BRADENTON, Fla. - Last December, Gold Soccer Academy made a run to the semifinals of the Girls U-13 division at the Super Y League North American Finals. The team received a big boost from defender Sydney Waiters, who was recognized as an All-Tournament performer in the U-13 Girls division.

Waiters is one of the players taking part in the Super Y League ODP National Camp this week at the IMG Academy. Her coach in the Super Y League, Todd Goodman, is also coaching at the camp, and was very happy that Waiters had the opportunity to get the experience.

“I think it’s going to be a wonderful experience for her,” Goodman said. “Obviously, it’s a high level of play. It’s going to give her an opportunity to get out of her comfort zone, be exposed to some different training methods, some different ideas and voices, and possibly play some different positions. Just the whole experience is going to be great for her.”

Waiters played the full game in her team’s IMG Cup opener on Friday, helping the team to a 3-1 victory.

“I thought it was pretty nice. Everything here is at a top level, and I enjoy that a lot,” she said.

O’CALLAHAN RELISHING SECOND FLORIDA EXPERIENCE: After excelling at the SYL North American Finals in December, midfielder Meagan O’Callahan is happy to be back at the IMG Academy for the ODP National camp.

O’Callahan was part of the Valkyries FC team that reached the U-13 Girls final, and she was one of several players from the club named to the All-Tournament Team.

“It was just really different with all the people watching, and I knew there were college coaches around, and it was my first-ever college showcase, and it was just really exciting,”O’Callahan said.

With her second trip to Florida, she is looking forward to playing in front of more college coaches, and continuing to work on her game.

“I like to work on my passing and moving, and always being in the play, and flowing, and always just getting the ball whenever I can and talking a lot,” she said.

O’Callahan scored her team’s only goal in its IMG Cup opener, which ended in a 3-1 defeat.

CAMPAGNA RETURNS TO SITE OF TITLE: Noah Campagna is carrying positive memories of his December trip to the IMG Academy, when his U-15 Ottawa Fury FC team won the title at the SYL North American Finals.

“It was great,” Campagna said of the Finals victory. “We came here the last three years, and finally getting to win it. It was just great to have a big ending, and all the work we put in, it was just satisfying.”

Campagna is back in Bradenton again for the ODP National Camp, and he was impressive in his team’s 2-1 victory to open the IMG Cup, contributing a nice assist on the second goal.

“It was the first time playing with the team. Everyone is high quality, so it’s good to play with so many players of high quality,” Campagna said.

As for the rest of the week, the attacking midfielder is happy to play with and against strong competition.  “I want to see how I compare to other players across the U.S., and also if there are any scouts, or any opportunities I can pursue after this,” he said.  

DE LA CRUZ BEATS SNOWSTORM: A major snowstorm in the northeast cancelled a number of flights out of New York City, but FA Euro defender Josh De la Cruz was prepared, and did not allow the weather to prevent him from making it to the Super Y League National ODP Camp.

He and a teammate changed their flights to leave a day early in order to participate, and De la Cruz is happy to have the opportunity to take part in the camp.

De la Cruz mentioned tactics and positioning as two areas he was hoping to work on this week in Florida before returning home to New York. His side dropped its IMG Cup opener 2-1, but he was very active as a right back for much of the game.