Yakima Reds Soccer Club | Adult & Youth League Soccer in Yakima, Washington

YAKIMA, WA – The Yakima Reds of United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League are celebrating their 15th Anniversary this season. The club played their first season in 1995 and has been supporting and directing central Washington’s most talented soccer players on their journey up the development ladder. The Reds kick off their 2009 season in May.

The Reds have also decided that the best theme for the coming year would be, "Staying Alive in '09". Unable to survive without the help of the community and Yakima area businesses, the Yakima Reds are looking for 15 principal sponsors to help the Reds with their "Staying Alive" in ‘09 anniversary theme. The proceeds from these 15 target sponsorships will come close to covering the basic expenses associated with running the Yakima Reds.

An organization that relies heavily on volunteers, the Reds are lucky to have many passionate people that want to see the Reds stay alive. At the same time, the Reds are also pushing to provide as many beneficial activities for youth and families in the area to both elevate the Reds name in the community and to keep game tickets as cost effect as possible.

The Reds currently run Soccer Boot Camp classes at the Yakima YMCA and provide children's tickets to local school districts, Boy & Girl Scouts, EPIC & other organizations. The Reds will also be coaching and coordinating the Soccer & Scouting program this year, a free clinic for local youth players. Helping the Reds celebrate their 15th Anniversary allows the club to provide these opportunities to Yakima area youth, adults and entire families.

The Reds also announced recently, their 2009 Open Tryouts for men between the ages of 18 – 25. See "News" for more tryout information.

2009 News

By Sebastian Moraga
Vinmedia.us
Special to yakimareds.com

The Tacoma Tide avenged their road loss to Yakima from two weeks ago with a 4-1 home win over the Reds at University Place’s Curtis High School Stadium June 26.
Tacoma was able to set the pace of the game much too early for the Reds’ taste, with a goal by Colin Rigby, via an assist by Tacoma leading scorer Rory Agu, two minutes into the match.
The goal felt like a slap in the face of the Reds that had manhandled this very team in their home pitch of Marquette Stadium, winning that game 4-1.
However, Yakima’s intentions to get back into the game were further damaged by an unfortunate bounce in the Reds’ box in the 37th minute, that bounced off a defender and surprised Yakima goalie Robert McCurdy as it snuck into the net.
Down 2-0, Yakima kept trying to elaborate plays, with more heart than ideas. The Reds’ playmaking ability suffered even more once midfielder Luis Galvan left the game with an injury. Galvan’s replacement, Jose Garcia played a decent game but never quite meshed with playmaker Jake Sagare the way Galvan did. With a disconnect at midfield, the offense suffered and Yakima was outshot by the Tide 21-6
The Reds’ Junior Garcia managed to bring danger in spurts to Tacoma’s Jordan Jennings’ goal, but some of his best tries went wide. And when Yakima was playing some of its best soccer of the second half, the Tide struck again and left things 3-0, when first-half substitute Zac Crim sank a shot from eight yards out off a cross from the wing.
The Reds’ only bull’s eye of the match came via Junior Garcia’s run down the right wing and into the box, where Tim Grey downed him. Grey earned himself a second yellow card and was thus ejected. Vini Oliveira perfectly executed the penalty kick high and to the left of Jennings for the 3-1.
Before the Reds could mount a last-ditch rally, Zac Crim struck again, handling an assist from veteran former USL Sounders’ mainstay Leighton O’Brien, beating a dive from McCurdy to sink a shot from deep in the Reds’ box and seal the deal for the Tide with six minutes to go in the game.
The defeat dropped Yakima to 3-7. Next for the Reds is a game Saturday June 27 at Victoria.

Statistics
Goals: 2’ Rigby, (TAC) ’37, own goal Yakima (TAC), ’71, Crim (TAC), ’82 Oliveira, PK (YAK), ’84, Crim (TAC).
Saves: Yakima, 4; Tacoma, 3.
Offsides: Yakima, 3; Tacoma, 3.
Shots: Yakima, 6; Tacoma, 21.
Fouls: Yakima, 11; Tacoma, 7.
Corners: Yakima, 0; Tacoma, 3.
Cautions: YAK: ’24 Lopez, ’43 Neubauer, ’86 Andrew O’Brien. TAC: ’19 Grey, ’65 Besagno, ’87 Agu.
Ejections: ’81 Grey (TAC)
Referees: Abraham Brody, Philippe Dor, Patrick O’Brian, Levi Rippy.

