Champions Crowned at the 2018 US Youth Soccer ODP West Championships
The Olympic Development Program for US Youth Soccer West concludes — every player is a winner because of the training and exposure but few become champions!
ODP is an amazing opportunity for youth soccer players to improve their skills and compete against their peers. The US Youth Soccer ODP West Championships is an exciting experience for all who participate and a goal for those to strive for who were not invited!
Here is the final update from US Youth Soccer on the ODP West:
The finals are in the books and finals are set at the 2018 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) West Championships at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix.
The four-day tournament features teams of elite players in the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 age groups, from the West Region, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Six State Associations had teams in the finals and Cal South went into the semifinals leading the way with eight teams. Cal South emerged victorious in six finals. Washington, Cal North, and Utah each had three teams, Arizona had two teams while New Mexico had one.
2018 US Youth Soccer ODP West Championships are:
2001 Boys | Utah 01
2001 Girls | Cal South 01
2002 Boys | Cal South 02
2002 Girls | Washington 02
2003 Boys | Arizona 03
2003 Girls | Cal South 03
2004 Boys | Cal South 04
2004 Girls | Washington 04
2005 Boys | Cal South 05
2005 Girls | Cal South 05
Match Highlights:
2001 Boys
Ryen Jiba scored the game’s only goal in the 20th minute to give Utah a 1-0 win over Cal South. Jiba’s goal was his fifth of the event and put him in a tie for the second most goals in the age group. The early Utah goal was complimented by some tough defense to help seal the 2001 Boys title for Utah.
2001 Girls
In the 2001 Girls age group, Cal South edged out Cal North 1-0, to win the title. Nayeli Diaz’s fifth goal in the first half ended up being all the offense needed to give Cal South the victory. With the shutout victory, Cal South’s defensive effort helped it finish the event without allowing a single goal.
2002 Boys
A Cal South team that had kept any opponents from scoring faced off in the 2002 Boys final against an Arizona side that had scored 17 goals through its first four games. At the end of regulation and overtime play, Cal South fought to keep its clean sheet and the game headed into kicks from the mark. Cal South bested Arizona from the spot to remain perfect through the event.
2002 Girls
Washington defeated Cal South in kicks from the mark to claim the 2002 Girls title. Kaylie Ronan put Cal South ahead in the 48th minute of play and it looked like her goal may be enough to claim the victory. Washington’s Grabiela Franco equalized in the 70th minute to send the game into overtime. The game proceeded to kicks from the mark after a scoreless overtime and Washington outlasted Cal South 5-4 to win the 2002 Girls title.
2003 Boys
In a close match up between the Utah and Arizona 2003 Boys, Arizona came away with a 1-0 win after outlasting Utah in kicks from the mark. Neither team scored in regulation and it took kicks from the mark to separate the sides. Arizona 2003 Boys won the title in 2016 and, after falling in the final last year, got the job done this year to regain their title.
2003 Girls
Cal South faced home side Arizona in the 2003 Girls final. Neither team found the back of the net during regulation and both defense held throughout overtime. The game headed to kicks from the mark and Cal South bested Arizona 3-1 from the spot to claim the 2003 Girls title. Cal South 2003 girls hold a perfect record leaving the tournament while also keeping a clean sheet during the event.
2004 Boys
Cal South ended their tournament in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 win over New Mexico. Stefano Brunetto put Cal South ahead in just the 9th minute of play to set the tone for the game. Luis Lima added two goals within two minutes in the 40th and 41st minute to give Cal South a 3-0 lead. The California side continued to pull away when Oren Stuppel added the team’s fourth and then Brunetto added his second of the game. The goal tied Brunetto for age group leading goal scorer. Carlos Romero added a goal in the 70th minute bringing the game’s final score to 6-0.
2004 Girls
The 2004 Cal North girls only allowed one goal against the entire tournament but it came in the tournament final in a 1-0 loss against Washington. Washington’s Morgan Manalili finally solved the Cal North defensive puzzle with a goal in the 31st minute. The defense of Washington held strong through the rest of the game to earn them the 2004 Girls title.
2005 Boys
Cal South defeated Cal North in a battle of California side, 4-0, to earn the 2005 Boys title. Age group leading scorer Junior Verastegui scored a hattrick to help lead his team to victory. Verastegui score in the 5th minute to get the scoring started early and teammate Christopher Del Angel double the advantage to make it 2-0. Verastegui added his second in the 26th minute and then completed his hattrick in the 58th minute. The hattrick gives Verastegui nine goals for the event making him the age group leading goal scorer.
2005 Girls
Cal South used two first half goals and some tough defense to guide it to a 2-0 victory over Utah in the 2005 Girls final. Cassie Villaneuva scored in the seventh minute to play and Maribel Flores double the advantage just six minutes later to give Cal South a commanding lead early. Cal South’s defense did the rest, keeping Utah off the scoreboard to give Cal South the 2-0 win.
Source: US Youth Soccer Press Release – for more information, please visit ODP
