Play begins at the 2016 US Youth Soccer Region IV ODP Championships
Soccer News: The 2016 Region IV US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Championships, began Jan. 7 at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix. The four-day tournament will feature teams of elite players in the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 age groups, from Region IV, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Due to weather conditions, the only match that was played was in the 1999 Boys age group as Nevada 99 faced off against Oregon 99. Play is set to resume January 8th beginning at 9:00 am.
The four day tournament will ultimately determine who represents Region IV in the 2016 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in the 1999 and 2000 age groups. Cal South won three Region IV and National ODP Championships in 2015, while Utah 99 won the Region IV title last year, and ultimately became the first team from Utah to win the ODP Championships.
With programs in all 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, US Youth Soccer ODP, the original Olympic development program, is available to any player. US Youth Soccer ODP is the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League, and the majority of current and past national and youth national team members, as alumni.
1999 Boys Match Highlights:
Nevada 99 defeated Oregon 99 in the first match of the tournament 2-1 in a match that featured three second-half goals. Matthew Beasley broke the scoreless stalemate in the 52nd minute, only for Oregon’s Liam Anderson to respond 10 minutes later. Ahmed Green-Longmire scored the game-winner in the 68th minute to give Nevada its second lead, and ultimately a victory on the opening day.
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