The men’s portion of the Disney Soccer Showcase at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports came to a close on a gloomy day in the Sunshine State.

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Baltimore Celtic SC U17 (MD) 2-0 FC Tampa Rangers U17 (FL)

Baltimore Celtic U17, the No. 1 ranked team in the Grande Sports Academy Team Rank Top 25, ousted FC Tampa U17, the No. 16 ranked team in the Grande Sports Academy Team Rank Top 25, with a gritty 2-0 battle to win the U17 Gray Division. Baltimore struck quick and was able to control the pace of the game after the first tally.

 “We grinded some things out [and] we played some good soccer,” said Brandon Quaranta, head coach of Baltimore Celtic. “It’s a team that’s used to winning, and has that championship pedigree.”

Charles Pulliam III gave Baltimore a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute, and almost added another a few minutes later with a point blank shot that sailed high.

Baltimore added to their quick start with another tally in the 22nd minute. This time it was Kevin Coleman who connected on a free kick from outside the box. Coleman was taken down just outside the box after a run down the field, and he was given a free kick which he bent around the wall into the top left corner.

Baltimore’s Sean Clarke rang the right post before Tampa’s Stephen Rudderham had the first quality chance for his team. Rudderham’s bent a shot around the wall on a free kick, but it was Baltimore’s keeper who was in the right place to block it. The remainder of the game was primarily controlled by the top-ranked team in the nation with Tampa being left to chase the ball around the field after missing passes.

 

GPS-MA NPL Elite U15 (MA) 4-0 Alpharetta Ambush SC Red U15 (GA)

Although both teams were undefeated in the tournament when they came into the championship game for the U15 Black Division, NPL Elite completely rolled over Alpharetta Ambus. Alpharetta let in three goals before the 29th minute was over and never found their footing in the 4-0 loss.

“[I’m] very happy with the performance. The boys played well today,” said Matthew Hardiman, head coach of NPL Elite. “It’s been a good tournament [and we] enjoyed it.”

Chukuma Onyejose got the scoring going early for NPL Elite as he capitalized in the 5th minute on a pass from his twin brother, Chukwudi Onyejose. Andrew Stevens made it 2-0 in the 14th minute when he sent a ball in from around midfield that slipped in between the keeper’s mitts and crossbar.

Andrew Willer-Bell had Alpharetta’s best chance in the 20th minute when he broke free from one defender and put a nice ball on net that was saved by the goalkeeper.

Eric Barry capped the first half for NPL Elite when he went on a run down the right side, faked a shot at the goal line, cut back to the middle and put a left footer to the bottom right corner in the 29th minute. Chukwudi Onyejose got a goal of his own when he blasted the ball in at point blank in the 61st minute that capped the game that sank the spirits of Alpharetta.

 

South Huntington SC Lightning U17 (NY) 2-1 Bryson Park SC KSA Premier U17 (GA)

Bryson Park, No. 12 ranked team in the Grande Sports Academy Team Rank Top 25, played a well, but started their push too late in the game to make their comeback count. South Huntington came out of the gate strong and never let down as they won the U17 Black Division championship game 2-1.

“I thought the boys did a really great job playing together … Collectively, I’d put these 20 boys up against anybody here,” said Matt Spinole, sideline coach of South Huntington. “We want to thank Disney for a great opportunity and a great facility.”

Michael Lorello had the first quality chance for Huntington as he split a pair of defenders but let off a shot just over the crossbar in the 18th minute. The next chance wouldn’t be as unfortunate, and Huntington would finish on it. In the 29th minute, Benedict Barnes made it 1-0 on a one time finish from an extra effort play, and pass, by Junsei Ro.

In the 42nd minute, South Huntington’s Blake Aronson put a high ball into the box that was redirected by teammate Colin Gormal off the keeper and out of play. The ensuing play caused a corner kick that Sean Zagorski put directly into the back of the net from the kick.

Bryson Park’s Samaan Williams found himself alone with the ball in the slot in the 53rd minute, and put a low ball past the keeper to the bottom left. The push wasn’t enough, though, and South Huntington held off the attack to take the top spot in the U17 Black Division.