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Former Badger scores lone goal and helps raise thousands of dollars for Puerto Rico
November 18, 2017 | Men's Soccer
David Caban and Puerto Rican National Team played Orlando City in friendly to aid island's recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria
ORLANDO -- On Nov. 4, former Wisconsin men's soccer player David Caban had a dream come true when he scored the first goal of his career with the Puerto Rican National Team.
But it was no ordinary goal. And it was no ordinary game.
It was a game between Orlando City and Puerto Rico to help raise money for the United Puerto Rico Fund to aid the island's recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
And they did. The announced crowd of 8,231 fans helped raise $327,530 to be exact. One-hundred percent of the net proceeds from the friendly, which ended in a 6-1 win for the hosts, were donated to the United for Puerto Rico fund to help the island.
"The game ended up raising nearly $330,000 that will go directly towards the island, which is much more than everyone was predicting, so it's an honor that I could be a part of the effort," Caban said. "This was my first game for Puerto Rico in almost a year, so for it to be in such a meaningful game was beyond words."
But at the end of the day, it wasn't really the score that fans will remember. They might not remember the match at all honestly, except for one single moment. The moment when Caban found the back of the net for his ailing country and sent the crowd, both fans of Orlando City and Puerto Rico alike, into complete hysterics, cheering for him for Puerto Rico.
"Scoring my first goal for PR in this game was probably the best feeling I've had on a soccer field," Caban added. "I play defensive midfield, so I wasn't expecting to be in such a position. Watching the ball slide past the keeper, it felt like everything was moving in slow motion.
"Hearing how happy all of the Orlando supporters were meant a lot too. Even though they were rooting for Orlando, they still were happy for us, and it was great to see all of he Puerto Rican fans enjoying themselves. It's not every day you get to play in a beautiful stadium against world class players like (Ricardo) Kaka. So it's definitely an experience I'll carry with me forever."
Puerto Rico coach Carlos Cantarero said the game "really showed what Puerto Rican soccer is capable of."
One can say it showed what the world of soccer is capable of.Â
"I'm very proud of what our Club and our partners were able to accomplish," Orlando City SC owner Flavio Augusto da Silva said in a team statement. "What we did meant more than just raising funds for Puerto Rico. Once again, we came together as a community to rally behind something bigger than us all."
But it was no ordinary goal. And it was no ordinary game.
It was a game between Orlando City and Puerto Rico to help raise money for the United Puerto Rico Fund to aid the island's recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
And they did. The announced crowd of 8,231 fans helped raise $327,530 to be exact. One-hundred percent of the net proceeds from the friendly, which ended in a 6-1 win for the hosts, were donated to the United for Puerto Rico fund to help the island.
"The game ended up raising nearly $330,000 that will go directly towards the island, which is much more than everyone was predicting, so it's an honor that I could be a part of the effort," Caban said. "This was my first game for Puerto Rico in almost a year, so for it to be in such a meaningful game was beyond words."
But at the end of the day, it wasn't really the score that fans will remember. They might not remember the match at all honestly, except for one single moment. The moment when Caban found the back of the net for his ailing country and sent the crowd, both fans of Orlando City and Puerto Rico alike, into complete hysterics, cheering for him for Puerto Rico.
A game and a cause where everybody won. #FuerzaPuertoRico pic.twitter.com/wH1R4XLuV3
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) November 6, 2017
"Scoring my first goal for PR in this game was probably the best feeling I've had on a soccer field," Caban added. "I play defensive midfield, so I wasn't expecting to be in such a position. Watching the ball slide past the keeper, it felt like everything was moving in slow motion.
"Hearing how happy all of the Orlando supporters were meant a lot too. Even though they were rooting for Orlando, they still were happy for us, and it was great to see all of he Puerto Rican fans enjoying themselves. It's not every day you get to play in a beautiful stadium against world class players like (Ricardo) Kaka. So it's definitely an experience I'll carry with me forever."
Puerto Rico coach Carlos Cantarero said the game "really showed what Puerto Rican soccer is capable of."
One can say it showed what the world of soccer is capable of.Â
"I'm very proud of what our Club and our partners were able to accomplish," Orlando City SC owner Flavio Augusto da Silva said in a team statement. "What we did meant more than just raising funds for Puerto Rico. Once again, we came together as a community to rally behind something bigger than us all."
A celebration for Puerto Rico.
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) November 7, 2017
A celebration for #BeJoe.
A celebration for our Captain. #FuerzaPuertoRico Sights & Sounds ?? pic.twitter.com/0yvb735VSO
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