Twelve teams claim US Club Soccer Hawaii State Cup titles
OʻAHU, Hawaiʻi (Via US Club Soccer) – Three clubs secured 12 titles at the 2017 Hawaii State Cup, April 14-16 at the Waipiʻo Peninsula Soccer Complex on Oʻahu. Hawaii Rush led the way with eight championships, while Hawaii Surf SC and Honolulu SC Bulls grabbed two apiece.
Seven of the 12 divisions were decided by one goal, and four of the remaining five brackets were decided by two goals. Three of those games were decided in overtime or penalty kicks. A total of 68 teams participated.
“This is what we want to see … quality competition, down to the wire,” said Sergio Bolioli, Tournament Director and MISO President. “This year’s cup exceeded our expectations – as far as building and growing US Club Soccer programming in Hawaiʻi. From the number of teams entered, the level of play, to the professionalism of the officials, we are extremely pleased with the overall results.”
The 12 title-winning teams:
| Boys | Girls | |
| 12-U: | Honolulu SC Bulls II (’05) | — |
| 13-U: | Hawaii Rush SC (’04) | Hawaii Rush SC (’04) |
| 14-U: | Hawaii Rush SC (’03) | Hawaii Rush SC (’03) |
| 15-U: | Hawaii Rush SC ‘(02) | Honolulu SC Bulls (’02) |
| 16-U: | Hawaii Rush SC (’01) | Hawaii Surf SC (’01) |
| 17-U: | Hawaii Rush SC (‘00) | Hawaii Surf SC (’00) |
| 18/19-U: | Hawaii Rush SC (‘98/’99) | — |
The 2017 Hawaiʻi State Cup was hosted by the Major Island Soccer Organization (MISO) and Hawaii Soccer Federation.
Hawaiʻi State Cup winners in the 13-U through 18/19-U boys and girls age groups automatically qualify for the National Cup XVI Finals, which will be held July 21-24 at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The Finals are the culminating event of US Club Soccer’s cup-based national championship series that includes five Regional events and numerous state cups.
Hawaiʻi State Cup winners are proven contenders at the National Cup Finals. Last year, Hawaii Rush ’02 won back-to-back in the 14-U Girls Premier Group championship at the National Cup XV Finals in Colorado after having won the 13-U Girls Premier Group championship at the National Cup XIV Finals in Indiana.
As a club, Hawaii Rush ’01 won the 15-U Girls Premier Group division championship, and the Hawaii Rush ’00s finished runner-up in the 16-U Girls Super Group at the National Cup XV Finals. Other finalists include Leahi SC ’03 Premier Green in the 13-U Girls Super Group at the National Cup XV Finals, and Maui United SC ’00B in the 14-U Super Group at the National Cup XIV Finals.
Beyond the success of its emerging state cup, the Hawaii Soccer Federation (formerly sanctioned as the Valley Isle Youth Select League), and MISO Junior have hosted US Club Soccer Player Development Programs (PDPs) events in the past two years. That has led to selections of two Hawaiian boys players to the prestigious id² National Selection International Tour – Tommy Musto in 2016 and Logan Calpito in 2017. (feature article here).