By Sebastian Moraga
Vindependent Media
Special to yakimareds.com

Playing some of its most inspired soccer of the season, the Yakima Reds defeated the visiting Abbotsford Mariners, of Abbotsford B.C., 6-1 on a Premier Development League Northwest Division clash of two teams trying to escape the cellar.
The game, played Saturday in front of a joyful crowd of about 220 people and amidst a persistent wind, gave the Reds their first winning streak of the season following their home victory in early June against Tacoma.
The Mariners came into Marquette Stadium one rung above the Reds in the standings but that difference did not show on the field after the first quarter-hour.
The Reds struck first on the sixth minute. Midfielder Jake Sagare snuck a pass from the left side, behind the back of two defenders who did not see striker Vini Oliveira catch up to it on the right wing. Oliveira then snuck the ball into the net past a tardy reaction by Mariner keeper Jacob Kubanski.
Six minutes later, the Mariners’ James Giebelhaus raced into Yakima territory along the right sideline, delivered a cross shot to the heart of the Reds’ box, where Stefan Leslie fired a header from nine yards out that defeated Yakima goalie’s Robert McCurdy’s effort.
With the ballgame tied, many in the crowd expected a tightly-fought, knotted match. Instead, the Reds recovered the momentum and never looked back, scoring twice within six minutes, in the 17th and the 23rd. First, Junior Garcia surprised a static Mariner back line when he left his marker behind on the left side of the box and instead of crossing the ball, unloaded a shot of millimetrical precision, into a tiny gap between Kubanski and the right upright. The 2008 PDL MVP celebrated as if it were the finals of the World Cup, with cartwheel included.
Then, Tyler Penn shot from the upper left corner of the box a furious half-volley to leave matters 3-1. It was Penn’s third goal of the season.
The Reds, who entered the contest with a goal diferential of minus-10, knew they had to keep scoring to put the game away and to close that gap. On the 41st minute, Junior Garcia left his marker behind and poked the ball in the heart of the box to the left, a perfect spot for Vini Oliveira to nudge it past Kubanski and into the net.
At the edge of halftime, the Mariners were almost granted a chance to get closer to the Reds on the scoreboard. The referee called a penalty, but the assistant referee told him the foul had occurred outside Yakima’s box. The ref immediately reversed the call and called for a free kick instead.
Up 4-1 at halftime, the Reds gradually began emptying their bench, with Jon Neubauer, Jose Garcia and Alonso Rojas entering the game after the break.
On the 70th minute, a collective play that started with Oliveira around midfield passing it softly to Viveros and Viveros passing softly to Sagare ended with Vini himself. This time, though, he unloaded such a rocket from the right corner of the 18-yard line that the ball got stuck on the metal posts holding Abbotsford’s goal upright.
It was Oliveira’s second consecutive hat trick. Immediately after the goal, Yakima coach Hector Vega finished emptying the bench and sent Hector Vega Jr., and Andrew O’Brien to the pitch.
Two minutes later, Oliveira showed plenty of finesse, chipping a shot from 23 yards out into the skies and over the head of Kubanski for the sixth goal.
Next for the Reds (3-6) is a game at Tacoma Friday June 26 at 7:30. The Reds beat Tacoma 4-1 at home June 13.
Next for the Abbotsford Mariners (2-6-1) is a home game against Vancouver on July 1 at 1 p.m. The Mariners lost to the Whitecaps on the road 2-1 May 17.

Statistics
Shots: Yakima 10, Abbotsford 2. Saves: Yakima 2, Abbotsford 4. Fouls: Yakima 6, Abbotsford 3. Offsides: Yakima 2, Abbotsford 4. Corners: Yakima 6, Abbotsford 4. Cautions: Yakima 1 (Viveros), Abbotsford 1 (Weymann). Ejections: None.
Scoring: 6’, Oliveira (YR) assist Sagare. 12’, Leslie (AM) assist Giebelhaus. 17’, Garcia (YR). 23’, Penn (YR) assist Garcia. 41’, Oliveira (YR). 70’, Oliveira (YR). 72’, Oliveira (YR)
Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Scott Groce, Walter Hetner and Ron Sabari

After winning five out of their first six games in the 2008 season, the Yakima Reds were looking for the same type of result in their opening weekend. However, the Reds dropped both home games to the Seattle Wolves and Kitsap Pumas. Over the last year the Reds have become known as the club that will not throw in the towel. They are working hard to face their two upcoming opponents this weekend: t he Cascade Surge and the Portland Timbers U23, and there is plenty to remain hopeful about for the Yakima Reds.

