The ECNL Event in Sanford was not the only major club soccer event in Florida last week. The Disney Showcase (boys) was also being held in Orlando with hundreds of teams descending on the happiest place on Earth.

The event at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex also served as a competition for the US Youth Soccer’s National League with eight teams booking their spots to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Champions following the results from the week in Orlando.

In the U18 age group, National League Blue Division Champion Concorde Fire Elite clinched its spot in the National Championship after a 1-0-2 record (from National League play) at the Disney Showcase. Fire came up short in the Mens U18 Showcase Black bracket though, as the Georgia club lost 2-1 in the final to Everest SC Black (Ohio).

Three teams clinched their berth to Nationals in the U17 age group.

CUP Crew Juniors Gold 95 (Ohio) went 3-0-0 in USYS NL Blue play and then went onto capture the title for the U17 Showcase – Black bracket with a 1-0 win over Beachside (Connecticut) in the final. CUP Crew Juniors also won their flight in the U18 age group, which made it the only club to win two Showcase Flights at Disney this year, according to the club’s Director of Coaching Bobby Puppione.

OBGC Soccer Rangers (Maryland) joined CUP Crew U17 in securing a place at Nationals in Kansas in July with a 2-0-1 record from USYS NL Red play in Orlando. Rangers advanced to the championship match in the Showcase – Red bracket, but lost 1-0 to the FC Dallas Youth 96 Premier squad with Morgan Dizney scoring the game’s lone goal. Lehigh Valley United (Pennsylvania) also claimed a spot at Nationals with a 2-1-0 record from play in the USYS NL Red.

In the U16 bracket, Georgia clubs GSA Phoenix Red and Concorde Fire Elite both qualified for Nationals following the weekend’s results in Orlando. GSA Phoenix went 3-0-0 in National League play, but was quieted on Sunday with a 3-0 loss to Smithtown Kickers SC Arsenal in the Showcase – Red Championship. Concorde Fire went 2-0-1 in National League play, but was also left with a finalist medal when it lost 5-2 to FC Dallas Youth 97 Blue in the U16 Showcase – Black championship.

Sunrise Elite 97/98 (Florida) continues to prove it is one of the best teams in the country in the U15 age group with another feather in its cap. The defending Dallas Cup champions cruised to the Disney Showcase Black bracket championship with a 4-0-0 record and only one goal conceded. Sunrise also clinched a spot in the USYS Nationals thanks to a perfect 7-0-0 record in National League play. According to a press release from US Youth Soccer, Sunrise is only the third team to complete a perfect 7-0-0 season in the league’s six year history. Sunrise Elite striker Donald Emerson leads the nation in scoring with six goals in those seven games.

Bethesda Lions (Maryland) also gained a berth to the USYS Nationals with a 1-0-2 record from Florida. The Lions are 4-0-3 on the year and sit in first place in the Red Bracket. 

Outside of the National League results, the Disney Showcase also played host to 27 Development Academy squads in a three-game round robin event with no championships awarded.

In the U18 age group, Concorde Fire (Georgia), Weston FC (Florida), and Chargers SC (Florida) all finished with perfect 3-0-0 records. Dallas Texans, Orlando City Youth Soccer, Kendall SC, and Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy were all undefeated at the event as well. Texans and Orlando both finished with a 2-0-1 record. SSM and Kendall SC finished with 1-0-2 records. 

In the U16 age group, Solar Chelsea and Concorde Fire both went 3-0-0 at the event. Dallas Texans (1-0-2) and Kendall SC (0-0-3) also were undefeated in Florida.

Baltimore Bays Chelsea (Maryland) and Ottawa South United (Canada) lifted the hardware in the 1997 Open Pre-Academy bracket. Bays topped Solar Chelsea (Texas) 2-0 in the final of Bracket A while Ottawa beat fellow Canadian club Dixie Academy 2-0 in the B Final.

Texas clubs Dallas Texans and Solar Chelsea were victorious in the 1998 Pre-Academy age group. Texans trumped Baltimore Bays Chelsea 2-0 in the A Final while Solar cruised past Chicago Fire Academy 5-0 in the B Final.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's Team of the Week: Nov. 25

Women's Team of the Week: Nov. 25

ECNL Boys Ohio Valley Players to Watch