Five Players Represent So Cal Blues at U17 Women’s World Cup
Written with Chris Rael.
Editor’s Note: It is a remarkable accomplishment for any youth soccer club to develop youth soccer players for the US Soccer National Teams — and, to welcome home five young women who have just returned from wearing the Red, White and Blue, representing our country in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup — well, that is extraordinary. Congratulations So Cal Blues.
Youth Soccer News: With the 2016 U17 Women’s World Cup winding down, we take a look at highlight youth soccer club So Cal Blues who sent off five members of its 1998/99 ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) squad to Jordan.
Although the U.S. U17 Women’s National Team lost to Japan 3-2 in the final group game at the 2016 FIFA 17 Women’s World Cup held in Amman, Jordan on October 8 — and our country was eliminated — the history in the making lives on for those who competed and all of those who helped them.
While the USA did not advance — Japan won and the USA came home after finishing third in Group D, the players will remember their time representing the USA forever.
U.S. U-17 WNT head coach B.J. Snow said following the game, “I couldn’t have been more proud of how resilient our players were in the first half and the second half, as you saw from the game, our girls never quit.”
The roster for the U17 U.S. Women’s National Team consisted of four players from So Cal Blues – Ashley Sanchez, Hillary Beall, Karina Rodriguez and Kennedy Wesley – while Ashley Soto represented the U17 Mexican Women’s National Team.
Not many clubs have the honor or having multiple players called up for a youth world cup. Head coach and So Cal Blues ECNL Technical Director Randy Dodge credits the club from top to bottom as having an influence on developing top talent, as well as the overall dedication by these selected players paving the road to their success.
So Cal Blues National Team Players
Ashley Sanchez was a hero on the field during the match, placing a goal in the back of the net and placing the USA up in the 33rd minute — allowing her team to take the lead going into halftime.
Forward Sanchez has remained on the radar of U.S. National Team coaches with her also being named to the 2016 U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in Papua New Guinea in the coming weeks.
Sanchez added three goals in three matches during the U17 World Cup as she joins the U20 side as the youngest player on the team. Dodge praises her as a promising young talent that has made strides in reaching her potential over the years. Sanchez was awarded the gold ball following the U17 world cup qualifiers.
“Sanchez was always gifted, but she just never put into practice her natural ability that she has now.” said Dodge. “She’s one of the hardest working players.”
Sanchez notched three goals with five assists at the CONCACAF U20 Qualifying tournament and scored the game-winning goal in the championship game against Canada. The future UCLA Bruin shows signs of promising talent as the high school senior prepares for another showcase on the hight stage in November.
Dodge highlights center back Karina Rodriguez as a force that contributes to factors that at times tend to go unnoticed. He explains after watching Rodriguez play a few times her quality is surely present.
“Rodriguez‘s not that big in stature, but her soccer IQ is super high. Once she got her foot in the door of national team camp three years ago, she hasn’t let anybody push her out,” said Dodge.
Rodriguez will join Sanchez at UCLA next fall as So Cal Blues’ third player attending the Pac-12 side.
In regard to goalkeeper Hillary Beall, her coach explains that her enjoyment of developing has allowed for her to compete at a level that has constantly seen her progress.
“Beall always has a smile on her face. She has been forced out of her comfort zone to compete every practice,” said Dodge. “She has to train hard in our environment — if she isn’t, then she is going to have a lot of frustration.”
Beall will take her talents to the University of Michigan in 2017 as she prepares to join the Big Ten school.
Dodge praises defender Kennedy Wesley as being a future prospect who is a constant ball winner. As one of the younger players on the team, her flexibility to play multiple positions in the back allows for her to remain a serious threat during a match.
“She’s the future of the national team that can play any position in the back. She’s great 1v1 and attacking as well,” said Dodge.
The U.S. won its first match of the tournament versus Paraguay, but fell versus Ghana to set up a must-win game in their final matchup. The young Americans were unable to edge a Japan side that has advanced to the final for the second consecutive FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup – Japan took home the title in 2014.
Representing the U17 Mexican Women’s National Team, Ashley Soto has remained a starting outside back who has been in the national program for the last two years.
Soto was a starter during all four matches at the world cup that ultimately saw Mexico fall to Venezuela 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
Building a Program from Within
ECNL is well known for preparing player to perform at the highest level – and, the elite league works with clubs all across America.
So Cal Blues has made a name for itself with top talent coming through the ranks in previous years. With a great staff that all have a hand in developing players, Dodge emphasizes the club creating an environment where as much of it is individual growth, it is team growth.
“We give them an understanding that it’s just not going to be them that catapults themselves to the next level,” said Dodge. “It’s going to be their teammates that push them to be the best.”
Dodge emphasizes the need for promising players to continue to grow off the field and mature as they take the next step in their career.
So Cal Blues is dedicated to providing the next generation access to their current youth national team players who share experience, do meet-and-greets as well as share guidance with younger players being called up to national team camps.
“These kids are realizing that they are becoming role models at 16/17 years old, which is kind of a lot, but it is our responsibility as coaches to instill in them their responsibilities – that’s just part of leadership,” said Dodge.
Along with Greg Baker, Matt Baker, Tad Boback and Larry Draluck, the Orange County club focuses on providing players with an environment that allows for them to remain tested. Pushing players out of their comfort zone is key for players to make the next step – So Cal Blues has embraced this philosophy.
“We have a great staff that works really hard at developing our players for the club – not for themselves. These players develop themselves and we provide the environment for them to get better and better,” concludes Dodge.
The So Cal Blues Soccer Club was launched in 1985 with the help of Bill Purcell.
