2015 Disney Qualifier: Final Day Recaps

2015 Disney Qualifier: Final Day Recaps
by Andy Villamarzo
September 8, 2015

ORLANDO, Fla. — The third day of the Disney Qualifier soccer showcase at the ESPN Wide World of Sports started off with overcast weather and the day was filled with competitive qualifying games with teams vying to make it to Disney's Soccer Showcase tournament in December. Here are some of the key matchups from Monday's action.

NFMSC Florida Lady Knights 00/01 U15 (FL) Davie United SC Sharks Blue U15 (FL)

With the fields still wet and soggy from a previous night of thunderstorms, the early morning contest between the Lady Knights and Davie United was filled with high intensity throughout.

Scoring opportunities in the first half were rare, as both teams battled for possession at midfield. Neither team could gain any advantage in the opening half, so the game went into halftime scoreless.

The second half, though, featured much more action on both ends as the team's looked for the go-ahead goal. The Lady Knights had a good scoring chance in the 37th minute when Margaret Struble got into the box and shot from about eight yards out only to just miss the left crossbar.

About ten minutes later, teammate Eden Garner gave the Knights the lead on a nice kick from 15 yards out past Davie goalkeeper Stefanie Assakawa. Davie certainly had its chances to tie up the game, including a free kick in the 50th minute by captain/midfielder Mariana Mazzocca.

Ridge Youth SC 0001 Red U15 (FL) Tampa Bay United Elite North 00 U15 (FL)

In one of the more exciting U15 matches of the day, Tampa Bay United avenged an earlier tournament loss to Ridge Youth and was able to bounce back with a clutch 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon.

Tampa Bay came out with a chip on its shoulder and attacked often against Ridge Youth's defense. Kobe Hepburn and Diego Wallace had headers off corner kicks that nearly found their way to the back of the net in the first half. Tampa Bay got past Ridge Youth goalkeeper Jack Mcdevitt.

Ridge Youth went into the half down 1-0, but would find the equalizer in the 47th minute when Michael Farrelly headed in a goal off a corner kick. Both clubs turned up the pressure offensively, trying to look for the go ahead score.

With only 13 minutes to go, it seemed like both teams were destined for overtime but in the 51st minute, Tampa Bay was able to breakthrough. Robert Fellowes followed up a blocked shot by Mcdevitt and nailed it in the net to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Tampa Bay out shot Ridge Youth 9-7 and goalkeeper Nicholas Caulley made three saves in the win.

Space Coast United 0001 Travel Red U15 (FL) 0-0 (6-5 penalty kicks) Chargers SC FHR 0001 Elite U15 (FL)

In one of the last games of the day, Space Coast and Chargers SC needed every minute of regulation and overtime to decide which team would advance to December's Disney main tournament. By the end, each girl on every team had given it everything they had.

During regulation time, both teams showed exhaustion after each club played a total of five games over the 3-day weekend. Despite inclement weather hanging in the background, scoring opportunities were few and steady control of the ball was nearly almost as rare.

Space Coast had a very good scoring opportunity just a few minutes before regulation concluded, but a kick save by Chargers goalkeeper Sarah Ward (four saves) kept the game scoreless and sent into overtime. With both teams tired, no real scoring threats were made in overtime and the game went into penalty kicks.

In the penalty kicks session, both teams went constantly back and forth and eventually down to their last players: their goalkeepers. Ward wasn't able to capitalize on her penalty try, but Space Coast keeper Cassandra Bodi scored the winning goal to sent her team to December's Disney Soccer Showcase tournament.

Related Topics: Disney Soccer Showcase
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