FC America U-16 Boys Capture Championship at 2007 St. Pete Raiders Fall Challenge

September 17, 2007

ORLANDO, FL - The U-16 FC America ’92 boys captured their first tournament championship of the 2007-2008 season by winning the 17th Annual St. Pete Raiders Fall Challenge with three solid wins.

The boys opened the event with a dominating 8-0 win against the host club St. Pete Raiders-Blue, behind three goals from Eli Beates and two goals and one assist from Alex Rowlinson.  They followed with an equally dominating 5-1 win against IUS-White, with Eli chipping in three more goals, supported by Mitch Hanley with one goal and two assists.

With spots already assured in the Finals for both FC America and its opponent, G.O.U.-Arsenal, the morning cross-over game was canceled, and it was straight to the 1:00 p.m. Final.  In an exciting and well played match, G.O.U. drew first blood early in the second half with a nice close in volley.  However, the boys equalized in minutes, off an Erick Hamann PK set-up when Mitch was dragged down in the box on a breakaway.  The winner came at 55 minutes, when Sebastian Gonzalez slipped Rowlinson thru on a great center ball, which Alex finished nicely by chipping the on-rushing keeper.  We easily finished out the game without being threatened on-goal, and left with a hard fought 2-1 win, and our 16th tournament championship overall since 2003.  Great work FC America ’92 – Will Bates, Eli Beates, Alex Bisbee, Brandon Curriston, Luke Davis, Tanner Duttweiler, Sebastian Gonzalez, Irvin Gutierrez, Erick Hamann, Mitch Hanley, Josh Jacobson, Edgar Lopez, Jason Marthe, Charlie Munoz, Alex Rowlinson, Dylan Scruggs, Billy Voecks.