Lakes Elite, young players chosen from the Miami Lakes United Soccer Club, were runners-up in the 2021 3V3 Challenge Tour, Challenge Sports National Championship held in Kissimmee from July
29 – Aug. 1. The boys, ages 6 and 7, qualified to play in the tournament’s finals match but lost 6-4 to a team from Philadelphia, said Coach Eddy Barrios, 34, of Miami Lakes. Barrios calls his team “the comeback kids” because they trailed in most of their games before rallying to win.
“They are very talented and overall, I’m proud of these kids and their performances,” Barrios said. “The future is bright for these kids.”
Barrios formed Lakes Elite to play in summer tournaments, which kept the boys active and prepared them for the coming season with their hometown club.
Shown from left to right are Adam Barrios; Matteo Riera; Coach Eddy Barrios; Julian Yema, Jordan Acosta and Lucas Cornavaca. Not shown is Adrian Fernandez.
-- David L. Snelling
Photo by Julissa Gutierrez.