Day two from the 2016 Disney Qualifiers
September 5, 2016
ORLANDO- The second day of the Disney Qualifier soccer showcase at the ESPN Wide World of Sports started off with cool weather, but the later day's action would get cut short because of thunderstorms in the area. The earlier action was filled with competitive contests and players hoping to lead their respective clubs to Monday's finals. Here are some of the key matchups from Sunday's action.
GPS Orlando 2001 U17 (FL) 2-0 Team Boca 2001 White U17 (FL)
With the weather reaching 90 degrees throughout the Orlando area and most teams playing in their third games of the tournament, both GPS Orlando and Team Boca were limping into Sunday's matchup with tired legs and hoping to put together just enough to reach Monday's high competitive slate of games. Defenses dominated the opening half of play, with neither team putting together any real chances to score on goal.
GPS Orlando 2001 U17 (FL) 2-0 Team Boca 2001 White U17 (FL)
With the weather reaching 90 degrees throughout the Orlando area and most teams playing in their third games of the tournament, both GPS Orlando and Team Boca were limping into Sunday's matchup with tired legs and hoping to put together just enough to reach Monday's high competitive slate of games. Defenses dominated the opening half of play, with neither team putting together any real chances to score on goal.
GPS Orlando was finally able to break the scoreless drought in the 43rd minute, when Steele Norton broke through Team Boca's inner defense and scored on a great effort goal to put his team up 1-0. From there. Norton and crew had to buckle down because of cramping going on amongst him and his teammates. GPS Orlando coach Declan Link droped many players back to help defend the slim lead.
An interesting sequence would arise in the 57th minute, when GPS Orlando goalkeeper Charles Rang picked up a penalty inside of the box, but it was ruled by the officials as an indirect kick from six yards out, with Orlando allowed to form a wall of defenders. Team Boca's coaching staff wasn't pleased with the call, but play went on and Rang made two saves and helped neutralized the scoring threat.
A late goal from Joseph Ruggerio, helped seal the victory for GPS Orlando heading into the final day of play. Ruggerio's goal would come in the final minute of play, as Team Boca was desperately searching for the game's equalizer.
Wellington SC 2001 Wave White U16 (FL) 2-0 Celtic FC Florida 01 (FL)
Wellington has relied on its strong defense throughout the Disney Qualifier and Sunday's matchup against Celtic FC proved to be another strong showing for coach Greg Payne and his squad defensively. His group notched its second straight shutout of an opponent.
Payne's club scored both of its goals in the opening half of play, as Reginald Pierre and Jayden Booth both scored goals to give Wellington a very comfortable 2-0 lead heading into intermission. Celtic's chances were minimal, as Wellington challenged every potential threat on their end of the field.
Armed with a 2-0 lead heading into the second half of play, Payne decided to pull back his forwards and defend the lead his team had built in the first half and it ended up working to perfection.
"Well I think the plan was to build from previous games," Payne said. "We just wanted to make sure we didn't want to give up an easy goal or anything. Club futbol is about building up the guys and everything a step by step process with these boys."
IMG Academy U19 2-1 Chargers SC CLW 9899 SELECT U19 (FL)
Bad weather ended up returning to the Disney Qualifier later in the day, as storm clouds started to creep beyond the horizon. With adverse weather closing in, IMG Academy and Chargers SC CLW 9899 SELECT got their game going just a tad bit earlier than expected and their contest was stopped 20 minutes short from its conclusion, with IMG picking up the important 2-1 win.
The girls from Bradenton opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute when Regina Gonzalez took the perfect pass from fellow teammate Delaney Ciolaio-Coppola and knocked in the game's opening goal. IMG wouldn't hold the lead for too long, as the Chargers tied things up before halftime on a goal from Alexandra Atenza.
With the halftime shortened up ever so slightly, the girls got back on the field in hopes of finishing the 35-minute second half in time before the heavy rains and lightning set in, but they were only able to get in 15 more minutes of play before calling it. IMG notched its second goal of the match from midfielder Piper Flanner early in the latter half.
"It was an important game for us honestly," IMG Academy assistant coach Matt Paton said. "Our earlier game was one I thought we played well, but we lost 1-0. I think we were able to attack a little better and kind of get the monkey off our back and score a couple goals and get a good result."
Bad weather ended up returning to the Disney Qualifier later in the day, as storm clouds started to creep beyond the horizon. With adverse weather closing in, IMG Academy and Chargers SC CLW 9899 SELECT got their game going just a tad bit earlier than expected and their contest was stopped 20 minutes short from its conclusion, with IMG picking up the important 2-1 win.
The girls from Bradenton opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute when Regina Gonzalez took the perfect pass from fellow teammate Delaney Ciolaio-Coppola and knocked in the game's opening goal. IMG wouldn't hold the lead for too long, as the Chargers tied things up before halftime on a goal from Alexandra Atenza.
With the halftime shortened up ever so slightly, the girls got back on the field in hopes of finishing the 35-minute second half in time before the heavy rains and lightning set in, but they were only able to get in 15 more minutes of play before calling it. IMG notched its second goal of the match from midfielder Piper Flanner early in the latter half.
"It was an important game for us honestly," IMG Academy assistant coach Matt Paton said. "Our earlier game was one I thought we played well, but we lost 1-0. I think we were able to attack a little better and kind of get the monkey off our back and score a couple goals and get a good result."
Team Boca 1998 White U19 (FL) 2-1 Tampa Bay United Premier South 1998 U19 (FL)
The U19 matchup between Team Boca White U19 and Tampa Bay United Premier South 1998 was another solid contest that ended up getting shortened due to thunderstorms throughout the Kissimmee area. With the score 2-1 when the game was called, Team Boca was able to pickup the critical victory heading into the final day of the tournament.
Team Boca White U19 took an early lead in the third minute, but didn't have the lead for too long. Tampa Bay United fired right back about eight minutes later when midfielder Pamela Breda got through the Team Boca defense and headed in a nifty goal to tie the game up at 1-apiece. The game would go into halftime 2-1, but Team Boca made sure they left the complex with a win under their belt.
The U19 matchup between Team Boca White U19 and Tampa Bay United Premier South 1998 was another solid contest that ended up getting shortened due to thunderstorms throughout the Kissimmee area. With the score 2-1 when the game was called, Team Boca was able to pickup the critical victory heading into the final day of the tournament.
Team Boca White U19 took an early lead in the third minute, but didn't have the lead for too long. Tampa Bay United fired right back about eight minutes later when midfielder Pamela Breda got through the Team Boca defense and headed in a nifty goal to tie the game up at 1-apiece. The game would go into halftime 2-1, but Team Boca made sure they left the complex with a win under their belt.
Team Boca goalkeeper Ryleigh Brown was solid in goal and making sure that Tampa Bay wouldn't tie up the game before bad weather entered the area. Brown recorded four saves on the evening and helped lead a defense that made just the one minor hiccup on the day.
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