Disney Showcase Qualifiers: Day 3 recap

Disney Showcase Qualifiers: Day 3 recap
by Andy Villamarzo
September 5, 2017

ORLANDO -- The final day of the Disney Qualifier Soccer Showcase at the ESPN Wide World of Sports started off with hot, humid weather and would continue that way for the rest of the afternoon. The day's action was filled with competitive semifinal, finals games and players hoping to lead their respective clubs to Disney Soccer Showcase in the winter. Here are some of the key matchups from Monday.

Coral Gables Storm Green 2001 U17 (FL) 1-0 Clay County SC 01 USA SOL REC U17 (FL)

In a matchup between North Florida and South Florida, with Clay County being up in the Jacksonville, FL area and Coral Gables being down near Miami, FL, both teams fought to the bitter end in this U17 semifinal. With stakes high and both clubs looking advance to the afternoon's slate of finals contests, it would be Coral Gables moving on.

Opportunities for Coral Gables were evident all throughout the game, as the Storm Green were heavily active on the attacking end and looking to put pressure on Clay County after taking a 1-0 lead. Coral Gables' lone goal would come on a penalty kick score by Mia Briones. After the lone goal, it would come down to a strong defensive effort down the stretch for Storm Green.

Up to the defensive challenge of keeping Clay County scoreless throughout the match was Coral Gables' goalkeeper Preston Edmunds, who notched a shutout in the victory. Clay County put on attack after attack late in the second half, but Edmunds and the defense came up big in the win.

"Excellent victory for the girls," Coral Gables coach Eric Vasquez said. "The girls didn't lose their composure in the final 10 minutes. (Clay County) started to press numbers on the attack and we had to drop more girls back than I would've liked, but it's the result that counts. Getting to the finals is what it's all about."

Clermont FC Academy Select 03 U15 (FL) 2-1 Weston FC 2003 Pre-Academy U15 (FL)

Putting together an entirely new program heading into the Disney Soccer Showcase Qualifier isn't something totally uncommon, but leading a new group into the finals is always a feat and that's what Clermont FC Academy Select was able to do on Monday. The group overcame adversity and scored in overtime to defeat Weston FC 2003 Pre-Academy.

The matchup was one of the more entertaining semifinals on the day, as it went into two overtime sessions before a victor would emerge. After two halves, both teams headed into the extra periods tied at 1-apiece and Clermont FC would catch the big break they needed, as midfielder Madison Maroulis broke through and scored in overtime and helped lift her team into the U15 finals. Coach Michael Lemos was thrilled with the result and was happy his girls put it together in overtime.

"We talked about it all week heading into this tournament about playing with heart," Lemos said. "They go into double overtime and they played their hearts out, played together and not as individuals and we get the result we wanted. It's really a great win for the team and girls."

Team Boca-Sabr 2002 White U16 (FL) 1-0 Lee County Strikers U16 (FL)

In another strong semifinal matchup played in the early afternoon, Team Boca-Sabr 2002 White faced off against the Lee County Strikers in a contest that didn't disappoint in terms of competition from start to finish. Many scoring opportunities were to be had by either club, but Boca-Sabr would notch the lone goal and come away with a 1-0 win.

Early on in the matchup, Boca-Sabr seemed like they would totally control possession for most of the game with the club having most of the early scoring chances under its belt. Kayra Amaral had one of the early scoring opportunities, when her shot would sail wide left and keep the game scoreless.

Fellow teammate Pia Beaulieu had her chances to also put a couple in the back of the net for Team Boca-Sabr, as she had a shot just go high of the crossbar midway through the opening half. Boca-Sabr would catch the big break it would need when Emma Shirzad scored just before halftime.

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