Weho Eclipse Wins Vegas Tournament

The West Hollywood-based Eclipse men's soccer team finished first in a big Las Vegas tournament last month, tallying a 4-0-2 record.

The Sin City Shootout is a huge multi sport tournament with more than 5,000 gay and lesbian athletes hosted by the Tropicana Casino.

"We have a great team with so many great players," said Eclipse forward Nick Chadwick, who led tournament scoring with nine goals. "The entire roster played like MVP's the whole tournament." 

He credited goalkeeper tourney MVP Josh Ayou with standout play and noted the months of practice leading up to the tournament that resulted in all-important team chemistry on the field.

The Eclipse began the two-day competition with ties, 4-4 with the Orange County Velvet and 1-1 with the Chicago Blaze. The team went undefeated for the rest of the tournament, beating Toronto United twice, crushing the Long Beach Waverunners 15-0 and adding a victory in a second match against Chicago.

"It was so awesome to win gold at a tournament with so many gay athletes," Chadwick said. "I am looking forward to playing many more tournaments with these guys, and can't wait for New York."

In April the Eclipse travels to New York City for the New York Indoor Classic tournament. Currently the team is playing in the Santa Monica Adult Soccer League.

The Eclipse has a fundraising event scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at MJ's bar in the Los Feliz/Silverlake area.

Home to the Los Angeles Eclipse and Los Angeles Suns, the West Hollywood Soccer Club is a nonprofit that promotes "the growth and understanding of soccer, to foster a sense of LGBT community, according to the club's website. Anyone can join regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race or religion.

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