Santa Cruz County Breakers
Encyclopedia
Santa Cruz County Breakers was an American soccer team based in Santa Cruz, California
, United States
. Founded in 2007, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League
(NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at Carl Connelly Stadium on the campus of Cabrillo College
in nearby Aptos, California
. The team's colors were blue and white.
Besides Gonzalez, other notable standouts include Miguel Silva, who led Watsonville High School's soccer team to a #1 national ranking and two CCS championships, and was named an NSCAA All-American. Silva also led the club, which at the time was called the SCC Chivas, to a state championship. He was a member of the US U-15 boys team. Another notable standout from the SCC breakers is David "Samurai" Estrada
. A forward for MLS's Seattle Sounders FC
He was the leading scorer for UCLA his freshman year as a walk-on, and a member of the U-18 national pool. He was named CCS player of the year after leading Alisal High School to a #2 national ranking, and scoring a national record of 70 goals including 12 in one game. His accomplishments in college soccer include being named to the PAC-10 second team, the NCAA tournament first team, Freshmen of the Year award, and leading UCLA to the NCAA finals, where he scored two goals against Virginia the in semifinals.
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2007, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
(NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at Carl Connelly Stadium on the campus of Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of study such as: engineering, computer science, allied health , public safety, marine biology and the visual and performing arts. The college itself is named after the explorer Juan...
in nearby Aptos, California
Aptos, California
Aptos is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities...
. The team's colors were blue and white.
2008 Roster
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Northwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Northwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Breakers Youth System
The club also feature a very strong youth program which serves as a feeder the NPSL team as well as many college programs. The "Breakers Blue 88" is the flagship youth team of the club. Led by captain and midfielder Jose Gonzalez, who also plays for the US U-18 national team, they have won 5 of 6 Norcal state cup titles in the last 6 years. They also feature many top players from top high school programs such as Watsonville and Bellarmine. The team adavnced to semis at the national west region tournament and well as the far west regional tournament and played against top European professional youth academies at the Belizona tournament in Switzerland. Gonzalez was also named CCS sophomore of the year, and to the ALL Merc-CCS team as well as the All-America high school soccer team.Besides Gonzalez, other notable standouts include Miguel Silva, who led Watsonville High School's soccer team to a #1 national ranking and two CCS championships, and was named an NSCAA All-American. Silva also led the club, which at the time was called the SCC Chivas, to a state championship. He was a member of the US U-15 boys team. Another notable standout from the SCC breakers is David "Samurai" Estrada
David Estrada (soccer)
David Estrada is a Mexican-born American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
. A forward for MLS's Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
He was the leading scorer for UCLA his freshman year as a walk-on, and a member of the U-18 national pool. He was named CCS player of the year after leading Alisal High School to a #2 national ranking, and scoring a national record of 70 goals including 12 in one game. His accomplishments in college soccer include being named to the PAC-10 second team, the NCAA tournament first team, Freshmen of the Year award, and leading UCLA to the NCAA finals, where he scored two goals against Virginia the in semifinals.