Florida's summer season is well known for its blistering heat, but the "Heat" wave that landed in Orlando the weekend before this year's Fourth of July was more intense than in years past. The intensity wasn't in the form of sweltering temperatures, but in the competitive spirit and determination of the 13 Hicksville Heat Soccer Team players from Westbury, Hicksville and the East Meadow area.

The team stepped out onto the soccer field at Disney's Wide World of Sports stadium to compete in the 2000 Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament. This prestigious invitational soccer tournament drew boys' and girls' soccer teams in numerous age brackets from all over the United States, as well as from Argentina, Canada, Jamaica, Nassau, St. Thomas, Brazil and Guadalajara.

The beautiful Disney sports complex hosted many exciting rounds of highly skilled soccer competition, but among the best and most exhilarating was Hicksville Heat's 4-2 win over Defensores Juveniles from Argentina. This extremely challenging game resulted in such a mutual respect between the two teams' players and their coaches that both teams posed for a combined group photo to memorialize their battle. The Argentina coach suggested to Vinny Iannucci, Hicksville Heat's Coach, that the two teams consider hosting each other for future tournaments in their home countries.

Hicksville Heat ultimately made it to the semi-finals and won a medal for 3rd Place. When they weren't playing soccer, many of the players and their families spent time taking in the excitement of Disney World (some for the first time ever), MGM Studios, Universal Studios, Epcot and all the other area attractions. All in all, the tournament provided the boys of the Hicksville Heat Team with a wonderful experience of high level sportsmanship, the formation of some new friendships, and fond memories that will "warm" their hearts as they look back on their visit to Florida.

The Hicksville Heat would like to thank the following sponsors who helped make the trip possible: The Amerisc Corp; DLI Contracting Corp; Ralph D'Alessandro General Contracting; Marscott Enterprises, Inc; Kennedy Plumbing and Heating; Alfieri Painting and Decorating, Inc; Ballymore Homes; MP Industries; and Salvatore Abbatiello.\