St. Patrick’s Day was indeed lucky for the Claremont Stars boys 2012 soccer club, as the 11-year-olds rode a seven game win streak to bring home the Elite Cup championship trophy in a hard fought 5-2 battle against the San Fernando Dynamo at San Diego’s Surf Sports Park in Del Mar, California.

The SOCAL State Cup is the biggest soccer event for youth competitive teams in Southern California, with hundreds competing for the title of State Cup champion.

With goals from Nixon Terrell, Sam Corning, Derek Chung and Jaxon Phillips, the boys were able to secure a championship title for their 51-year-old hometown soccer club.

The Stars are coached by Ontario-born Cle Kooiman, who also coached the team in the 1990s, and who played in his fair share of big games throughout his career. Kooiman represented the U.S. Men’s National Team in 1994 in the World Cup on home soil. He captained the Mexican professional team Cruz Azul for two years, and played five years in the MLS with Tampa Bay Mutiny.

The night before the championship game, Kooiman sent this message to his team: “We are ready! we are prepared! show up and do what you do, play hard, showcase your talents and commit to your teammates.”

The game was delayed for three weeks due to inclement weather.

Kooiman had a prior commitment to a group of college bound girls who were playing in Las Vegas, but manager Kelly Terrell, who also played for the Stars back in the 1980s and ‘90s, was able to rearrange his travel so he could be there. “These boys deserved to have their coach there,” Terrell said. “Cle brings out the absolute best in them, and I wanted there to be nothing left to chance. We needed coach there, and I made it my mission to get him to that game.” The coach landed in San Diego just 20 minutes prior to kickoff. Stars president and longtime Claremont resident Mike Oshay was waiting at the airport to shuttle him to the field.

Coach Kooiman ran onto the pitch just as Dynamo scored their first goal, leaving the Stars down 1-0.  The sidelines were filled with family, friends, and other Claremont Stars players who drove some 100 miles to watch the game. Nixon tied the score within five minutes, followed by a goal by Sam, giving the Stars a 2-1 lead at the half. Sam scored again about 10 minutes into the second half, followed by midfielder Jaxon who buried another, bringing Stars fans out of their seats with excitement.

Dynamo fought back in the 50th minute to bring the score to 4-2. Shortly after, the Stars committed a foul in their penalty box and Dynamo was awarded a penalty kick. Goalkeeper Emilio Ocampo then brought the crowd to their feet again with an athletic save. The final goal by Derek sealed the victory with the Stars fifth goal of the day.

“I’m so proud of how far we have come and very excited for all of the next hurdles, obstacles and walls that we will overcome and can only overcome them by working together as a team,” Kooiman said.

Claremont Stars Soccer Club has been a fixture in the Southern California soccer landscape since 1973. In 2023, the boys 2015 team captured the state cup title for the first time in more than 20 years.

Top: Asst. Coach Chris Terrell, Matthew Totri, Ryan Scranton, Nixon Terrell, Tayton Hafif, Emilio Ocampo, Carter Torres, Sam Corning, Coach Cle Kooiman

Bottom: Little brother Rory Terrell, Chase Alvarado, Derek Chung, Jaxon Phillips, Andrew Casillas, Axel Rincon, Max Miramontes