Junior Garcia, the PDL MVP of the 2008 campaign, has returned to his club after a few endeavors outside of his hometown, most notably being a final contestant in the Seattle Sounders Super search. Junior was available to the Reds during both home opener matches. However, fellow Sounders Super Search finalist and teammate, Al Valencia, made his debut Saturday and had an impact on the Defensive side of the ball. The Reds are very happy to have both Valencia and Garcia back on the field this season. Nevertheless, having two out of the top ten Sounders Search players was not enough, as today, the Yakima Reds are pleased to announce that they have come to terms with the winner of the reality contest, Vini Oliveira. After his stint with the MLS Sounders Vini bounced around the Northwest for a bit before deciding to make a trip a little East of the Puget Sound.

Adding to an offense that already includes Garcia along with former USL Sounders and Timbers alumni Jake Sagare , Vini will no doubt bring another attacking presence to an offense that was unable to capitalize on several occasions this past weekend.

"Vini is a great presence on the field, and his willingness and desire to come play with us is great.” Coach Hector Vega said about the young Brazilian. “Vini gives us one more person opposing defenses will have to account for, it’s always good when you can have three or four guys who can score on a regular basis”

In the past, opposing teams have been able to focus in on Sagare and Garcia, even able to double up on each player from time to time. Now with Oliveria’s presence on the field, opposing defenses will have to really consider how to stop a three-headed attack like the one the Reds will field for the remainder of the season.

“All three of them can play forward or midfield, so we have a lot of options for how we will set up” Vega said “and if you put too much emphasis on covering one or two of them whoever is left can really do some damage.”

"Vini has tremendous upside potential" noted team President Perry Piercy. "He is a creative player and could be an integral part of this team when added to the proven experience of Garcia and Sagare on the frontline." Adding even more impact for the Reds is the return of Midfielder Luis Galvan, who was not available for the Reds first two games, but was key to the Red’s success last year. "With players such as Galvan and Avi Hernandez in the midfield, Vini should help this team be even more dangerous and a threat to score at anytime. I do expect for us to be a very exciting and a fun team to watch this season. Alvaro and his defensive mates should now have a little less pressure as we become more offensive" said President Perry Piercy.

Coach Vega stated that the Reds are put their opening weekend behind them, and focusing on their trip this weekend to face the Cascade Surge and the Portland Timbers U23. There is a sense that the Red’s, who have yet to showcase their full starting line-up, are still a team to contend with in their division. The future is looking bright for the Reds.

Oliveira's playing experience includes:

Bellevue Community College men's soccer team, - The 20-year-old scored 25 goals in an MVP season.
2008 MVP award for the West Region.
Sammamish High School boys soccer team

For more information, please call the following:
Perry Piercy - (509) 654-0464 - Red's Owner
Hector Vega - (509) 930-0358 - Red's Head Coach

The Yakima Reds announce their 2009 Season Roster.

-Avila, Cesar Oliver #26, midfielder.
-Calderon Castro, Victor#21, midfielder.
-Eggen, Kevin K #2, defender.
-Farley, Tyson L #14,midfielder.
-Galvan, Miguel #12,defender.
-Galvan Velez, Luis #13, midfielder.
-Garcia, Jose #19, forward
-Garcia Palominos, Ceveriano "Junior" #17, foward
-Hacker, Joshua #6, defender.
-Hernandez, German Avimael "Avi" #23, midfielder.
-Lopez, Jorge #5, defender.
-McCurdy, Robert #1, goalkeeper.
-Neubauer, John #15, forward.
-O'Brien, Andrew #8, defender.
-Oliviera, Vini #21, forward.
-Penn, Tyler S #16, midfielder.
-Rodriguez, Christian E #18, midfielder.
-Rojas, Alonso #7,midfielder.
-Sagare, Jacob "Jake" #20, forward.
- Sanchez, Mauricio #21, goalkeeper.
- Santana, Jose E #9, forward.
-Silva, Roberto #24, defender.
-Stevenson, Dennis #3, defender.
-Valdovinos, Hector #25, forward.
-Valencia, Alvaro "Al" #11, defender (captain)
-Vega, Hector(Jr) #10, defender.
-Viveros Duenas, Juan #4, defender (captain)

The Yakima Reds open up their 15th season with a home game against the Seattle Wolves. Come help Reds players Junior Garcia and Alvaro Valencia beat the team that shutout the Sounders tryout finalists 2-0 in Seattle. The Wolves have been practicing all winter long and are hungry to make a big impact in their first PDL season. Let's get behind 2008 PDL scoring leader & MVP Junior Garcia and welcome them to the PDL with a Reds victory. The Reds have some unfinished business to take care of this season after falling one game short of the League playoffs last year.

