Opening Day of the Girls Thanksgiving Interregional
The opening day of the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional comes to a close as top players in America compete in Florida in front of college and U.S. Soccer scouts. Players are participating in scheduled training sessions as well as competing in matches versus other regional squads.
Schedules, Scores & Standings
Rosters: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
Youth Soccer News: The annual US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Girls Thanksgiving Interregional began on Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida, with the 2000, 2002 and 2003 age groups kicking off the action.
The six-day event, which will take place Nov. 20-25 at Spanish River Athletic Park and Florida Atlantic University, is hosting teams in the 1999-2003 age groups consisting of the top female players in the United States.
U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis was in attendance on Sunday, as she watched the U.S. U14 Girls National Team play the Region IV 2000 squad. Ellis discussed the value of US Youth Soccer ODP, which has helped develop many current and former national team players.
“ODP is a platform that obviously a lot of our players have come through,” Ellis said. “It allows coaches to come in here and watch players by bringing a talented group together. ODP does that — it gets players together and puts on showcases like this, and that’s very important.”
Highlights from Day 1:
2003s | Region III 1, Region IV 1
Region III and Region IV opened up play in the 2003 age group with a 1-1 tie on Sunday. The Region III squad held a majority of pressure in the first half, but Region IV keeper Olivia Juarez reacted well to stop Region III’s best opportunity — a low drive off a 15th-minute corner. Region III made it on the score sheet shortly after halftime when Ayo Oke applied high pressure, forced a turnover and struck a loose ball into the net. Region IV responded shortly after in the 47th minute, as Mia Solorio-Smith placed her shot into an open net to bring the match level. Haley Duca nearly put Region III back in front late in the game, but her attempt deflected off the crossbar. The match ended a 1-1 draw.
2003s | Region I 2, Region II 0
The Region I 2003 team opened the week with a 2-0 win against Region II. Late in the first half, Region I opened the scoring when Kelly Monaco ran on to a bouncing ball and flicked a header over the keeper. Region II pushed for an equalizer but couldn’t break through the Region I defense. With the game stretched in the 68th minute, Payton Patrick finished off a quick attack by placing her strike past the keeper to secure the 2-0 shutout victory for Region I.
2002s | Region I 2, Region IV 1
After conceding in the opening minutes of the match, Region I fought back to claim a 2-1 victory over Region IV in the 2002 age group. Smith Hunter helped create the opening goal for Region IV, as she sent in a dangerous low cross that CeCe Cross placed into the left side netting to give her team the 1-0 lead. The match went into the half with Region IV holding on to the 1-0 lead. Region I’s Grace Murphy brought the match level in the 54th minute when her attempt off a rebound found the back of the net. That set up Chloe DeLyser’s game-winner in the 77th minute, as the Region I midfielder’s left-footed attempt went inside the right post to give her side the 2-1 win.
2002s | Region II 2, Region III 0
Region II put on a strong display to open the event with a 2-0 shutout win over Region III in the 2002 age group. Amelia Horton put Region II in front in the 11th minute, and that strike proved to be the difference for much of the match. A nice piece of team play led to Taylor Huff’s insurance goal in the 51st minute, as the midfielder received a well-weighted chipped pass behind the Region III back line and sent a shot to the far post to double the Region II advantage. The Region II defense held the final half-hour of play to secure the 2-0 win.
2000s | U.S. U14 GNT 4, Region IV 2
The U.S. U14 Girls National Team came away with a 4-2 win against the Region IV 2000 team. The U.S. U14 GNT took a 21st-minute lead prior to Region IV’s Jaelyn Eisenhart converted penalty kick to bring the match level. The U.S. team regained the advantage with a well-placed shot in the 36th minute and pushed the lead to 3-1 shortly after halftime. Following a 63rd-minute goal for the U.S., Vanessa Mejia got behind the GNT back line and put her shot past the keeper to pull Region IV within two goals. The U.S. would ultimately claim the 4-2 victory.
Photo Credit: US Youth Soccer