Tuesday, July 16, 2013
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Major Beach Soccer Tournament concluded on Sunday with championships claimed in 11 age groups. This year’s edition of Florida’s original beach soccer tournament featured 75 teams and the largest Co-ed Open division in the tournament’s history.
Clearwater Beach is considered the flagship tournament of Major Beach Soccer and will also be the site of the MBS National Championships in December.
In the Co-Ed Open division Juve FC took down Team Bud to secure the crown. Juve FC finished second after a heartbreaking overtime loss in Daytona Beach earlier this year.
“It feels good to be able to win it; feels like it’s long overdue. Clearwater has always been my favorite of the tournaments,” player/coach Jay Cortes said. “Some people might not have liked the weather but personally, as a player, I liked it.”
Juve FC and 18-year Major Beach soccer veteran Cortes will look to repeat their title from last year in December at the national championships.
In the Men’s Open Team Bud took home the title 6-1 against Daytona champions La “U” after an explosive first period of action.
“We went up 5-0 and the first period and after that we had it,” Team Bud captain Sean Hapseys said. “It was a bit lucky, but we know La “U” is a hard team to beat. The last few years we always seem to be meeting in the finals and it’s great to get the win.
“It’s cool because four or five of us from each team play together on the Tampa Bay Marauders. So it’s bittersweet having to beat your friends.”
Sunday’s title marked Team Bud’s seventh Men’s Open championship in its 12 years of competition.
In the Women’s Open IABS-Pink was crowned champions after a 7-3 battle, in large part thanks to Haley Klemczak’s hat trick.
“When the whistle blew and we knew we won, it was awesome,” Klemczak said.
“It was a great weekend. People always expect a good show at Clearwater and that’s what they got,” Major Beach Soccer Director Peter Mellor said. “With this year’s expansive Co-Ed we got to see a great mixture of action and teamwork. The weather could have been better but we were thankful it wasn’t any worse!”
Registration for the MBS Ft. Myers qualifier is still open at www.majorbeachsoccer.com.