TopDrawerSoccer.com

Talk to any soccer enthusiast in Riverside, California, and they’ll gladly tell you that the Riverside Raincross Cup has become as much a staple of Labor Day weekend as are picnics and barbecues.

And depending on how your team fares in this prestigious tournament, sometimes the thrill of victory even tastes better.

Contested on September 5 and 6 this year, the Raincross Cup plays out each fall, bringing the soccer community of Riverside to a halt and bringing in some of the finest competition on the West Coast.

“It truly does bring out the best competition on all levels,” said tournament marketing director Joel Snyder. “The community really gets behind this event. It’s a great weekend where people can come to one safe location and truly enjoy a competitive, family event.”

The tournament’s ties to the community come from the club that puts it on, RAC Milan, which has been one of the longest running clubs in California’s Inland Empire area with five decades of operation.

This September will mark the fourth year of a tournament that has quickly picked up some steam. Originally operated as a 40-team tournament, the Riverside Raincross swelled to more than 100 teams last year including clubs from Arizona and Nevada.

All games are contested in the elaborate AB Brown Soccer Complex located a few minutes away from historic downtown Riverside. The complex features groomed natural turf for a pristine playing surface. The competition is open to age groups U8 to U18 and will also feature a peewee division for the first time this year.

“This is the last tournament before the fall season, so it’s great for a team trying to tune up, which is how a lot of teams utilize this event,” Snyder. “The games are on Saturday and Sunday to allow teams to use Monday as a travel day. We have vendors and tons of the things for the family. There is parking on site, it’s a great event all the way around that continues to grow.”

Information about this burgeoning event can be found on www.raincrosscup.com.