(Note: Check back all week and weekend as we bring you coverage of the Disney Boys’ Showcase, the ECNL Girls Showcase and the Disney Girls’ Showcase)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — It was not pretty, but head coach Nuno Piteira is happy to take the win.

On a cold Monday night in central Florida, the boys’ squad GSA Phoenix 93 Red (Georgia) defeated Florida Rush Nike 92/93 1-0 at Disney’s Soccer Showcase in the U18 Showcase division.

“We’ve been victims in the past of playing beautiful soccer and losing because the opposition scored those types of goals,” Piteira said. “It’s nice once and a while to have it go our way.”

Piteira was referring to the goal scored by forward Ian Smith (verbal commitment to Clemson) late in the contest. With both clubs knotted in a scoreless contest, Smith was in the right place at the right time.

In the 73rd minute GSA mounted an attack led by midfielder Chase Park (verbal commitment to Georgia Southern), who found forward Josimar Olmas inside the opposing box. Although his shot failed to go into the goal, Smith knocked it in on the rebound for the game winner.

Walker Zimmerman, a center back who has committed verbally to Furman, referred to the match as a “scrappy” contest. There were plenty of turnovers and a lack possession and control from both squads, according to Zimmerman.

GSA is familiar with success at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, having won the tournament in 2007.

Although the win sets the squad on the right foot, Piteira said this year’s visit is about fellowship.

“For us, it’s really more of an opportunity for us to come together as a group and really bond because this is the last event before these guys embark on the next journey,” he said.

With most of the players set to play college soccer, a trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” was only fitting.
 
The players on the roster have been playing side by side for five-to-seven years and have gone through a transformation from boys to young men, according to Piteira.

U18 Boys: Arlington blasts by Penn Fusion, 4-0

Arlington Travel SC Venom (Virginia) waited and waited.

Although they grew frustrated with having plenty of scoring opportunities and no goals to show for it, forward Andrew Panknen finally converted in the 41st minute.

Panknen was able to take the ball and roll it into the lower right corner, giving Arlington the lead right before the intermission.

Even with the slow start, head coach Jawed Sanie said the team’s strategy was to play a fast-paced game.

“We tried to keep the pace of the game fast (because) we knew the other team had 12 players,” Sanie said.

The strategy paid off.

In the 64th minute, midfielder Neil Corey gave the Venom the game-clinching goal. Midfielder Henry Rivera and goalkeeper Zachary Yancey added the final scores late in the contest.

Sanie said the fatigue eventually caught up to Philadelphia-area side Penn Fusion, as they allowed three goals in the second half.

Throughout much of the first period, Panknen and forward Kyler Sullivan (committed to Virginia) had some great shots at the goal that did not go in.

Panknen said it was frustrating to not be able to put one in the back of the net early on in the contest but eventually got it done.

Other Scores from Monday:

1994 Academy Division - Blue

BALTIMORE BAYS CHELSEA U16 ACADEMY (MD) 2, CASL CHELSEA FC U16 ACADEMY (NC) 1

CHELSEA FOOTBALL ACADEMY (GBR) 3, SOLAR CHELSEA U16 ACADEMY (TXN) 1

AJAX STRIKERS (CND) 2, CONCORDE FIRE ELITE U16 ACADEMY (GA) 0

DALLAS TEXANS U16 ACADEMY (TXN) 6, WESTON FC U16 ACADEMY (FL) 0

1994 Academy Division - Black   

NORTH MECK SC U16 ACADEMY (NC) 3, ANDROMEDA U16 ACADEMY (TXN) 0

TEXAS RUSH AJ AUXERRE U16 ACADEMY (TXS) 2, CLEARWATER CHARGERS U16 ACADEMY (FL) 1

KENDALL SC U16 ACADEMY (FL) 1, ATLANTA FIRE UNITED U16 ACADEMY (GA) 1

SOCKERS FC CHICAGO U16 ACADEMY (IL) 2, LONESTAR RED U16 ACADEMY (TXS) 1

Showcase U18/19

Bracket A

CUP CREW JUNIORS GOLD II (OS) 0, SYNERGY FC 92/'93 (VT) 0

ALPHARETTA AMBUSH 93 RED (GA) 4, JACKSONVILLE UNITED 92/93 (FL)

