Disney Soccer Showcase begins with boys’ weekend

By Jimmy LaRoue

More than 300 of the top boys’ teams in the country have congregated in Orlando for the 2012 Disney Soccer Showcase and will begin play Thursday.

Brackets feature Under-15 through U-18 teams, as well as separate Developmental Academy divisions for U-16 and U-18 age groups, as well as 1997 and 1998 Pre-Academy groups.

There are two, seven team brackets of Under-16 and U-18 Development Academy teams (Baltimore Bays Chelsea, Chicago Magic PSG, Dallas Texans, NJSA 04, Shattuck-St. Mary’s SA, Sockers FC Chicago and Solar Chelsea in one bracket, and Chargers SC, Concorde Fire, De Anza Force, Kendall SC, Orlando City SC and Weston FC in another), along with the Canadian U-16 academy side, Ottawa South United Force Academy 96. NJSA 04 is only fielding a U-18 academy team.

The U-18 Showcase-Red bracket features the top-ranked team in the country, Raiders FC Premier, who won last year’s showcase in the U-17 Showcase-Black bracket. The other side of the bracket features Beadline SC, the third-ranked team in the country and top-ranked out of western Pennsylvania.

Brackets feature

Many of the participating teams are among the top-ranked in their respective states and regions.

Here’s the schedule of boys’ games, set to take place Dec. 27-30.

The girls’ portion of the 2012 Disney Soccer Showcase begins Dec. 31 and runs through Jan. 3.