MBS News Release
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The 2011 Major Beach Soccer Women’s National Champions, Peace Passers of Charlotte, North Carolina, are set to open Beach Soccer Montreal Friday when they face Canada at 6 p.m. in Montreal’s 11,700-seat Uniprix Stadium. As U.S. national champions, Peace Passers were invited to participate as Team USA and will also meet Brazil and Mexico during the three-day event.
Beach Soccer Montreal will also feature a men’s division with Brazil, Italy, Morocco and Mexico competing for the title. Organizers expect a crowd of close to 20,000 to enjoy the action and festivities.
The Peace Passers will enjoy some W-League reinforcements in Montreal, with Current Santa Clarita Blue Heat midfielder and beach soccer veteran Danielle Bitonti joining the roster, along with W-League Senior Director (and alum) Amanda Duffy. USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor will lead the team from the sidelines.
Among the competition will be Mexican Women’s National Team goalkeeper Anjuli Ladron de Guevara representing her home country, with Santa Clarita midfielder Dinora Garza also representing Mexico. Team Canada will be comprised of players from Canadian W-League teams, primarily from the Quebec City Amiral, Laval Comets and Ottawa Fury.
FIFA organizes a Beach Soccer World Cup every two years, and the organizing committee of Beach Soccer Montreal 2012 intends to make it an annual event in the hopes of hosting the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup in Montreal. For scores and updates visit http://beachsoccermontreal.com.
Major Beach Soccer is in its 22nd year of bringing the top beach soccer tournament action to Florida’s shores. The inaugural MBS National Championship brought the nation’s top beach soccer talent to Clearwater Beach in December of 2011, with Florida Beach Soccer FC capturing the men’s title and the Peace Passers taking home the women’s crown. The Peace Passers have once again qualified for the 2012 MBS National Championships and will return to the sand in Clearwater in December to defend their title.