cazares had a goal and two assists and fellow Patriots standout Alberto Rosas -- who competed on Valley United Blast's 14-under national championshp team in 2006 -- scored the tying goal off Cazares' corner kick for Real So Cal, which wore down the nation's No. 3-ranked team, according to www.nationalsoccerranking.com.

"You lose your first game in pool play here and you're pretty much done," said Real So Cal coach Travis Kikugawa, the head of the boys' and girls' soccer programs at Viewpoint of Calabasas. "But I guess that's why the game is 80 minutes for a reason. What a way to respond. I'm super, super proud of these guys."

Victor Chavez, who plays at AB Miller of Fontana, scored twice for Real So Cal, which plays Dallas Texans Red -- ranked No. 30 nationally -- today in its pool-play crossover match. Dallas and North Carolina's Triangle United Gold, the nation's top-ranked team, were victorious Wednesday.

Real So Cal will be looking for revenge against the Texas squad after suffering a 5-0 loss at the Dallas Cup in April.

To keep track of the progress of Real So Cal Blue and Valley United Blast Red's 15-under team this week in Arkansas, go to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships Web site for scores and updates.

Girls games:
Thousand Oaks at San Clemente, Div. 1

Francis Parker at Oaks Christian, Div. 3

Boys Game:
Canoga Park at Santa Margarita, Div. 2

All games set for 5 p.m.

For the Marmonte League, Newbury Park's 2-1 victory over Royal along with Calabasas' 2-0 loss to Westlake tonight captured the league title for the Panthers. Vinny Muscarella scored both goals in the win for Newbury Park.

In the Valley Mission League, San Fernando snuck away with the title in a 1-1 tie with visiting Monroe. After falling 1-0 in the 20th minute, SF's Hector Organista scored on a header in the 30th minute.

By scoring all three goals in Agoura's 3-1 victory over Simi Valley today, junior Sam Myerson has tied the school's single season goal-scoring record at 30.

Agoura's next game is this Friday night at Royal at 6 p.m. The last time the two teams met on Jan. 7 the Chargers lost 2-1. Myerson had an assist on the goal in the loss.

I wouldn't necessarily call it too big of an upset but the biggest victory today goes to the Celts, who gave St. Francis its first Mission League loss of the season, beating the Knights 1-0 on their own field.

So.. final, Crespi 1, St. Francis 0 with Ryan Lanutti scoring the game-winner on an assist by freshman Juan Mendoza. Sophomore goalie Omar Zeenni is one of the best stories of the year, picking up yet another shutout against the Golden Knights (they tied 0-0 earlier in the year). He had six saves in this one.

Also, Crespi's senior day game, planned for Monday, was postponed until Feb. 7 because the field was still hurting from the rain last week.

We've done the math over here and if both teams win out the rest of the league season, both would be tied for first, which would give Crespi the one-up aka the league title because of today's win.