The inaugural US Club Soccer NPL Boys Showcase kicked off Friday in Las Vegas, NV. Here are a few highlights from day one.

MORE COVEARGE: Day 1 Top Performers

 

U16 Dynamo 97/98 B Gold vs. U16 LV Neon 98 Academy 0 - 0 

With the wind to their back, LV Neon started off strong.

Their relentless defense and a second coach on the field in the form of a vocal goalkeeper, Nishesh Yadav, helped Neon keep their composure.

No matter how hard the Dynamos tried to make it through, the Neon's were there to stop the play.

Several attempts were made by Neon's left defender, James Drye, to put the ball in the back of the net using his powerful left foot but none were successful.

The play was aggressive throughout the entire game with several in air challenges.

And eventhough Neon had the majority of the possessionthey were unable to get past the Dynamos defense.

Both teams worked as hard to keep their shutout as they did to score, but this back and forth game ended in a 0 - 0 draw.

 

U16 Colorado Storm Royal vs. U16 Prestige 98 Gold 0 - 3 

The wind began to pick up as these teams stepped onto the field.

Prestige 98 Gold began the domination the minute the whistle blows.

With the kickoff advantage, Prestige occupied the attacking third for majority of the first half that lead to the first of two goals by Riley Holbrook.

His defensive run from his position at left defender begin the offensive drive.

With strong players in the attacking third like Donovan Guzman and Hunter Loomis the play kept its fast pace.

Defensive midfielder for the Colorado Storm Royal, Ryan Eddings, had several attempts at the goal but no support from his teammates to finish.

Late in the first half a beautiful shot went into the left corner of the goal off the left foot of Prestige's Ethan Rohlf to end the half with Prestige up 2 - 0.

The final goal came late in the second half again by Holbrook.

The Prestige's ball control and ability to open up the first is just that, prestigious.

 

U16 SLSG Metro vs. U16 Diablos 97B 0 - 0 

From the first whistle, Diablos 97B was in it for the win.

An immediate breakaway by Diablos' Christopher Finlez almost lead to the first score of the match.

Finlez and his right wing counterpart, Kevin Mendez, proved to be the dynamic duo.

With a 20 yard attempt, Mendez proved he was a force to be reckoned with.

SLSG Metro picked up the pace with a flurry of dangerous defensive runs by Jared Hamann, but despite his attempts none met the back of the net.

The Diablos defense was impenetrable with the presence of two strong backs, Caleb Michael and Miles Youngblood.

Youngblood saved his team numerous times with his powerful right foot and impressive ball skills.

Metro's defense was surrounded by an aggressive defender, Zachary Hall, who commanded the center field and claimed every airborne ball as his clearing them away from the back of the field.

The defense of both teams made it impossible for the offense to get in the back of the net resulting in a shutout draw for both teams.

 

U16 Sockers FC vs. COSC 97 Boys Red 0 - 1 

This game was a close one, with the only goal scored within the first five minutes of play.

Fisayo Oiukanni of the COSC 97 Boys Red had the sole goal of the match, a beautiful left footed shot to the back of the net.

With constant crisp and clean passing, COSC controlled posession for majority of the game.

The few attempts made on goal were stopped by an acrobatic keeper, Brian Leyva, who let his presence be known even from down field.

The powerhouses of COSC came in the form of Juan Rocha, an amazingly fast and agile left midfielder, paired with Luis Morales whose vision of the field was spot on and his passes always found the right player.

In the second half, the Sockers FC tried to hustle and come back for the win but with missed shots and a barrage of fouls, they were unable to compete with the speed of COSC.