LSBA soccer tournament marks 10 years of funding

By Erika Arreola

Staff Writer

Cal State Dominguez Hills on April 15 celebrated the 10th anniversary of an annual soccer tournament hosted by the Latino Student Business Association (LSBA) that raises money for student scholarships.

Eight teams from different Cal State campuses turned out to compete for a revolving trophy. The event brought almost 150 students together.

Everyone had to register through Facebook prior to the event. Registration started at 8:30 a.m., and the event went until 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Participating teams paid a $60 fee, and the tournament was free for spectators; the purpose was to raise money for LSBA scholarships.

The event took place on CSUDH’s Intramural Field.  Every year, participating students from the invited Cal States bring several teams together to compete. The co-ed teams required at least two females on the field.

Sergio Sauceda, a 23-year-old senior and accounting major, went to several Cal States to promote the tournament and gather teams to join the competition.

Cal State Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge and Dominguez Hills entered teams representing their schools.

LSBA President Uzi Rios, a 21-year-old business major,  served as a referee.

“It gets competitive, and the teams get so passionate about it,” Rios said. “[The win] it’s a bragging right mostly.”

One CSUDH team made it to the finals, going head-to-head with a squad from Cal State L.A.

With a final score of 2-1, the CSULA team playing as “FC Brazil” took the trophy.

Next year, the LSBA Soccer Tournament has the option of working with the L.A. Galaxy, which may even host and help organize the tournament.