North Redondo Beach Youth Soccer Team Advances to Western State Championships

The Lions on Jan 28 after winning the Beach Cities Area Championship. Submitted Photo

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — The Lions, a U10 soccer team from North Redondo Beach, are heading to the AYSO Western State Championships after a season of consistent success and strong teamwork.

The team secured its spot after winning its league, then capturing the Beach Cities Area Championship in a dramatic 5-4 victory over a South Redondo team on Jan. 28. At halftime, they were trailing 3-1, but they came back to win in the second half. Their success continued at sectionals, where they scored 33 goals across five games and allowed only one goal, winning their semifinal match 9-0 and the final 7-0.

“They won sectionals for Section 1 of AYSO—there are 14 sections in the nation. Before that, they were the champions in area play, and even before that, they won their league. So they’ve just kept pushing forward and succeeding at every level,” said head coach Tyler Skeath.

The Lions will now compete against top teams from California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska in the Western State Championship, which will take place in Corona in March.

Skeath and assistant coach Wells Wulsin said the team’s success has come from its ability to work together. The group includes players with a wide range of experience, from those just learning the game to those who have been playing for years.

“It’s a unique mix of personalities and talent,” Skeath said. “We have players who are just starting out in soccer and others who are already very skilled for their age. But what really sets them apart is how well they play and compete together as a team.”

During the Beach Cities Area Championship, the Lions faced one of their toughest challenges of the season. They fell behind 3-1 in the first half but adjusted their play to come back and win.

“At halftime, we were down 3-1,” Wulsin said. “Earlier in the season, when we had been losing, we kind of fell apart—there were tears, frustration, a lot of yelling. But this time, the team stayed calm.”

“We scored a few more goals, even though there was a questionable call where the referee said our goalie stepped backward into the goal after stopping a shot,” Wulsin said. “Yeah, we didn’t think he did, but the call stood. Even so, we kept fighting and ended up winning 5-4.”

The team’s ability to support one another has been a defining characteristic. During one game, a player named Jonathan had his grandmother in the stands during his birthday week and wanted to score while she was there. After some of the more experienced players had already scored, the team made a deliberate effort to get him the ball. They passed to him repeatedly until he finally found the back of the net.

“His smile was huge, and you could see how excited the whole team was—not just because they had scored, but because Jonathan had,” Skeath said. “Having his grandmother there made it even more special.”

The parents have also been a major part of the team’s journey. They have been at every game, showing their support by wearing neon orange to match the team’s uniforms. The season, which began in August, has stretched into March, and the support from the sidelines has remained steady.

“The parents have been there from the very beginning,” Skeath said. “It’s incredible to see how much they’ve rallied around the team.”

For the players, the season has been about more than just advancing through tournaments. Team captain Alex Wulsin, who plays alongside fellow captain Lucas Skeath, said one of the best parts has been moving through regionals and sectionals.

“I’ve never been this far before,” Alex said. “It felt like we worked really hard.”

As the team prepares for its final tournament, the players are focused on continuing to play their style of soccer.

“At some points, we honestly felt like we were in the wrong league,” Wulsin said, referring to their performance at sectionals. “Every time we went into a game expecting a big challenge, it ended up being easier than we thought.”

A key moment at sectionals came when goalkeeper Miles Minne took a penalty kick.

“That’s pretty unusual for a goalie, but he nailed it, putting the ball right in the upper corner,” Wulsin said.

The Lions will compete in the Western State Championships in March in Corona, where they will face the strongest teams from the region.