U.S. Beach Soccer Team Places Second At Miami Cup
May 4, 2011
UCLA soccer players Victor Chavez, Chris Cummings, Fernando Monge and Brian Rowe helped lead the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team to a second-place showing at the Miami Cup, playing in all three games as the U.S. went 1-1-1 in the tournament.
The U.S., which is coached by Bruin assistant coach Eddie Soto, opened the tournament with a 7-6 victory over Mexico on Apr. 29. Mexico jumped out to a 5-2 lead before the U.S. mounted a comeback with three unanswered goals to tie, including one by Chavez in the 32nd minute to make the score 3-5. Giovanni Garcia scored the game-winner in the 36th minute to claim the win, 7-6. Rowe, who was named the Sierra Mist Man of the Match, made five saves and earned the victory in goal.
After running into world champion Brazil and losing, 7-2, on Apr. 30, the U.S. closed the tournament on Sunday with a penalty kick shootout victory over Spain. The two teams finished regulation knotted at three and went to sudden-victory penalty kicks to decide the winner. Spanish captain Nico started the shootout with a shot that went wide over the crossbar, and the USA's Francis Farberoff ended the contest with a well-placed shot to give the U.S. two points and secure second place in the tournament.
Chris Cummings, Brian Rowe, Victor Chavez and Fernando Monge