California Gold
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the television series California's Gold
California Gold was an American soccer team, founded in 2002. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.
They team played its games at the stadium on the grounds of Peter Johansen High School
in the city of Modesto, California
. The team's colors were gold, red and white.
Prior to 2002 the team was known as the Stanislaus United Cruisers, and was owned by a different management group.
, 22 July 2006
, but still with enough of a foundation on which to build. Jon Gordon was the top scorer in Gold's debut year, with 7 goals and 9 assists.
Gold had a decent season in the Pro Soccer League in 2003, finishing second in the Western Region behind Utah Blitzz
. Despite starting the season with a four-game winless streak, they broke their duck with a 4-0 home win over Nevada Wonders
featuring 2 goals from Martin Sims, and followed that up with four solid victories in May, including a 6-1 demolition of BYU Cougars on the road in Utah in which Sims hit another brace. Gold were generally reliable the entire year, and although they ended their regular season campaign with two defeats to Utah, the final stats were a comfortable 11-6-3 record, and into the post season. Unfortunately for Gold, they lost their regional final 1-0 to the Blitzz.
Having enjoyed success in 2003, Gold completely collapsed in 2004. They won just two of their 20 games in the year - a 4-0 victory over BYU Cougars in mid-June off a hat trick from Gabriel Cuomo and a 3-2 win over 10-man Nevada Wonders
in early July - but other than these highlights, Gold's season was pretty miserable. The team scored just 18 goals all year, and suffered several ignominious defeats, including a pair of thrashings at the hands of Fresno Fuego
, 5-1 and 4-0, a 5-0 defeat on the road in the return fixture against BYU, and another 5-0 drubbing from Utah Blitzz
in late June. Gold ended the season with a four-game winless streak, and finished in the basement of the Western Division.
, and picked up another couple of wins in the early part of the season, 1-0 over both San Diego Gauchos
and Fresno Fuego
. However, Gold's form dipped in mid-June, and the defence became horribly leaky: they conceded 5 in their defeat to Nevada Wonders
, four at home against Fresno, three against Orange County Blue Star
, and conceded a heartbreaking 83rd minute goal in their end-to-end 4-3 defeat to BYU Cougars. They finished the season with a 5-game winless streak, falling 4-1 on the road to Bakersfield on the last day of the season, and ended the year 7th in the Southwest, 31 points behind divisional champions Orange County Blue Star
. Manuel Brasil and Bertin Loyola were Gold's top scorers, with 6 and 5 goals respectively, while Jonathan Domingos and Glenn Tafolla contributed 3 assists each.
Things went from bad to worse in 2006, where every possible thing that could go wrong on a soccer field went wrong for Gold. The 3-1 opening day loss to Orange County Blue Star
was a sign of things to come; they suffered one of the worst campaigns in PDL history, losing every one of their 16 regular season games, scoring just 13 goals while conceding an astonishing 71. On nine separate occasions Gold conceded four or more goals in a game, and only once did they ever come close to accruing points, conceding an 84th minute goal to San Fernando Valley Quakes
in a close 2-1 defeat. Gold's form got worse and worse as the year progressed: they lost 5-1 to the San Fernando Valley Quakes
on the road in mid-June, 6-0 at the San Diego Gauchos
, 8-1 at home to the San Francisco Seals, and ended the year with a devastating 12-1 loss to Fresno Fuego
- although, ironically, the Gold were 1-0 up after 56 seconds when Fresno scored an own goal! Aaron Billington and Uriel Robledo were Gold's nominal top scorers, with two goals each, Billington having played 7 games in goal and 6 games as a midfielder!
Unsurprisingly, following the conclusion of the 2006 season, in which they were by far the worst team in the PDL, the team withdrew from active competition.
California's Gold
California's Gold is a public television travel program that explores the numerous natural, cultural and historical wonders of the Golden State. The show, now in its 17th year, is produced and hosted by Huell Howser...
California Gold was an American soccer team, founded in 2002. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
Premier Development League (PDL), 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 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.
They team played its games at the stadium on the grounds of Peter Johansen High School
Peter Johansen High School
Peter Johansen High School is two-story public school located in eastside Modesto, CA. The exterior structure of the school is made up of brick buildings and chain-linked gating, giving it a slight "prison-look" to those unfamiliar with the area and features an olympic-sized pool, two baseball...
in the city of Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
. The team's colors were gold, red and white.
Prior to 2002 the team was known as the Stanislaus United Cruisers, and was owned by a different management group.
Final Squad
vs Fresno FuegoFresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...
, 22 July 2006
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 4th, Western | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 3 | USL Pro Select League | 2nd, Western | Regional Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 3 | USL Pro Soccer League | 3rd, Western | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4 | USL PDL | 9th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
USL D-3 Pro League/Pro Select League
California Gold entered the USL D-3 Pro League in 2002 as a rebranded version of the Stanislaus United Cruisers; they finished their first year in competition with a commendable 9-10-1, still fourth in the Western Conference behind divisional champs Utah BlitzzUtah Blitzz
Utah Blitzz was a professional soccer team in the USL Second Division. It withdrew following the 2004 season, after winning the championship.-Year-by-year:...
, but still with enough of a foundation on which to build. Jon Gordon was the top scorer in Gold's debut year, with 7 goals and 9 assists.
