SUNRISE SOCCER
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Fire Win Two of Three in Challenge Round, Come Within One Game of the Final Four

Boca Raton, Florida (May 29, 2006) - The Sunrise Fire ended the season on an overall high note by winning two of three games in the Challenge Round of Sixteen. After winning back to back victories by 1-0 scores over Central Florida United and Palm Beach United, the team was matched up against the state's top ranked team, Ponte Vedra.

The Fire needed a win or a tie to advance to the final four. At half, the game was 0-0, but Ponte Vedra exploded for three goals in the second half to seal the trip to Palm Bay.

Despite the disappointment with the loss in the final game, the Fire put on quite a performance at FAU. The team's 2-1 record meant that Sunrise went further into the Challenge Round than any other team from Dade or Broward. The Fire finished in sixth place out of the top sixteen teams in the state in the Challenge Round (see below). This was a pretty good performance for a team that made the move from Delray to Sunrise this season, and moved up from 8v8 to 11v11, all in one year.

The team has now established some strong momentum going into next season.

FINAL CHALLENGE ROUND STANDINGS

Place Team Points
1 Team Boca (final four team) 9
2 Ponte Vedra (final four team) 7
2 IUS (final four team) 7
2 Clearwater (final four team) 7
2 HCU 7
6 Sunrise 6
6 Naples 6
8 Melbourne 4
9 Gainesville 2
10 PBU* 1
10 MEGU 1
10 Lakeland 1
10 Kendall** 1
10 FC America 1
14 Weston** 0
15 CFU* 0

*CFU/PBU game was cancelled due to rain
**Weston/Kendall game was cancelled due to rain

In the opening game, the Fire defeated the Central Florida United (CFU) Pride 1-0. At the 39-minute mark, Melissa Camacho, working in a very tight space, squeezed between a defender and the touchline, and served a ball just inside the middle of the 18 to a waiting Jennifer Torres. Jennifer took one shot that bounced off the CFU keeper, got the rebound and then lofted the ball over the keeper and into the net for the one and only goal of this match.

The victory avenged the CFU win over Sunrise in the first round of State Cup.

CFU had a major opportunity in the closing seconds off of a corner kick, that rambled around the penalty box, but was finally cleared.

In the second game against PBU, in the 43rd minute, Sarah Motta delivered a perfect corner kick a few yards in front of the net. Alyssa Zukowsky got her body on the ball, and it rolled into the net to give Sunrise a 1-0 lead and the win. Melissa Camacho got injured in the final few minutes of the first half and did not return for the rest of the tournament.


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Official Box Score of CFU game

Final - Sunrise 1 CFU 0
Halftime  - Sunrise 0 CFU 0

Goals:
Sunrise - 39th minute, Torres (Camacho)
CFU - none

Shots
Sunrise - 10 (4 at the half)
CFU - 11 (7 at the half)

Corner Kicks
Sunrise - 1 (0 at the half)
CFU - 5 (2 at the half)

Fouls
Sunrise - 3 (3 at the half)
CFU - 3 (1 at the half)

Saves
Sunrise - 8 (4 at the half)
CFU - 6 (3 at the half)
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Official Box Score of PBU game

Final - Sunrise 1 PBU 0
Halftime - Sunrise 0 PBU 0

Goals - Sunrise - 43rd minute, Zukowsky (Motta); PBU - none

Shots
Sunrise - 9 (5 at the half)
PBU - 8 (2 at the half)

Corner Kicks
Sunrise - 3 (1 at the half)
PBU - 3 (1 at the half)

Fouls
Sunrise - 3 (2 at the half)
PBU - 8 (2 at the half)

Saves
Sunrise - 3 (0 at the half)
PBU  - 3 (2 at the half)