Continuing its tradition of elite competition and player development, youth from the nation's top player identification program, US Youth Soccer ODP, trained and competed in front of national staff and collegiate coaches to maximize their exposure for selection to the next level of play. The 2013 US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Thanksgiving Interregional included players in the 2017-2019 graduation classes.

 

US Youth Soccer ODP is the nation's original player identification program. With programs in all 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, it is available to any player, regardless of hometown or club affiliation. US Youth Soccer ODP has continued its tradition of elite competition and player development for more than 30 years, and is the only development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League, and a majority of current and past national and youth national team members as alumni. To learn more, visit www.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/OlympicDevelopmentProgram.

 

 

The 2000 Boys from Region IV finished an undefeated weekend with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Region III. Jacob Bloomfeldt put the Region IV side up early when he found the back of the net in the 5th minute. That goal held up until the 48th minute, when Saul Tinoco scored for Region III to tie the game at 1-1. It appeared the match would end in a draw, but Region IV’s Bailey Zico and Tristan Weber each scored in the final minutes to give their side the 3-1 victory.

 

Defense controlled the 2000 Boys matchup between Region I and Region II, as the game ended in a scoreless tie. Each team had its chances, but neither side came up with the right final touch to break through with an opening goal. The game exemplified the age group’s competition in Arizona, as each game was tightly contested and none were decided by more than two goals.

 

Region III overcame an own goal to earn a 1-1 tie with Region IV in 1999 Boys action. The Region IV side took the lead shortly after halftime when the ball took an unfortunate bounce off a Region III player into his own goal. However, the Region III side leveled the score in the 50th minute when Aldo Quevedo found the back of the net for the second time in Arizona. Neither side managed to score a game-winner, as the match ended in a 1-1 tie.

 

Region II used a good first half of play to earn its first win of the event, as it defeated Region I, 2-0, on Monday. Samuel Lee opened the scoring for Region II in the 11th minute, and Protus Babaya doubled the lead with a strike in the 28th minute. The Region II defense did the rest, as they held off Region I throughout the second half and came away with the shutout victory.