Region IV Teams Sweep Two Years Straight
Cal South Goes 3 for 3 and Utah Claims First ODP Championship – “You have to remember, coaches do not win soccer games, the players do,” said Steve Hoffman, Cal South Director of Player Development.
Champion teams were crowned Sunday at the 2015 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Championships at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz. Region IV teams swept three titles in the 1998 and 1999 Boys and Girls age groups, for a historical third consecutive year. Elite teams qualified to compete in the championships by winning their respective age group at the US Youth Soccer ODP Regional Championships.
2015 US Youth Soccer ODP Champions:
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1998 Girls Champion – California South |
1999 Girls Champion – California South |
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1998 Boys Champion – California South |
1999 Boys Champion – Utah |
The wins also earn the Cal South 1998 Girls and 1998 Boys teams their second consecutive US Youth Soccer ODP Championship. Cal South Director of Player Development Steve Hoffman said, “Fabulous results at the ODP Championships. We are just lucky to coach these talented kids. It is the youth soccer club coaches who work with these youth players 50 weeks out of the year to help them become better players. We share our Cal South ODP accomplishments with those club coaches who are doing a great job developing these players.”
Derek Baraza, Cal South President, was also at the Reach 11 Complex this weekend for the championships and is exceptionally proud of the Southern California teams and their phenomenal success. “Cal South teams dominated the US Youth Soccer ODP Championships. It is really an amazing feat to win three ODP Championships,” said Baraza. “It is very exciting to see our teams be very successful. Cal South has exceptionally dedicated and talent coaches. When we congratulated the 1998 Girls for their championship victory, we also announced that their coach – John Napier, a long-time member of our ODP coaching staff — will be inducted into the Cal South Hall of Fame later this month.” Napier coaches for the San Diego Soccer Club. “At Cal South, we are able to select the very best kids from all our clubs and bring them together. Cal South area has great players. You have to remember, coaches do not win soccer games, the players do,” said Hoffman. “ODP is virtually free for Cal South players who only pay a nominal fee. It is a credit to our Cal South Board of Directors for making the program so affordable, and thinking of the best interest of all the youth soccer players. The diversity of the players in Southern California speaks volumes as does their continued success over the years.”
All players across the nation try out for the high-level US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program through a series of trials at their US Youth Soccer State Association. Those selected are exposed to some of the nation’s best coaches, trainers and facilities. US Youth Soccer ODP is the original Olympic development program. It is the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League, as well as a majority of current and past national and youth national team members, as alumni. With programs in all 55 State Associations, as well as regional, national and international tournaments, US Youth Soccer ODP continues to offer development and exposure opportunities to any player, regardless of hometown or club affiliation.
Match Highlights: 1998 Girls
A trio of second half goals allowed Cal South 98 to defeat Iowa 98 3-0 in the second finals match of the day between the two states, and claim a second straight ODP Championship. Kennedy Smith’s pair of goals in the 48th and 54thminute gave Cal South control and Sunny Dunphy added a third goal minutes before the final whistle to complete the victory.
“This is my third national championships so winning this really means a lot,” Cal South player Daria Petredes said. “We are going to be playing each other in college but you make great friendships, and it is something to talk about when we get older.”
1998 Boys
The finals of the 1998 boys age group certainly didn’t lack excitement as Cal South 98’s Jorge Navarro opened up the scoring in the 11th minute, but Iowa’s Elvir Ibisevic responded for Iowa six minutes later. Overtime seemed to be on the agenda until Cal South’s George Sanchez was taken down in the penalty box and went on to convert the subsequent penalty kick to give Cal South the 2-1 lead, and ultimately a second consecutive ODP Championship.
“We’ve got districts in California bigger than Iowa. So for them to get here and give us the game that they did, you can’t give them enough praise,” Cal South head coach Hoffman said. “This is a great group and they come here because this is as good as it gets.”
1999 Girls
Regulation and extra time were not enough to break a scoreless stalemate between Cal South 99 and Illinois 99. Cal South put forth a myriad of shots only for Illinois keeper Kelsie Stone to be up to the task each time. However it was Cal South’s keeper, Savannah Madden, who stole the show by saving all three penalty kicks while Brooke Redington, Emily Knous and Hannah Sharts all scored goals to secure the national title.
“Once it came down to penalty kicks I knew it was my time,” Madden said. “Winning this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and no one can take this away from us.”
1999 Boys
Utah 99 took home Utah’s first ODP Championship with a 3-1 victory over Virginia 99. Aaron Nixon began the scoring in the 15th minute, only for Virginia’s Giovanni Munoz-Vasquez to respond merely two minutes later. Jonathan Guadarramas scored the eventual game winner off a point blank shot thanks to a lovely feed from Luke Madsen. It was Guadarramas again in the 62nd minute with an insurance goal to give Utah a little breathing room after a strong Virginia push as the match ended 3-1.
“We wanted to get a goal early, and we were able to do that, but they responded. In the second half we were able to keep compact and stay disciplined,” Utah caption Easton Embley said. “It was an awesome complex and a great place to play.”
US Youth Soccer ODP was established in 1977 and is the original Olympic development program in the United States. Formed to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team could be selected for international competition, selected players are exposed to the nation’s top coaches from collegiate institutions, U.S. Soccer and the professional leagues. Programs exist in each state and with competitions such as the US Youth Soccer ODP Championships, Interregional Training/Competition, Regional Camps and International play. US Youth Soccer ODP continues to lead the way in elite player identification and development. US Youth Soccer ODP is an approved program of the U.S. Soccer Federation. For more information, visit
