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