The finishing touches were put on the U.S. U14 Boys National ID Camp this past weekend, with the rookie players getting in one more round of scrimmages before heading back to their respective clubs.

It was a successful week of learning for the youngsters, evaluation for the coaches and strong competition for everyone involved.

Match of the Day

Some of the highlights from the concluding action included a nifty goal from striker Haji Wright who helped lead his squad despite a 2-1 defeat.

Wright teamed with the likes of Derek Waldeck, Joseph Schmidt, Haji Adbikadir, David Loera, Javier Cortez, Trey Vinson and Juan Riley.

The opposing side, however, had a little too much firepower. Particularly striker Lagos Kunga, who would prove to be the best player on the field on this day. Kunga didn’t just combine speed and power to make lethal runs – he always made the right play.

His early activity on the left side led to two quick touches and an eventual goal from Dawson McCartney to tie the match 1-1.  

But Kunga was far from the only standout on his side. Fellow striker Cristian Villalobos teamed with Kunga to create chaos. Villalobos would net the second score right in front of the goal on a play set up by McCartney.  

Lasting Impressions

So who were the top stars from the week? Well, there were quite a few, but here were some of our personal favorites (in no particular order):

Forward Sean Teixeira: He knows how to put the ball in the net; and more importantly, he knows how to get into the right positions to do so. Teixeira, of New York Soccer Club, is a left-footed player who is active off the ball and seemed to regularly find himself in the mix during camp.

Forward Christian Pullsic: One of the smaller players in camp but he played completely undeterred. Pullsic makes things happen when he’s on the field, plain and simple. The PA Classics prospect showed he can succeed in combining with teammates or running straight at defenders.   

Midfielder Deihnia Sarnor: He’s a blur with the ball. Sarnor, of the Columbus Crew, is one of the rare players who can kick it into another gear with the ball at his feet. A handful to defend.

Defender Trey Vinson: Vinson is more physically mature than most of his peers and it gives him a distinct advantage. He also appears at ease in transferring the ball from the back and plays with good composure.

Goalkeeper Abraham Romero: Romero was tested during a couple competitive scrimmages and he passed with flying colors. A Cosmos Academy West player, Romero has quick hands and good awareness in the net.

Midfielder Eric Calvillo: As cool as an ice chest in the North Pole. Calvillo is comfortable with the ball – even in traffic – and he makes a lot of sound decisions. The Real So Cal standout has a natural quality to his game.   

Defender Kees Westra: This Snohomish United player isn’t afraid to mix it up. He’s strong and tough and wins a lot of 50-50 balls that may go unnoticed but add up to positive plays for his team.  

Forward Nathan De la Hoya: This Dallas Solar FC striker is a really skilled passer. He looks to distribute first and has a knack for it, displaying great touch and precision.

Forward Ethan Lotenero: Another very poised attacker who played with a calm the entire week. He’s reliable with the ball and good in tight space.

Forward Christian Villalobos: Very active up front and a player who plays with purpose. He arrived from Albertson SC and had a particularly good showing in the final day’s scrimmage.

Forward Lagos Kunga: Combines graceful athletic runs with steady decision-making. A very lethal player who is hard to defend 1v1 and is highly capable of scoring or creating for his teammates.