MBS Daytona Finishes with a Flourish

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

DAYTONA, Fla. – Major Beach Soccer’s kickoff event for its 2012 summer wrapped up Sunday, much to the dismay of the teams not wanting to go home. From the fun on the sand to the family-friendly beach atmosphere, the weekend in Daytona Beach was an all-around success.

The eight teams that have qualified for the 2012 MBS Championship in Clearwater Beach will no doubt find time to get back on the beach to prepare, but the excitement of MBS Daytona Beach will be difficult to recreate. The buzz at the stadium field, first-class officiating, and ChillZone gave the event a unique feel, and players enjoyed it thoroughly.

“We are thankful to the teams that made it to Daytona this weekend,” Major Beach Soccer Director Peter Mellor said. “The competition was brilliant and it was a lot of fun for everyone involved. We hope to see some familiar faces in Clearwater and Fort Myers in the coming months.”

Hours before Sunday’s first games, young children were awake and practicing on the fields. At such a popular vacation spot, a 7 a.m. wakeup call is practically unheard of. When those same kids qualified for this year’s Championships, they did not show the exhaustion of the long hours. MBS Daytona Beach was all about fun, even with the high stakes on the line.

The Dune Dawgs advanced out of the U12 Male Division, booking their ticket to Clearwater Beach. OCYS won the U14 Male crown, while Goal Diggers and Sand Sharks won the U16 Female and Male divisions, respectively. The Ocala Sand Pirates faced tough competition against IABS in the U18 Male final, but came out on top in a gripping game.

The Spicy Latinas beat the Sandbags in the Women’s Open final on the stadium field, where all of the final day’s championship games were played. IABS, which entered three teams in the tournament, won the Men’s Open Division against the Ocala Storm in a rematch of the last game of group play. Instead of leaving, most teams stuck around for the thrilling finale of the Co-Ed Division in which Sand Blind were victorious against Los Veteranos.

The competition was excellent; rarely did score lines reflect a blowout. In fact, teams were more worried about how a draw would affect their chances of advancing than a mercy rule. With FIFA rules, including restrictions on the pass back to the goalkeeper, players were kept on their toes, making for a spectacle to behold on the beach.

At the end of the day, rain swept in and with long drives ahead of them, players and fans alike left the beach satisfied. The next Major Beach Soccer tournament will be held on the beautiful, white sands of Clearwater Beach July 13-15, with the elegant Hyatt Hotel hosting the biggest tournament of the summer and another chance for teams to qualify for the Championships.