Miami FC Kendall Academy Teams Shine at Disney Showcase
Published on January 8, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami, January 8, 2009 - Youth teams representing Miami FC and Kendall Soccer Coalition combined to produce three championships over the holiday break at Disney's 2008 Soccer Showcase, the #1 rated youth soccer tournament in the United States according to Soccer America Magazine. Two other teams of the Miami FC partner clubs reached the finals in the tournament, which this year combined squads from the US Soccer Development Academy, US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer.
The senior youth team, Miami FC Kendall 90 Academy, which is the only U-18 team from Miami playing in the US Soccer Development Academy program, earned the title in the U-19 Copa White category with a 2-1 overtime victory in the final against Texas Futbol Club. In the preliminary round, the team coached by former Honduran national team captain Luis Calix (father of Miami FC's Defender Luis Calix), had a 2-0-1 record including a 2-0 win over North Carolina's #2 team, CASL Elite, and a tie versus New York's state Champion, Albertson Academy 90. With the victory, Miami FC Kendall 90 is now ranked 27th in the country according to GotSoccer.com.
To keep his team in championship form, this past weekend Calix had the boys scrimmage against his former teammates on the Honduran national team, who are in South Florida to play a friendly match against Chile's national team.
Miami FC Kendall's 92 (Under-16) Academy team, which also plays in the US Soccer Development Academy, reached the Final in the U-17 Copa Blue category after defeating Mississippi's state champion, Jackson FC and tying Rhode Island's state champion, Bayside United, but lost 0-2 in the deciding game against Tennessee's state champion, FC Alliance.
The Kendall Soccer Coalition teams, which counted among their ranks several players from the Miami FC Kendall full-time and developmental youth rosters, added two championship trophies and another finalist appearance.
The U-16 White team won its third consecutive title at the Showcase, this time in the Predator White category. The championship victory was at the expense of Vermont's state champion, Synergy FC, by a 1-0 margin. The team's four wins included a 5-1 victory over Tennessee's state champion, Knoxville FC Crush, and a 1-0 decision over Virginia's #2 team, Arlington Venom. For the tournament, the Kendall SC squad included eight players who are part of the Miami FC Kendall 92 full-time and developmental rosters. The win moved the U-16 White team up to 24th in the country in the GotSoccer.com rankings.
The U-18 White team captured the championship in the U-19 Copa Blue category by defeating Canada's Ottawa South United 3-2. Their preliminary round victories included wins over Ohio South champions, Worthington Crew Juniors Gold, and New Jersey state semifinalists, TSF Academy. The U-18 White team also included several developmental roster players from the Miami FC Kendall 90 team.
The U-15 White team, who are defending Florida state champions, fell short of their championship goal when they lost the Predator Blue Final 0-2 to Texas Fire 94. In the preliminary round they scored wins against Virginia's #2-ranked team and North Carolina's #4 team.
USL First Division Stories from January 8, 2009
- Miami FC Kendall Academy Teams Shine at Disney Showcase - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Impact Will Play At Olympic Stadium On February 25 - Montreal Impact
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