Which team will win the Corporate Men's Division title?
Which corporation boasts the best soccer players in the Bay Area? We'll find out on Saturday when teams from 13 different organizations take the field at the Nutrilite Training Facility.
The action kicks off at 8:30 a.m. in a 4v4 + goalkeeper format. Each team is guaranteed three games in group play before the knockout phase.
Who will reign supreme? Here's a glance at what to expect come Saturday:
CORPORATE MEN'S DIVISION
Group A
Maxim Innovators
Vitals: 9,200 Worldwide Employees; Based in Sunnyvale, California; Claim to Fame – Providing solutions to the toughest electronic design challenges.
Analysis: As one of the fastest growing analog companies, the competition will find it hard to keep up with this team. With the support of over 35,000 fans (a.k.a. worldwide customers), these powerhouse goal-scorers will surely charge the way to victory.
Odds: 7-1
NetApp
Vitals: 10,000 Worldwide Employees; Based in Sunnyvale, Calif.;
Claim to Fame – Computer storage and data management giant is a mainstay
on Fortune magazine's list of top places to work.
Analysis: Plenty of Bay Area based employees to draw from for this team means expect a competitive squad. Another team to keep an eye on.
Odds: 5-1
Solar Junction
Vitals: Based in San Jose, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Recently set a world record with 43.5 percent efficiency on CPV production cell.
Analysis: Riding high after their world-record effort off the field in April. Can they carry that momentum to the pitch?
Odds: 12-1
Degenkolb Engineers
Vitals: 175 Employees; Based in San Francisco, Calif.; Claim to
Fame – Provides innovative structural engineering while promoting
earthquake-safe buildings worldwide.
Analysis:Have to
like the tie-in to the San Jose Earthquakes. Bonus points there, but
we'll see how this side fares in what could be the "Group of Death."
Odds: 15-1
Team Maxim
Vitals: A Fortune 1000 Company; Known for its highly integrated, analog and mixed-signal semiconductors; Not the men's magazine.
Analysis: When we first heard that Maxim was entering the tournament, a lot of heads turned in the office. Then our sales rep informed us that it was the semiconductor company, not the magazine. Probably fewer cover models in this lot, but an intriguing pick to win with two entries. Keep an eye on both teams.
Odds: 7-1
Group B
Playdom
Vitals: 470
Employees; Based in Palo Alto, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Online social
gaming giant that has Mobsters, Sorority Life and ESPNU College Town,
among others, in its stable.
Analysis: Any group that created
ESPNU College Town has to have some sort of sports know-how, but does
this group of techies have what it takes on the field? Any opposing
player who is into Mobsters on Facebook had better think about taking a
dive or risk certain death.
Odds of Winning: 8-1
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Vitals: 1,800
Worldwide Employees; Based in Foster City, Calif.; Claim to Fame – The
PlayStation brand is synonymous worldwide with first-class
entertainment. From the PlayStation 3 and its incredible line-up of
exclusive titles, to the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2,
PlayStation Portable and the upcoming PlayStation Vita, PlayStation has
been redefining "play" for more than 15 years.
Analysis: If
this team decides to pull from its international headquarters, watch
out. With some of today's best exclusive sports games coming straight
from their worldwide studios, this team has had plenty of practice on
and off the field.
Odds: 10-1
PRTM
Vitals: Based in Palo Alto, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Management
consulting firm was founded in 1976 and was recently acquired by
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Analysis: This side is complete
unknown heading into the tournament. Time to find out if their
consulting services translate to managing a company soccer team.
Odds: 20-1
McKinsey & Co.
Vitals: 17,000 Worldwide Employees; Based in San Jose, Calif.;
Claim to Fame – Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former U.S. President Bill
Clinton, on the roster of former employees.
Analysis: Like
PRTM, we're not really sure what to expect from this side. Early pick
for Derby Match of the Tournament has to be PRTM and McKinsey & Co.
meeting in the group stage – which consulting firm will reign supreme on
the soccer pitch?
Odds: 20-1
Group C
Visa
Vitals: 2,500 Employees; Based in San Francisco, Calif.; Claim to
Fame – TBA
Analysis: TBA
Odds: 10-1
Vocera
Vitals: 130 Employees; Based in San Jose; Claim to Fame – Boasts
the Vocera Communications Badge in its arsenal, a complete wireless
Voice Over IP communication system.
Analysis: This team played
well at last year's Corporate Cup and should be considered among the
favorites this time around. Lone loss during group play in 2010 was to
the eventual champs. Wireless communication and soccer - that's what
Vocera does.
Odds: 3-1
TeleNav
Vitals: 900 Employees; Based in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Navigation software is used in Ford SYNC.
Analysis:
If this wireless technology company might have some tricks up their
sleeves. Going to need to put their GPS-savvy minds to work on the pitch
while trying to locate the goal with frequency.
Odds: 8-1
Cosmo Catering
Vitals: Based in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Claim to Fame – That 4.5 star rating on Yelp is no joke.
Analysis: Will
look to julienne the competition with the masterful strokes of genius
exemplified in their top-notch cuisine. Hey, at the end of the day,
everybody's happy so long as these guys are providing the
post-tournament meal.
Odds: 20-1
*Check back tomorrow for previews of the Co-Ed and Men's Open divisions.
