Disney Soccer Showcase Florida Rush 93 Nike Back-to-Back Champions!


Dec 30 - The Florida Rush U18 boys know what it’s like to compete on the National stage and they showed what it takes to be Champions at the “Proving Grounds” by winning the prestigious Disney Soccer Showcase championship for the second year in a row.

Televised live on ESPN3, Florida Rush delivered an outstanding performance by defeating a very strong Aston Villa (NYE) team by a score of 4-1. Rush was the first to strike in 28th minute when Jean Rivaroli scored off a diving header served far post from Nico Melo. Aston Villa was able to tie the game in the 44th minute with penalty kick and the match was tied 1-1 at the half. The second half started with both teams battling hard, but Rush struck again in the 54th minute when Nico Melo bent a ball over the Aston Villa wall with a perfectly placed free kick to take the lead 2-1. In the 68th minute, Jose Belalcazar extended the lead to 3-1 with a quality finish in the box served by Jeremy Tilley. Rush continued to pressure Aston Villa and in the 85th minute Felipe Oliveira scored his 5th goal of the tournament by beating the last defender and putting himself in 1v1 with the keeper. Center back Andrew Bruce anchored the back line with Alex Guido, Kike Gonzalez and Andrew Spragg as the Rush defenders only allowing one goal to a questionable PK call.

The Florida Rush 93 Nike team has had an incredible run in 2011 winning the Florida State Cup, Region III Championship, Region III Premier League and back-to-back championships at the Disney Soccer Showcase. Already winning a birth to the 2012 Region III Championship in June, Rush has their sights on brining home the 2012 USYS National Championship to Central Florida for the first time in history.

93 Nike Roster: (GK) Juanes Fajardo, (GK) Robbie Shearer, (2) Alex Guido, (4) Juan Pablo Hernandez, (5) Kike Gonzalez, (6) Andrew Bruce, (7) Zach Reynolds, (8) Pedro Passes, (10) Jean Ravioli, (11) John Kolinsky, (13) Andrew Spragg, (15) Steven Taylor, (16) Nicholas Milo, (19) Jeremy Tilley, (20) Felipe Oliveira, (21) Juan Goanna, (22) Connor Willing, (23) Jose Be alcazar, (26) Adam Tran, (28) Bryce Ciambella.