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Chargers hold own vs. national teams

By EMERY SKOLFIELD
Published January 7, 2007

The U-15 Clearwater Chargers boys soccer team did not leave Disney's Soccer Showcase as champions, but they proved once again they are among the nation's elite clubs.

The Chargers, ranked No. 8 in the most recent U.S. Club Soccer national poll, went unbeaten in group play before falling 2-1 to Dallas' Solar 92 in semifinals of the prestigious event, held Dec. 27-Jan. 2 at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista.

Solar 92, ranked No. 7 in the nation, beat the Chargers last year - when both teams were U-14 - in the semifinals of the same tournament.

The U-15 Chargers, coached by Peter Mannino, beat Colorado Storm Royal 2-0, the Colorado State Cup Champion from Englewood, in their opening group match. The Chargers followed with victories over Atlanta's Concorde Fire Elite and 12th-ranked Roanoke Va. Star Premier to win their pool.

In the same tournament, the Chargers U-18 boys, ranked No. 12 nationally, did not lose a game in group play but settled for two ties and were one point from advancing to the semifinals.

One of the U-18 Chargers' ties was a scoreless match against Phoenix's Sereno 89 White, ranked No. 3 in the country.

Sereno 89 White advanced from the group and went on to beat the Chicago Magic 88/89 1-0 in the title match.

- The U-18 Charger girls won the U-19 Orange division of the Orange Classic Dec. 27-30 in Broward County. The Chargers beat Super Nova 87 of Hummelstown, Pa., 2-1 for the title.

- For those who missed it, two area soccer clubs - Pinellas Park United and the Northeast Raiders - merged last year, and the result is an offspring call the Pinellas Raiders.

According to the club's new Web site: "New club. New logo. New beginning."

If you have youth sports news that you would like to see in this column, please contact Times correspondent Emery Skolfield at (727) 481-2027 or sptimesyouth@yahoo.com.

[Last modified January 6, 2007, 22:20:29]