By Niall Malone/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-11 and U-12 Prospects teams will be in action at the prestigious Surf Cup tournament in San Diego, California, this weekend.
The U-11 and U-12 Boys and Girls Prospects teams will be facing some of North America's top youth sides in an event where no Canadian team has ever triumphed.
The Surf Cup is widely regarded as the top youth tournament in North America, and the Whitecaps will be utilizing the competition by playing each of the four Prospects teams against sides exactly one year older. This means that the 'Caps U-11 teams will play against the U-12 sides, while the 'Caps U-12 squad will play against U-13 teams.
In last year's tournament, the U-11 Boys made it all the way to the semifinal, where they were eventually beaten 4-2 by defending Surf Cup champions and top-ranked American side Los Angeles Legends.
This year, each Prospects team will play three matches in the group stage, spread over Saturday and Sunday. The tournament will then culminate with championship finals on Monday.
The Whitecaps U-11 Girls are in Group C and open their tournament campaign against California South club Arsenal FC. In their second match, they take on another California side in South Bay Force 98 before wrapping up the group phase against Real Colarado 98/99 National on Sunday.
The U-12 Girls Prospects have been drawn in Group A and will play California South side Arsenal FC and California North club Mustang SC XPlosion on Saturday. They complete group play against another South California club in So Cal Blues Draluck on Sunday.
The Whitecaps U-11 Boys are in Bracket A and will play Crossfire Premier B98 from Washington State and Texan-based club Chivas USA on Saturday. Then on Sunday, they face California South side Aztecs Premier FC.
The U-12 Boys Prospects will begin their tournament campaign by playing California outfit Slammers FC before taking on Hawaii's Abunai 98 on Saturday. The 'Caps then wrap up their group stage versus Santa Barbara SC White.
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