Youth Soccer News: San Diego Surf Soccer Club Players Selected to US National Youth Teams
U.S. Women’s National Team players Alex Morgan and Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke may be the most famous players to have played at San Diego Surf Soccer Club, there is a vast array of up and coming new talent practicing at the Del Mar Polo Fields today. While Surf SC can boast of training youth players who have gone professional and currently play for MLS teams, the club concentrates on the stars of tomorrow.
Several of Surf SC’s top players have received the coveted call to come and join a National Team roster: McKay Eves (U15 MNT) Luca De La Torre (U15 MNT) Alexis Velela (U17 MNT) Corey Baird (U17 MNT) Brian Iloski (U18 MNT) Benjamin Lopez (U18 MNT) Pablo Paleaz (U18 MNT) Chloe Frisch (U15 WNT) Catarina Macario (U15 WNT) Audrey Hegardt (U15 WNT) Eva Buechler (U17 WNT) Olivia Erlbeck (U17 WNT) Marley Canales (U17 WNT) Laura Liedle (U20 WNT) Stephanie Ochs (U23 WNT) ….
San Diego Surf Soccer Club is well respected for consistently developing the next generation of elite player and has recently added three more to it’s already long list of players sought out by the US National Team.
With the most recent U15 Roster, McKay Eves joins Luca De La Torre and Pablo as players to have been invited to training camp.
Eves is the most recent call-up, and is a versatile player who can cover the entire range of the field. “McKay is a player who can play anywhere,” says Surf SC Technical director Wayne Harrison. “The national team play him at center back, I play him at attacking midfield… very different positions but he can play them all equally well.” Eves’ coaches praise his height and foot skills, and describe him as “physically capable, technically excellent, and tactically improving every day.”
Pablo is a left footed attacking midfield player in the U16 pool who has just been invited to train with the U18 National Team at just 16 years of age. “He is the most naturally gifted player I have coached in the USA in my many years here,” says Harrision, “and I believe with his improved determination and desire – which he continues to add to his natural game – he could go far in the both the college game at the top level.”
De La Torre is a U16 central midfield player who is already seeing time with English Premier League side Fulham Football Club, and is a regular starter for the U16 National Team. Harrison describes him as a player with “a great left foot” and was impressed with his performance with the National Team in a recent game against Brazil.
“All three players have the undoubted natural ability to succeed, and they have the desire and intrinsic drive so vital to achieve their ultimate goals,” says Harrison. “We, at Surf SC, are very proud of them. All three youth soccer players have been a pleasure to coach.”
Surf Soccer Club now has 18 players who have gone on to train and compete at the international level with the US National Team; with 11 of them representing the women’s national team pool.
- McKay Eves (U15 MNT)
- Luca De La Torre (U15 MNT)
- Alexis Velela (U17 MNT)
- Corey Baird (U17 MNT)
- Brian Iloski (U18 MNT)
- Benjamin Lopez (U18 MNT)
- Pablo Paleaz (U18 MNT)
- Chloe Frisch (U15 WNT)
- Catarina Macario (U15 WNT)
- Audrey Hegardt (U15 WNT)
- Eva Buechler (U17 WNT)
- Olivia Erlbeck (U17 WNT)
- Marley Canales (U17 WNT)
- Laura Liedle (U20 WNT)
- Stephanie Ochs (U23 WNT)
- Leigh Ann Robinson (USWNT)
- Alex Morgan (USWNT)
- Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke (USWNT)
According to Surf SC Director of Coaching Colin Chesters there are many talented players being developed today. “Caterina Macario is the best goal scoring forward ever to wear a Surf SC uniform and her ability to take control of a game through her instincts in front of goal is unbelievable,” said Chesters.
“Marley Canales is the hardest working player we have ever had since Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke. It is no coincidence they have both been given the honor of captaining a national team. She relishes working hard and has over the years spent numerous extra hours improving her game an absolute pleasure to work with,” continued Chesters.
Chesters is a strong supporter of his players. “Chloe Frisch is a Surf SC ‘lifer’ joining the team at U9 and instantly becoming a force to be reckoned with. She is at her best in the number 8 role working tirelessly in the midfield and making runs with and without the ball into the opponents box. She plays the game a lot like Frank Lampard from Chelsea I have seen her just take over games and has a very promising future.”
“Olivia Erlbeck is another standout Surf player she is the best number 10 in the club scores goals and makes assists no matter who the opponent is. She is a top notch midfield player with craft. Outstanding surf talent who is another Surf lifer who recently as a sophomore committed to Notre Dame.”
Surf SC realizes its national team players work at a level which calls for extra attention and discipline, which is why Harrison and his staff provide extra training opportunities outside of regular club play. Training with older teams, small group shooting clinics, and position – specific training are some of the added effort players put in with staff to ensure their game is on point at the international level.
In addition, Surf’s instructors work with the players off the pitch to provide feedback from national team play and help them master areas where improvement is needed, which, Chesters notes is a vital component of investment in the entire big picture of developing a national team product. Surf SC top teams all compete in the Southern California Development Soccer League (SCDSL).
“We always receive feedback from national team coaches at the end of a camp or series of training and games,” says Chesters. “After reviewing this feedback we get specific in training with those players helping them with the areas national staff want to be addressed.”
As players come through Surf’s programs, it’s only natural for Harrison and his coaching staff, as they develop their players, to see them move on to bigger professional clubs and pursue national team opportunities. This revolving door of talent allows for openings to come and go, and Surf is looking to bring in the next wave of talent. Tryout information can be accessed through the San Diego Surf SC website.
