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3 Soccer Teams End Tournaments Unbeaten

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2008

PLANT CITY - Although there were surprising results in some games, three teams finished with perfect 10-0 records as the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist youth soccer program crowned its champions last week.

Postseason tournaments concluded June 3 at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex. For the Bobcats of the Under-10 Boys league, the Wolves of the Under-10 Girls, and the Under-12 Boys Metrostars it was the completion of an unblemished campaign.

The biggest shocker came in the Under-12 Girls bracket, where the Pride won the title despite being seeded fifth out of eight teams. The Strikers and Swarm were the Under-15 Boys and Girls champions respectively, and Argentina claimed the Under-19 title.

Though they did not win the crown, the Flames did make an unexpected run in the Under-10 Boys tournament. After winning just twice during the regular season the Flames surpassed that total in the playoffs. But in the finals, the Bobcats rolled to a 10-0 win over the Flames, getting three goals from Parker Suarez and two each from Erick Reyes and Pablo Vaca.

The Flames put together a stretch of three wins, all by one goal, to reach the title game. Daniel Bernal scored two goals in each contest. In their second-round victory the Flames went to an overtime shootout to beat the Lions, getting goals from Jonathan Cortes and Austin Castillo. Reyes scored twice as the Bobcats edged the Cosmos, who finished 8-2, by a 4-3 score in the semifinals.

Angelina Conde scored a hat trick to lead the Wolves to a 5-0 victory in the Under-10 Girls championship game. They beat the Lynx, whose two losses during the season were to the champs. Megan Mulvaney scored four goals as the Lynx beat the Fury 5-2 to reach the finals. Conde had two goals for the Wolves in each of their other playoff victories, 5-1 over the Panthers and 4-0 against the Thunder.

For the Metrostars, the only tough game in the Under-12 Boys tournament was their first one. On May 22, the Metrostars edged the Cougars 1-0. After that it was a 6-1 win over the Revolution with Camargo Rosales scoring a hat trick, and then a 7-0 defeat of the second-place Crew in the finals. Rosales and James Orso had two goals apiece. The Crew also had a tough game in their first round, winning a wild one 6-5 against the Mutiny.

A first-round upset in the Under-12 Girls tournament turned out not to be a fluke, as the Pride turned a stunning 5-0 defeat of the regular season champion Heat into a tournament title. The Heat went 6-1 during the season while the Pride carried a 3-3-1 mark into the postseason, but it was all Pride in their first-round match-up.

After that the Pride edged the Fusion 4-3 with Leticia Olmos scoring twice. In the finals McKenzie Greene scored three times, Olmos twice, in another stunningly easy win, 5-1 over the United. The United had won their two previous tournament games by a combined 12-1 score; Jennifer Ruiz had five of the goals.

With four teams either going 6-0-1 or 6-1 during the regular season, the Under-15 Boys bracket seemed up for grabs, and it was the Strikers who came out on top. The Strikers beat the Spartans 6-4 in the finals with Chucky De La Garza scoring three goals and Omar Castro adding two; Gerson Herrera had three for the Spartans.

In the semifinals, the Spartans took out fellow 7-1 team the Sidekicks by a 6-2 score and the Strikers took out another 7-1 squad, beating the Spirit 4-1. The Strikers finished with an 8-0-1 mark.

Daisy Carvajal scored two goals to give the Swarm the Under-15 Girls title, beating the Stars 2-1. In the semifinal, the Swarm knocked off regular season champ the Speed by a 3-0 score. The Stars, who brought a 6-0-3 record into the finals, got four goals from Stephane Guerra in their two lead-up victories, both shutouts.

In the Under-19 tournament final, Jorge Martinez had the lone goal as Argentina defeated China 1-0. Those were the top two squads during the regular season.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampatrib.com.

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