Midwest United, a youth soccer team of players from the Joplin area, competed in the 28th annual Schwan’s USA Cup last month in Blaine, Minn.
The tournament consisted of 958 teams and an estimated 14,000 players from 22 states and 16 countries, according to tournament organizers.
The Joplin team won its first two games, against two teams from Minnesota, then lost to teams from the Dominican Republic and from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“Every year, the USA Cup invites a team that has been affected by a tragedy,” said Sean Lauderdale, a professor at Pittsburg State University who coaches and was one of the founders of Midwest United.
“They wanted us to come up a month after the tornado (that struck Joplin on May 22, 2011), and I had to decline,” he said. “They reapproached me this year and we went up and had a ball.”
Pavin Winkle and Luis Reyes scored goals in the first game, Brian Warner scored in the second game and Josue Hernandez scored in the final game.
Joplin’s players led the parade of teams at the opening ceremonies. After the parade, Hernandez and his teammates carried a torch much like during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.
“We had a torch and lit a huge caldren that stayed lit throughout the games,” Lauderdale said. “It was a huge honor for our kids to go up there.”
Lauderdale, originally from Texas, came to the Joplin area from California, he said. “We started a club here just because there wasn’t much competition,” he said.
The team that went to the USA Cup consisted of 18 boys and girls ages 10-14, plus four guest players who were allowed to play for international teams, he said.
Hernandez was chosen as the torch bearer for his leadership and skill on the soccer field, Lauderdale said.
Also on the traveling roster were Zack Dunham, Brittany Dutton, Rudy Gonzalez, Sydney Grimes, Jorge Guevara, Uriah Jarrell, Sullivan Lauderdale, Luis Enriquez, Landon Moore, Luis Reyes, Ariana Rivera, Patrick Ryan, Anthony Salcedo and Eli Williams.
Guest players for the international teams were Drew Marsh, James Hernandez, Grant Willhite and Mauricio Gonzalez.
Sports
August 11, 2012
Local players go 2-2 in USA Cup soccer
- High School Sports
- Missouri Southern Sports
- Pittsburg State Sports
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Younger Joplin team regains Women's Horton Smith Cup
Globe/T. Rob Brown Jill West launches her teeshot during Tuesday's singles action in the Women's Horton Smith Cup matches at Briarbrook Golf Course.
So much for first-time jitters.
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