Gold had a decent season in the Pro Soccer League in 2003, finishing second in the Western Region behind Utah Blitzz
Utah Blitzz
Utah Blitzz was a professional soccer team in the USL Second Division. It withdrew following the 2004 season, after winning the championship.-Year-by-year:...
. Despite starting the season with a four-game winless streak, they broke their duck with a 4-0 home win over Nevada Wonders
Nevada Wonders
Nevada Wonders were an American soccer team, founded in 2003. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.They played their home games in...
featuring 2 goals from Martin Sims, and followed that up with four solid victories in May, including a 6-1 demolition of BYU Cougars on the road in Utah in which Sims hit another brace. Gold were generally reliable the entire year, and although they ended their regular season campaign with two defeats to Utah, the final stats were a comfortable 11-6-3 record, and into the post season. Unfortunately for Gold, they lost their regional final 1-0 to the Blitzz.
Having enjoyed success in 2003, Gold completely collapsed in 2004. They won just two of their 20 games in the year - a 4-0 victory over BYU Cougars in mid-June off a hat trick from Gabriel Cuomo and a 3-2 win over 10-man Nevada Wonders
Nevada Wonders
Nevada Wonders were an American soccer team, founded in 2003. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.They played their home games in...
in early July - but other than these highlights, Gold's season was pretty miserable. The team scored just 18 goals all year, and suffered several ignominious defeats, including a pair of thrashings at the hands of Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...
, 5-1 and 4-0, a 5-0 defeat on the road in the return fixture against BYU, and another 5-0 drubbing from Utah Blitzz
Utah Blitzz
Utah Blitzz was a professional soccer team in the USL Second Division. It withdrew following the 2004 season, after winning the championship.-Year-by-year:...
in late June. Gold ended the season with a four-game winless streak, and finished in the basement of the Western Division.
USL Premier Development League
Following their appalling 2004 campaign, Gold self-relegated themselves to the Premier Development League in 2005, but things didn't improve much on the field. They won their opening game as an amateur side, 1-0 over rivals Bakersfield BrigadeBakersfield Brigade
Bakersfield Brigade was an American soccer team based in Bakersfield, California, United States. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The...
, and picked up another couple of wins in the early part of the season, 1-0 over both San Diego Gauchos
San Diego Gauchos
San Diego Gauchos were an American soccer team, founded in 2002. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team was sold to new owners, and the franchise was disbanded.The Gauchos played their...
and Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...
. However, Gold's form dipped in mid-June, and the defence became horribly leaky: they conceded 5 in their defeat to Nevada Wonders
Nevada Wonders
Nevada Wonders were an American soccer team, founded in 2003. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.They played their home games in...
, four at home against Fresno, three against Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
, and conceded a heartbreaking 83rd minute goal in their end-to-end 4-3 defeat to BYU Cougars. They finished the season with a 5-game winless streak, falling 4-1 on the road to Bakersfield on the last day of the season, and ended the year 7th in the Southwest, 31 points behind divisional champions Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
. Manuel Brasil and Bertin Loyola were Gold's top scorers, with 6 and 5 goals respectively, while Jonathan Domingos and Glenn Tafolla contributed 3 assists each.
Things went from bad to worse in 2006, where every possible thing that could go wrong on a soccer field went wrong for Gold. The 3-1 opening day loss to Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
was a sign of things to come; they suffered one of the worst campaigns in PDL history, losing every one of their 16 regular season games, scoring just 13 goals while conceding an astonishing 71. On nine separate occasions Gold conceded four or more goals in a game, and only once did they ever come close to accruing points, conceding an 84th minute goal to San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes was an American soccer team based in Calabasas, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
in a close 2-1 defeat. Gold's form got worse and worse as the year progressed: they lost 5-1 to the San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes
San Fernando Valley Quakes was an American soccer team based in Calabasas, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
on the road in mid-June, 6-0 at the San Diego Gauchos
San Diego Gauchos
San Diego Gauchos were an American soccer team, founded in 2002. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team was sold to new owners, and the franchise was disbanded.The Gauchos played their...
, 8-1 at home to the San Francisco Seals, and ended the year with a devastating 12-1 loss to Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...
- although, ironically, the Gold were 1-0 up after 56 seconds when Fresno scored an own goal! Aaron Billington and Uriel Robledo were Gold's nominal top scorers, with two goals each, Billington having played 7 games in goal and 6 games as a midfielder!
Unsurprisingly, following the conclusion of the 2006 season, in which they were by far the worst team in the PDL, the team withdrew from active competition.
Stadia
- Stadium at Modesto Christian High School, Modesto, CaliforniaModesto, CaliforniaModesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
2003 - Stadium at Ripon High School, Ripon, CaliforniaRipon, CaliforniaRipon is a city located in . The population was 14,297 at the 2010 census.-History:Ripon, on the site previously known as Murphy's Ferry, Stanislaus City, & Stanislaus Station, was renamed for , which was itself named for a city in Yorkshire, England...
2004 - Stadium at Peter Johansen High SchoolPeter Johansen High SchoolPeter Johansen High School is two-story public school located in eastside Modesto, CA. The exterior structure of the school is made up of brick buildings and chain-linked gating, giving it a slight "prison-look" to those unfamiliar with the area and features an olympic-sized pool, two baseball...
, Modesto, CaliforniaModesto, CaliforniaModesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
2005-06 - Stadium at Hilmar High School, Hilmar, CaliforniaHilmar, CaliforniaHilmar-Irwin is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. The population was 5,197 at the 2010 census, up from 4,807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
2005 (2 games)