USL Feature Article

Thursday, June 25

TAMPA, FL – A key component of the USL Super Y-League team that championed the 2006 U17 USL North American Finals, Fernando Gonzalez, is now part of an HC United squad aiming to capture a berth in the Super-20 League North American Finals. The fourth edition of the Super-20 finals is being held at Sportscore Complexes near Rockford, Illinois. The tournament begins on Thursday, July 30 and runs through Sunday, August 2.

“We have a good team,” said Gonzalez. “I don’t want to say that we are the favorites to qualify for the [North American Finals] out of the Southeast Division. It is a very strong league. But, we have as good a chance to qualify as anyone else does.”

Gonzalez began playing with Tampa’s HC United when he was 13-years old. He began competing in the Super Y-League two seasons later and has been a part of either the Super Y-League or Super-20 League ever since.

“There is a good amount of players from the team that won the 2006 Super Y-League U17 Championship on this team,” said Gonzalez. “I would say maybe half the team.”

That team defeated Seacoast United in the final via six-round penalty kick decision, 5-4. Gonzales was the player who took the fifth round kick for HC United, sending it to a sixth round. David Stovall, who also has remained with HC United in the Super-20 Division, buried the penalty kick that won the match for the Floridians.

Wanting to remain in the Tampa area following high school, Gonzales chose the University of South Florida. In two seasons with the Bulls, Gonzales has appeared in 39 matches, including 60 minutes in the 2008 Big East Champions’ 5-0 loss to Wake Forest in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament.

“We [USF] focus on trying to move forward each season,” said Gonzales, who is entering his junior season at USF. “We grew up watching USF soccer, so it was an easy decision for Jeff [USF goalkeeper, Jeff Attinella] and I to come here. We both really wanted to stay close to home so it was the best option available to us.”

During the summer, Gonzales returns to his roots, playing for HC United in the Super-20 League.

“We are having a good season so far,” said Gonzales. “We lost our first match just this past weekend, but we played on back-to-back days against a fresh team. Not to take anything away from Orlando FC, they were a strong team. We just had trouble finishing our opportunities.”

HC United is currently in first place of the Super-20 Southeast Division with 10 points stemming from their 3-1-1 record.

“The strength of our team is the team itself,” said Gonzalez. “It is not an individual thing. Everyone works hard for one another and we win or lose as a team.”

With two more seasons of collegiate soccer left to develop, Gonzales has not yet begun to worry about his future in the professional game. But given his history of sticking close to home, the reemergence of the Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL First Division) has peaked his interest.

“It has always been my dream to play professional soccer,” said Gonzales. “I will try my best to accomplish that, but I go to school too just in case that does not happen for me. I will play anywhere, any place that thinks I am good enough. To get a chance to stay in Tampa with the Rowdies would be a real accomplishment for me. I hope I get that opportunity.”