Top-Ranked Youth Teams Among Prestigious Disney’s Soccer Showcase Entrants
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to host more than 660 teams in coveted December event; Nation’s preeminent college coaches and scouts expected to attend
America’s best youth soccer clubs, featuring some of the country’s elite players, are once again competing in Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by AS Roma this December at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
Among the highly-regarded teams competing in the tournament Dec. 27, 2014 through Jan. 3, 2015 are six of the nation’s No. 1-ranked teams: the Celtic SC (Baltimore, MD) U17 boys, the NEFC Elite (Massachusetts) U15 girls, the JFC Storm (Jacksonville, FL) U16 girls, the FC Dallas (TX) Premier U18 boys, the Virginia VSA Heat Blue (Haymarket, VA) U18 girls and the Loudon (VA) 98 Red U16 boys.
Joining the fray will be the nation’s second-ranked U16 girls squad the NVSC United 98 Blue (Northern VA). And three teams ranked No. 3 in their age divisions nationally – New Jersey’s Stallions Dynamite (Teaneck, NJ) U17 girls, Virginia’s PWSI Courage 96 Red (Prince William, VA) U15 boys and Virginia’s 99 Red (Loudon, VA) U15 boys.
Rated as the country’s top youth soccer tournament by a Soccer America magazine survey, this year’s Soccer Showcase features 660 teams, including the Italy-based AS Roma U18 academy team. Also, 30 U.S. Soccer Federation Developmental Academy teams and clubs will participate, along with 64 boys and girls teams competing in the U.S. Youth Soccer National League.
Teams are selected to compete in Disney’s Soccer Showcase based partly on overall results in high-level competition – including league play, state cups and premier leagues – over the last seasonal year. The eight-day event is expected to draw more than 11,000 athletes and more than 20,000 coaches and fans, making it the leading college recruiting event in the country. Disney’s Soccer Showcase began in 2000 with 68 teams and eight fields with the intent to give amateur athletes an opportunity to showcase themselves in front of college coaches.
In addition to Disney’s Soccer Showcase, Disney Sports has offered an array of youth and pro soccer events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex over the years, including four events in the Disney Soccer Showcase series, six Disney Soccer tournaments throughout the year, the Disney Soccer Academy in June and July, and the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic this past spring.
