Just one day left in the 2019 MK Battery Conference Cup Series! Read through to see how we got here from a wild Monday, crowning two champions and setting the stage for two more. Then head to the official USPSA Conference Cup Series site for complete results and today’s schedule!

Founders Conference Playoffs

The Founders Cup playoff bracket got underway at 1 pm on Tuesday with two very close semifinal games. The undefeated Sac Valley Flames stayed perfect with a 4-3 win over the RHI Inferno, scoring off a corner kick to win in double overtime! Meanwhile, Ability 360 FC took a 1-0 result against the Shepherd Strikers by way of a goal from Filson Awale just after halftime. Then in a rematch of an early group stage game, Ability 360 FC got their revenge, completing a comprehensive 4-0 victory over the Sac Valley Flames to win the Founders Cup! Marc Schwab was the top scorer, putting away three goals while John Beaubien kept a clean sheet in goal. Taking third place, were the Shepherd Strikers, defeating the RHI Inferno 5-0 in the third place game.

Marc Schwab with his first of three goals in the Founders Championship match, propelling Ability360 FC over Sac Valley Flames to win the title. [Video credit: Power Soccer Shop]

Founders Final Standings

1. Ability360 FC 2. Sac Valley Flames 3. Shepherd Strikers 4. RHI Inferno 5. Houston Fireballs – Central 6. STRAPS Scorpions 7. Baystate Falcons 8. Glendale Rough Riders 9. DASA SLSG Firecrackers 10. Vermont Chargers 11. Hot Shots

2019 Founders Champions Ability360 FC! [Photo credit: USPSA]

Presidents Conference Playoffs

The San Jose Flash won their second consecutive conference cup on Monday (following up a 2018 Founders Cup win!), defeating the Wisconsin Warriors 4-3 in sudden death overtime! The game was very close throughout; the teams battled for every inch and neither team ever led by more than one goal. The score was knotted at 1-1 at halftime, with goals for Wisconsin’s Tyler Engel and San Jose’s Michael Rayton. The Warriors nearly won in regulation, but Rayton completed a hat-trick in added time to tie the game 3-3 and forced overtime. From there, the teams would need 35 more minutes of soccer to find a winner. Halfway through the fourth overtime period, Michael Rayton scored his fourth goal to win the trophy for his team! To round out the podium, the Central Valley Ghostriderz defeated the Tidewater Piranhas 5-2 in the third place game.

Michael Rayton saves the day for the San Jose Flash then leads them to victory over the Wisconsin Warriors. [Video credit: Power Soccer Shop]

Presidents Final Standings

1. San Jose Flash 2. Wisconsin Warriors 3. Central Valley Ghostriderz 4. Tidewater Piranhas 5. San Jose Rockets 6. BORP Shockers 7. ASPO Force 8. St. Louis Arrows 9. Turnstone Furious Flyers 10. St. Louis Spin

2019 Presidents Champions San Jose Flash! [Picture credit: USPSA]

Champions Conference

The final round of pool play in the Champions Cup took place just before lunchtime on Monday. The PRHC Chariots and Atlanta Sting both continued to dominate with 3-0 records at the top of pools A and B respectively. At 6 pm, all four quarterfinals kicked off. At the end of an exciting day these were unfortunately fairly uneventful as the top seeded team won each matchup in shutout fashion. The four advancing teams will play in the semifinals on Tuesday at 10:15 am. The Chariots, who have yet to allow a goal, will take on the Chippewa Valley Hooligans, while the Sting will play the Minnesota Northern Lights for a place in the championship game later in the afternoon. The Sting have averaged over 4 goals per game so they will certainly come out swinging as they move through the playoff bracket. It would be quite interesting to see the opposing skillsets of the Chariots and Sting clash if they meet in the final.

The PRHC Chariots took down their New England rival, Boston Brakers, with a decisive 2-0 quarterfinal. [Video credit: Power Soccer Shop].

Premier Conference Standings

The Premier Cup finished up pool play on Monday, setting up the bracket to determine the best power soccer team in the United States on Tuesday. In pool A, the Minnesota Shockwave extended its record on the season to 23-0, winning all of their pool games by at least 3 goals and taking the 1 seed. Right behind them at #2 is CNY United, whose only loss came via a six goal Shockwave rout. Pool B is in a similar scenario, where defending champions RHI Sudden Impact are the undefeated top seed, and the Circle City Rollers finished up at 3-1 in second place. With an eight team bracket though, it is still anyone’s tournament with the Tampa Thunder and hometown Turnstone Flyers certainly in contention. The Thunder took their two losses by two goals to the Sudden Impact and just one to the Circle City Rollers. The playoffs are sure to be exciting, kicking off at 9:00 am Eastern. They will run consistently throughout the day, with quarterfinals at 11:30 am and semifinals at 2:30 pm leading up to the national championship game at 4:00 pm.

Michael Archer and the Circle City Rollers pressured the Tampa Thunder just long enough to weave a shot through two defenders for the only goal of the match. [Video credit: Power Soccer Shop]

Event Highlights:

Preview

Day 1 – Scorpions, Warriors, and Piranhas Come Out Swinging

Day 2 – Flames and Ghostriderz Inch Closer To Titles

Day 3 – Flash Win Again, Playoffs Remain For Champions And Premier

Day 4 + Recap – Shockwave Power Through Premier Conference To Win National Title