Westminster Boy, 13, dies during soccer game

when Felipe Andres De La Cruz of Hacienda Heights and his team, Strikers FC North, were playing in the Players Cup Tournament against SDA Slammers.

Felipe, who was playing right back, raised his hand to come out of the game in the second half, saying he was feeling tired, Strikers FC North coach Ron Esparza said by phone Sunday.

Esparza’s wife and a physician who happened to be at the event performed CPR on Felipe, Esparza said, but the boy remained unconscious.

Felipe, an eighth grader at Newton Middle School in Hacienda Heights, was the only player on Strikers FC North who lived outside Orange County.

The game on Saturday was stopped after Felipe collapsed, and the entire Strikers FC North team including players, coaches and parents rushed to the hospital.

The Strikers FC North gather for a quick pre-game word in memory of Felipe De La Cruz who collapsed on the field and died while playing soccer on Saturday, Aug.

The Strikers FC North gather for a quick pre-game word in memory of Felipe De La Cruz who collapsed on the field and died while playing soccer on Saturday, Aug.

Both teams played the beginning of the game with 10 players instead of 11 to honor Felipe and played the game with his soccer ball.