28094: Hermantin(News)Regulars to meet novices in Copa Latina (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Fri, Mar. 10, 2006


COPA LATINA
Regulars to meet novices in Copa Latina

BY SANTOS A. PEREZ
sperez@MiamiHerald.com

One team is linked to the tournament's origins and remains a fixture in the 
annual draw. The other is a first-year formation, lacking a tournament 
pedigree.

Tonight, a perennial entrant and a newcomer meet in the semifinal round of Copa 
Latina at Ted Hendricks Stadium.

Five-time tournament champion Seleccion Haiti will face American United in the 
second semifinal match beginning at 9. Honduras 5 Star and Seleccion Ecuador 
meet in the opening semifinal game at 7.

''We are very proud to be the only team that has played in every Copa Latina,'' 
said Ernst ''Nono'' Jean-Baptiste, who has coached Haiti to five Copa titles 
and now serves as the team's director of operations. ``The Haitian community 
embraces and appreciates the hard work our players have done through the 
years.''

In addition to its five titles, Haiti has reached nine of the 14 tournament 
semifinals. The path to this year's semifinals included a victory on penalty 
kicks against three-time tournament champion IBC Peru last Sunday.

American United's run to the semifinals also has raised the awareness of U.S. 
soccer in the tournament. The majority of Copa Latina teams feature players 
born outside the United States. American United's players are primarily U.S. 
born or naturalized.

''Our team has been training for several months now, and we are all very 
excited for the opportunity of playing in the semifinal game,'' American United 
forward Justin Ratcliffe said.

The semifinal winners will meet in the final at 7 p.m. Sunday, and the losers 
play in the third-place game at 3 p.m.