Sunrise Elite U14 Boys Headed to the Final Four

Weston, Florida (May 6, 2007) - The Sunrise Elite boys U-14 soccer team has made it to the final four in the
competition for the state championship. After going undefeated in the preliminary
rounds, the team achieved final four status with two victories this past weekend at
the Vista Park complex in Weston.
          Saturday’s 5-1 victory over a tough Coral Springs Renegades team was
accomplished with a balanced scoring attack, tight defense and timely goal tending.
Strong midfield play led to goals by four different players with Lucas Diniz
notching two and JJ Abrams, Alex Valle and Paolo Ayrolla one each. The only goal
scored against the team was on a penalty shot that barely made it under the
outstretched arms of goalie Jason Soroka.
          On Sunday the team was matched against a Team Boca crew that had
defeated last year’s state champion from Tampa 1-0 the previous day. The
Sunrise team came out and took control of the game from the beginning and scored
two goals in the first eight minutes. They continued to dominate possession and
moved the ball through the midfield with a skill and determination that had the
Boca team back on their heels throughout the first half. Sante Agudelo, Roee
Blicher and the twins Calvin and Conner Rezende continually frustrated the Boca
team with their ball movement.  As Boca tried to attack in the second half the quick
counterattack started by the skillful defense of Brian Torres, Stephon Hohn and
Paulo Ayrolla resulted in three more goals and a final score of 5-0. Again Lucas
Diniz had two, JJ Abrams, Daniel Mendez and Deniz Bozkurt one each. Some
outstanding saves in goal by both Jason Soroka and Jonathan Calixto resulted in the
shutout. Christian Nieto, Kyle Billington and Jonathan Aguirre also contributed
strong minutes for the team.
          The semi-finals and finals will be played in Fort Myers on the weekend of
May 19-20. Sunrise will face Miami Lakes on Saturday for a chance to play for the
state title on Sunday.
          This is the first year of play for this outstanding group of young men who are
trained and coached by Pedro Magallanes. Pedro played for the Argentine national
team and is regarded as one of the premier trainers in the soccer world. The team
will be holding tryouts for next year at the end of the month.