By Marianne Arneberg Gurnee:

The Central Florida United Soccer Club’s U-13 premier girls Speed team captured gold medal honors in the Disney President’s Day Soccer Festival, defeating top-ranked teams from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia.

With Coach Keri Heedum at the helm, the Speed faced its toughest competition in the first round against a formidable Nether Appaloosas team from Pennsylvania . Jordan Roy scored the team’s solitary goal for the 1-1 game on Saturday.

On Sunday, Speed Keeper Shaunan Conley posted a 4-0 shutout against FC United Premier of Illinois . Emma Bloom of Maitland began the scoring drive by punting a perfectly placed cross by Allison Capps of Oviedo into the goal. Oviedo’s Darbi Filliben scored two header goals off a corner kick by Meredith Gurnee of Winter Park and a strong cross by Samantha Collin, also of Oviedo . Maddie Taylor of Heathrow scored the final goal off a cross from Orlando’s Roy.

Sunday afternoon, the Speed edged out the CUSA Courage ‘94 Premier team from Ohio with a 2-1 victory. Taylor knocked a pass to Orlando ’s Bailey Florin, who slammed it into the goal right before the half. Mundelein lobbed the ball in front of the Courage offensive line to Filliben, who scored her third header of the series. Mora Johnson of Orlando played a stunning offensive game, with superior support from midfielder Christina Samper of Winter Springs and Bailey Dryer of Longwood on wing.

The semi-finals on Monday against the Tophat Gold team from Altanta, Ga. which culminated in another shut-out for the Speed with a 3-0 victory. Speed goals were scored by Capps, Florin and Orlando ’s Hayley Manchon.

Heading into the finals Monday afternoon, the Speed shot to a 2-0 lead against the AFC Lightning ‘95 Elite from with goals by Florin and Taylor . The Lightening responded with a goal in the second half, but could not get past Speed defenders Becca Sofarelli of Lake Mary , Filliben and Gurnee to prevail.

Congratulations to Coach Heedum, Assistant Coach Ed Filliben and to

the talented young ladies of the CFU Speed!!!