SF Elite takes second at National Cup

Virginia Beach, VA (July 29, 2008)--South Florida Elite FC took second place in the Super Group at the recent US Club National Cup VII Championships in Virginia Beach. The National Cup VII Finals features 9 regional champions out of over 1400 teams across the United States. SFE earned a spot in the championship round by winning Region C in Jacksonville, Florida on Memorial Day weekend.

SFE won the opening match, nipping Connecticut's FSA Soccer Plus 1-0. The teams waged a defensive battle resulting in a scoreless first half. SFE broke the nil-all tie midway through the se cond ha l f when center midfielder Nicholas Midttun headed home a magnificent cross from overlapping right defender Greg Joseph. The lone goal stood behind the stifling defensive play of goalkeeper Brendan Brito, sweeper Marcus Christian, stopper Owen McCorkle, left back Raul Loureiro Diaz and right backs Erik Martinez and Dylan Angelo.

SFE carried the momentum into its second match against Virginia's Ashburn FC Knights. SFE quickly quieted the home crowd, pouncing on the Knights in the first 10 minutes. Offensive midfielder Danny Autrey skillfully dribbled Knights players and laid off a pass to right midfielder Jared Skinner. Skinner touched a penetrating through ball to forward Rashad Christie, who blasted the early goal past the diving Knights keeper. Backup goaltender Jaime Gonzalez took over the SFE net and Aldrid Toledo took control of center midfield in the second half, as the team cruised to a 3-1 victory on 2 more goals from forward Joseph Suaz o. Ch ristie and Christian assisted.

SFE faced New York's Lake Grove United for the right to advance to the finals. SFE out-classed Lake Grove for the majority of the match, but could not convert its chances in the first half. SFE scored late in the second half when right midfielder Alexander Marsh's long throw landed on the the right foot of forward Max Smerilli at the top of La ke Grove's 6-yard box. Smerili's shot beat the outstretched Lake Grove keeper, securing SFE's 1-0 victory.

SFE entered the finals against vaunted Los Alamitos Vikings from California. The Vikings are ranked #3 in the nation (GotSoccer.com) and were the heavy favorites to win the national championship. The finalists played evenly throughout the first half until the Vikings capitalized on a loose ball in SFE's box for a 1-0 halftime lead. SFE held the Vikings scoreless for most of the second half, but did not seize its opportunities to equalize the score. SFE had several chances that just missed t he Vikings net. The Vikings put the game away in the final minutes on 2 counter attacks, as SFE pushed its defense forward to generate offense. The Vikings won 3-0.

"We are very proud of our boys," remarked head coach Jorge Pitu Alvarez. "There is no shame in taking second at the US Club National Championships. Our boys have established themselves as a team to be r e ckoned with at the elite national level." Photograph taken by Michael Marsh.