Cercone Wins National Title

Alexandra Cercone of Seminole won the girls under-18 division championship at the United States Tennis Association Winter National Championships with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 win against No.1 seed Keri Wong of Jackson, Miss., at the Gene Autry Sports Complex in Mesa, Ariz.

By winning the tournament, Cercone - who entered the tournament as the No.23 seed - earned a wild card into the main draw at one of the USTA's women's events this year.

Cercone advanced to the round of 16 by winning three matches in straight sets, including a 6-3, 6-2 win against No.2 Stephany Chan of San Jose, Calif. Cercone won the first set against Nelly Radeva of Costa Mesa, Calif., but Radeva came back to even the match by winning the second. Cercone was able to rebound, however, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Cercone eased past Monica Chow of Miami in the quarterfinals 6-0, 6-2 before beating Aeriel Ellis of Hayward, Calif., 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals.

Entering the tournament, Cercone was ranked No. 52 nationally and No.6 in Florida, having won the Seminole County Fall Sectional tournament in October.

Sever Named To Disney All-Star Team

Wes Sever of the Clearwater Chargers boys under-16's has been named to the Disney's Soccer Showcase 2008 Boys under-16 All-Star Team.

Sever, who plays high school soccer at Tampa Prep, was named to the team after the completion of group play in the Showcase tournament.

"I've never really been named to an all-star team in a tournament before," Sever said, "but it feels really good knowing that coaches picked me to be a part of this team."

As a result of being named to the team, Sever will join his fellow all-stars in England over the summer to train at Chelsea Football Club's facility, and compete in the inaugural Chelsea FC Youth Cup in August against other international competition. Chelsea FC is the official professional soccer club of the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex after a deal struck in July.

The Chargers finished second in their group behind FC Solar of Texas with two wins and one defeat.

"We were happy with the overall play," Sever said. "We've been knocked out by Solar the last couple of years in the semifinals, so it was disappointing because I thought we were the better team."

With the Showcase being a magnet for numerous college coaches, being named to the all-star team will almost certainly help Sever when it comes to garnering attention in two years, when he will be a senior. Sever's goal is to play Division I soccer.

"I hope so," Sever said. "I really want to play Division I college soccer, so I hope this gives me a chance to get recognized by college coaches."

RSL Under-15's Fall In Disney Final

LAKE BUENA VISTA A goal by Adrian Junuzovic of the GSA Phoenix from Georgia in the 11th minute of the second half sent RSL Florida's boys under-15 team to a 2-1 loss in the Disney Soccer Showcase's Showcase Division final at the Wide World of Sports Complex on Sunday.

Junuzovic was played in on the right of the penalty area, and had appeared to have run out of room for a shot as he approached the goal line. But he struck a shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar and into the opposite side netting for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

"I didn't have any angle, so I just hit it," Junuzovic said. "I've been in a goal drought; I haven't scored for the last few weeks, so to get a goal like that really lifted our spirits."

The goal turned the game after RSL had taken control to start the second half as GSA controlled possession for close to the remainder of the game, as they had to start. GSA had early chances, but none that tested the goalkeeper until taking the lead in the 25th minute on a goal by Tyler Peoples. Peoples volleyed home from six yards out after Dominic Bonilla has beaten his defender down the right.

RSL came back into the game within a minute as Hamza Elotmani tied the game. Almost straight from the kickoff following the goal, Elotmani released Wesley Charpie on an overlap down the right before Elotmani made a run to the far post. Charpie's cross found Elotmani all alone in the penalty area, and he volleyed in the finish.

"I think we got the lift," RSL coach Iain Munroe said. "When you go behind you can get down, but when you get the goal back, it gives you a lift."

The momentum immediately swung RSL's way, and Elotmani could have had a second when he beat his man and broke through on the left side of the penalty area, only to pass up the opportunity to shoot to try and set up teammate Matt DiLeonardo.

RSL maintained its control over the first 10 minutes of the second half until Junuzovic's goal, at which point Charpie thought the team lost its way.

"We got possession of the ball and were passing it around," Charpie said. "Then after the second goal we fell apart."

Munroe said he hoped the team would learn from the experience in the final.

"They're young kids, they're learning," he said. "Did they deserve to win? No. I think that the Georgia team was better on the day, but I think we were the better team over the course of the tournament."