Las Vegas Mayor's Cup International Showcase A Big Success

By Mary Hausch

The Las Vegas Mayor's Cup International Showcase on Presidents' Day weekend resembled the Olympics, with flags flying from eight foreign countries at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex. Also represented among the more than 4,000 players were teams from 28 states.

The winners represented teams from many states, plus Canada and Mexico.

"All we were missing was the playing of national anthems for the winning countries," said Roger Tabor, President of the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club, which hosts the event each year.

Tabor noted that, like in the Olympics, some of the strongest teams were from Canada.

Among the states with teams on the victory podium were Missouri, Washington, Minnesota and Utah. Nevada teams winning championships included the Neusport 94 Green team in the Boys' Under-16 bracket, the Santos Laguna team in the Boys' Under-17 competition and the Nevada Devils in the Men's Under-19 bracket.

There were a record number of foreign participants, making this the largest international youth soccer tournament in the country, Tabor said. Countries represented included Denmark, France, Germany and Romania.

Unusually heavy rains early in February caused some reshuffling of field locations, but thanks to the many volunteers from the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club and City of Las Vegas workers, the tournament was a big success, Tabor said.

Next up on the Downtown Club's tournament schedule is the Junior Cup, May 15-16, for girls' and boys' teams in the Under-7 through Under-10 age divisions. This is a great, small-sided tournament for young teams, Club Executive Director Rich Ryerson said. Each age bracket is limited to eight teams that are guaranteed three, 40-minute games. Championship games also will be played.

"It's a fun event for young players, who may be playing outside their recreational leagues for the first time," Ryerson said.

The entry deadline for the Junior Cup is April 1. Registration information for that tournament and results for the International Showcase are available at the Downtown Web site at www.downtownlvsc.com.