Florida Celtic Soccer Club delivered a standout performance at the ECNL Regional League Showcase in Sanford, Florida this past weekend, as the club’s Boys U19 (2007/08) and Boys U17 (2009) teams combined for a flawless 6–0 record, scoring 16 goals and conceding just 4 across six highly competitive matches. The U17 Boys, led by Head Coach Sean Doyel and assisted by Boys Assistant DOC Chris Pursser, earned impressive victories over Arlington Soccer ECNL RL from Virginia (4–1), Tennessee United ECNL RL (3–1), and Pacesetter Soccer Club ECNL RL from Ohio (1–0). The group continues to demonstrate strong growth and momentum, now winning five of their last six showcase matches following a strong performance last month at the NCFC Showcase.
Reflecting on the showcase from a technical leadership perspective, Assistant Boys DOC Chris Pursser shared, “Both the U19 Boys and U17 Boys delivered outstanding performances this weekend, each finishing with perfect 3-0 records. Combining to score 16 goals while conceding just four highlights the attacking quality, defensive organization, and competitive mentality within the club. It was especially encouraging to see this level of execution with limited preparation time ahead of the showcase. These performances build important momentum as we approach the end of high school season and prepare for the second half of seasonal league play.”
The U19 Boys, led by Boys DOC Brice Nardozzi, mirrored that success with an equally dominant weekend, defeating Richmond United ECNL RL (VA) 3–1, Lobos Rush ECNL RL (TN) 4–1, and capping off the event with a disciplined 1–0 victory over Sporting Nebraska FC ECNL RL. Their performances highlighted tactical maturity, strong team identity, and composure in key moments across all three fixtures, reinforcing Florida Celtic’s ability to compete with some of the top regional league programs in the country.
Boys Director of Coaching Brice Nardozzi added, “We are delighted to see our oldest boys teams leading by example at one of the largest ECNL events in the country. For both teams to go perfect throughout the weekend is a testament to the progress our club has made in recent years. The growth and development at Florida Celtic is at an all-time high thanks to the players, coaches, and families who continue to place their trust and confidence in our program. Their belief allows us to cultivate a competitive, developmental, and positive environment that truly pushes our players to excel.”
Beyond the results, the weekend also provided an exceptional platform for college exposure, with dozens of college coaches engaging with Florida Celtic players throughout the event. A showcase highlight included U19 Goalkeeper Ian Timberlake being selected to compete in the ECNL RL Continental Tire Selection Game, featuring 36 of the top players from more than 170 attending teams nationwide. At the conclusion of the event, the U19 Boys finished 6th out of 98 teams, the U17 Boys finished 10th out of 72 teams, and collectively, Florida Celtic ranked as the second-highest performing club at the entire showcase based on combined age-group results, further reinforcing the strength, growth, and competitive standard of the Florida Celtic boys program.