Bracket B

TRIANGLE FUTBOL 92 NAVY (NC) 3, ARSLAVAL CONQUERANTS LAVAL (CND) 0    

BRENTWOOD 93 PREMIER (TN) 1, YARDLEY MAKEFIELD SOCCER THUNDER (PAE) 0    
    
Bracket C

GSA PHOENIX 93 RED (GA) 1, FLORIDA RUSH NIKE 92/93 (FL)    0    

ARLINGTON TRAVEL SC VENOM (VA) 4, PENN FUSION SA 92 COPPA 82 (PAE) 0        

Bracket D

CAROLINA ELITE SA 92 PREMIER (SC) 3, WESTSIDE UNITED FC 93 GREEN (IN) 1        

Boys U15 Showcase

Bracket A
    
LMVSC HAWKS (VA) 0, CASL 95 ELITE (NC) 0        

DALLAS TEXANS 96 RED DALLAS (TXN) 4, WEST PINES UNITED FC BLACK 95/96 (FL) 4        

Bracket B

CHICAGO FIRE JUNIORS GOLD (IL)    3, FLORIDA RUSH NIKE 95/96 (FL) 0    

SOLAR 96 (TXN) 2, PENN FUSION SA 95 (PAE) 0

Bracket C

CONCORDE FIRE ELITE (GA) 4, MICHIGAN WOLVES 96 (MI) 2    

Bracket D

LONESTARS 96 RED (TXS) 3, BALTIMORE BAYS CHELSEA (MD) 3    

CUP CREW JR GOLD (OS) 2, SAA REAL MADRID (FL) 1

Boys U16 Showcase

Bracket A

BETHESDA SC AC BETHESDA (MD) 2, BOCA UNITED 94/95 GOLD (FL) 0    

LEMONT RAIDERS FC (IL) 3, UNITED 1996 FC 95 INTERNATIONAL (KY) 0    

Bracket B

CINCINNATI UNITED PREMIER - GOLD (OS) 1, ALBION SC WHITE (CAS) 0        

Bracket C

SOLAR 95 (TXN) 2, VARDAR (MI) 0        

RESTON SA KNIGHTS FC (VA) 2, CASL 94 ELITE (NC) 1        

Bracket D

CONCORDE FIRE ELITE (GA) 6, SAA-REAL MADRID-CASTILLA (FL) 3    

TEAM OHIO FC JUVENTUS (OS) 2, MANHATTAN SC AJAX (NYE)    0    

Boys U17 Showcase

Bracket A

PENN FUSION SA 93 CELTIC (PAE)    2, FC ALLIANCE 94 BLACK (TN) 2    

LOU FUSZ SC GOLD POPOVIC (MO)    0, DALLAS TEXANS 94 RED (TXN)    0
    
Bracket B

RSL FLORIDA RED (FL) 0, CAROLINA ELITE SA 93 PREMIER (SC) 0    

JAVANON 94 (KY) 4, NEW MEXICO RUSH NIKE 94 ARGONAUTS (NM)    1            
Bracket C

WAZA FC 94 BLACK (MI) 2, CHICAGO FIRE JUNIORS DA (IL) 1        
BAYSIDE UNITED ASTON VILLA FLAMES (NYE) 1, JACKSONVILLE FURY GREEN 93/94 (FL) 0        

Bracket D

ANNANDALE UNITED FC (VA) 2, CFK 94 KRAZE BLACK (FL)    1    

BLAST FC RED (OS) 1, SERENO 94 WHITE (AZ) 0    

Bracket E

COMMACK SC UNITED (NYE) 0, CLEVELAND FC 93/94 GOLD (ON) 0    

FLORIDA RUSH NIKE (FL) 2, GRAND RAPIDS CREW JUNIORS GOLD (MI) 1            
Bracket F
TULSA SC 94 BLACK (OK)3, CUP CREW JRS GOLD (OS) 1
 
TFC 94 (TXN) 1, FC BLAZERS (MA)    0