Last weekend’s AYSO Marathon Conch Cup soccer tournament featured 26 teams from Homestead, the Upper Keys, Marathon, Big Pine and Key West. More than 300 players and their families attended the annual tourney.
For the first time, the contest featured a U8 division called “Future Stars,” but the big winners were the extremely prepared Homestead teams, blowing away the competition with double-digit goal numbers. The team coached by Sam De La Rosa was the winner followed by a neighboring team coached by Robert Habben in second place.
More results:
• The U10 boys division was dominated by the Key West team coached by Alex Yanovych. He said his team played better than in the Hurricane Cup last month in Upper Keys, and he is looking forward to see what will happen in the AYSO State Games in Wellington, Florida next week. Second place was awarded to an Upper Keys team which had a tough final game against a Homestead team. It was a great accomplishment by the Upper Keys coach Clive McLeod and his team.
• In the U10 Girls division, coach Mike McGlothlin and his team from Homestead went into overtime against an Upper Keys team to decide first place. Coach Charlie Marmitt from the Upper Keys was very pleased with his girls’ performance. “It was a tough battle,” he said.
• U12 boys division got the same result as last year. Marathon AYSO Regional Commissioner and coach Arno Silva and his co-ed team from Marathon won first place after three wins and a tie in the last game against the second place Key West team coached by Alex Cabrera. “It was a de ja vu all over again,” said coach Arno of his second consecutive year in taking the Hurricane Cup. Coach Alex Cabrera brought two Key West U12 teams for this event. Both winning teams are heading next week to AYSO State Games in Wellington.
• The Key West U12 Girls coached by James Hamilton whipped out the other two competitors on the first day of the event, being the first team to receive the first place trophy and medals of this competition. The second place was awarded to Upper Keys team coached by Katie Nichols.
• The Key West U14 boys team coached by Key West AYSO Regional Commissioner Tom Coward won first place for the second consecutive year. The Homestead team coached by Manny Apolinario took second place in the division.