The Reds first 4 regular season games also serve as qualifiers for the US Open Cup. The Reds qualified for the Open Cup last year and would like to do so again this year. Open Cup play allows teams who qualify to play in a single elimination tournament against higher level competition that could include teams such as the Seattle Sounders, Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA etc. Two of the qualifiers will be home games including the game against the Wolves on Friday May 8th and against the Kitsap Pumas at home on Saturday May 9th, also at 7:05pm.

Date and time: Friday, May 08, 2009 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Marquette Stadium

The Yakima Reds will host their Open Tryouts for the 2009 Season on Saturday, March 21st, 2009. Open Tryouts will be held at Marquette Stadium. Tryouts will start promptly at 1:00 PM. We anticipate the tryouts to be over by 4:00 PM.

All participants must wear proper attire for weather conditions. All must have shin guards and proper soccer cleats. Participants should bring their own ball and water bottle.

PDL Men must arrive early and fill out registration information. There is a $25.00 tryout fee (Cash or money order) for all PDL participants. Participants must be 18 years or older, and have ID available. If player is under 18, they must have parent or legal guardian present to fill out paperwork.

All PDL forms can be downloaded from this site by clicking "PDL League" then "Forms" tabs. Please make sure you download both the tryout form and the liability waiver,as both are needed for tryouts.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - PDL Men's Tryouts (Men ages 18 and up)

The Yakima Reds will kick-off their 2009 Regular Season by hosting two of the 4 new Northwest PDL teams. The Reds will host the Seattle Wolves, Friday, May 8th at Marquette Stadium. This new PDL team is a joint venture between Seattle Wolves FC and Crossfire Premier Soccer Club of Redmond, WA, one of the top youth soccer organizations in the United States. Also joining the Northwest Division is another Washington franchise, the Kitsap Pumas of Bremerton. The Kitsap Pumas are under the ownership of former USL First Division Seattle Sounders co-owner Robin Waite. The team will play in the Premier Development League with professional status beginning in 2009, making it the first professional sports franchise in the area. Waite will operate the club, created via a transfer of franchise rights from the former Sounders team, on the Kitsap peninsula, a prominent population base in the Puget Sound region across from Seattle, Washington. Centrally located in downtown Bremerton, Wash., the club will play its matches on the pristine grass of Bremerton Memorial HS Stadium. The Reds will host the Kitsap PDL team on Saturday, May 9th at Marquette Stadium. Both Friday and Saturday games start at 7:05 PM.

The number of PDL teams in Washington State now totals 5, with teams already in Tacoma, Yakima, and Spokane. These Washington teams represent half of the total number in the Northwest Division, with the remaining 5 sides in Oregon or British Columbia, Canada.

The Northwest Division also added a team in Portland, OR under the USL First Division, Portland Timbers. The Timbers U-23s will be an amateur team comprised of standout players from collegiate and youth levels around the Northwest. The new Timbers U-23s team will serve as a development program for the Timbers first team.

The fourth new franchise added to the Northwest Division is located in Victoria, BC and is known as the Victoria Highlanders. In January 2008 the USL announced Victoria, British Columbia as the first expansion team for the 2009 Premier Development League season. The launch of the Victoria Highlanders FC came on the heels of the city’s successful service as one of the hosts of the U-20 FIFA World Cup and the announcement of the construction of a new westshore stadium which is scheduled to open in time for the first kick off. The Highlanders, headed by majority owner Alex Campbell, began efforts in 2008, by building the team and its youth foundation in preparation for the 2009 campaign. “The PDL is a well established league in the US and Canada and we look forward to competing with veteran Northwest Division teams such as the Abbotsford Mariners, Cascade Surge and Yakima Reds among others, including the newly formed Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program. We expect great rivalries, particularly with our Canadian counterparts. Our tremendous new playing facility will enhance the entertainment value for our fans and will attract quality players to the program" said owner Campbell.

The Yakima Reds will play an 16 game schedule, with 4 of the 16 games doubling as Open Cup Qualifying games.

"We are very excited for the addition of the 4 new Northwest Division franchises", said Head Coach Hector Vega. "This is very advantageous for the Pacific Northwest teams, as it gives us great competition, and at the same time cuts our length of travel down from previous years". The Yakima Reds had to travel to Utah the past couple years to play against the BYU Cougars and the Ogden Outlaws, as they were then included in the Northwest Division. With the addition of the 4 new franchises in the Northwest Division, BYU and Ogden were moved into the Southwest Division for the 2009 season. "I truly believe that the Northwest Division will rise to be one of the toughest divisions in the PDL", said coach Vega.

To view the 2009 Season Schedule click on the "PDL LEAGUE" tab, then click on "Schedule".