Downtown Club Teams On the Go This Fall

By Mary Hausch

As the fall soccer season gets underway players in the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club are appreciating the organization's commitment to provide more opportunities to enjoy their favorite sport.

Twelve teams from the Downtown Club made their fifth annual pilgrimage to Southern California this summer for the Toyota of Orange Classic Soccer Tournament.

The club's Boys' Under-9 White team won its division with an exciting, 4-3 victory over the SC Bayern team. The Girls' Under-13 team made it to the finals and finished second.

More than 475 players and parents attended a Los Angeles Galaxy game featuring David Beckham against Seattle Sounders FC during the August trip. Players were invited to walk across the Home Depot Center field prior to the game.

"Our players always look forward to this California trip. It is a great bonding experience for players of all ages," says Club Executive Director Richard Ryerson.

Another summer highlight was a trip to a tournament in Liverpool, England, by 15 players on the Boys' Under-17 team. They were the only Americans in the tournament that featured teams from Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Mexico and Scotland, as well as British teams.

Downtown teams in the Under-8 through Under-14 age divisions also competed for the third year in friendly matches at Hyde Park and Wasden fields against teams from St. George.

"These games provide a good warm-up for the fall season and a friendly competition with teams from out of state," Ryerson explained.

Club teams also will be participating in the Las Vegas Mayor's Cup International Tournament, Oct. 23-Oct. 25. About 200 Under-11 through Under-15 teams from Canada, Mexico and up to 10 states are expected to participate in the tournament, co-hosted by the City of Las Vegas and the Downtown Club.

This fall the club is fielding teams in the Elite Soccer League, Silver State Girls League, Las Vegas Valley Soccer League, Aztec League and Rainbow League. The club's executive director holds an "A" coaching license and is devoted to developing young soccer players for both competitive and recreational teams. He recently was elected vice president of the US Youth Soccer of Nevada,which oversees soccer leagues statewide.

For more information on the Downtown Club or the Mayor's Cup tournament, visit the downtownlvsc.com Web site.