Rafa Talavera blasted in the decisive goal off a throw-in from Ivan Flores to give the CV Rangers BU16 Red team a 1-0 finish over ConquistAmerica B93 in the finals of the 2009 Celtic Cup.  Talavera tallied four goals to help the Rangers bring home the championship title of the BU16 Second Shamrock Division. 

The Rangers found their way into the finals with a 2-1 PK win over PVSC Exiles Red in the semis.  Hector Munoz put one on the board for the Rangers but the semis ended in a 1-1 tie.  The Rangers were down in the PK count until goalie Alvaro Alvarez blocked one of the Exiles shots to win the game.

The Rangers rolled through pool play with two wins and a tie.  Talavera and Munoz each contributed a goal to the Rangers 2-0 win over the Celtic BU16 team in the opening game of the tournament.  Talavera bagged both goals in the second match to boost the Rangers to a 2-0 finish over the Legends FC Black team. 

In the third game of pool play, the Rangers were down for the marjority of the game 2-0 to EI Portugal.  With 10 minutes left on the clock, Victor Meza and Gerardo Couturier each scored a goal to account for the 2-2 tie. 

The Rangers allowed a mere three goals in the tournament due to strong defensive efforts by Meza, Alvarez, David Garza, Ricardo Rosique, Erik Paniagua and Hugo Moreno.  Anthony Alcaraz, Johnnie Martinez and Ricardo Rosique facilitated the midfield for the Rangers. 

Coach Victor Melendez and assistant coach  Israel Garza hope the tournament win will give the boys momentum as they prepare to do damage in the National Cup. 
 

Story By: Erin Murphy XKSanDiego