ZAREPHATH, NEW JERSEY – The U15 Boys National Team split a pair of matches against teams from youth club PDA here at the PDA facility.

The U15 squad is split into 3 teams for the week. Two of three teams will play matches each night from Wednesday to Friday. A select team will then face a U17 Men’s National Team squad on Saturday (that group is also conducting a 40-person training camp here this week).

In the first match Wednesday evening, the U15 BNT rolled to a 7-1 win against PDA Ronaldo, a U15 side. In the 2nd match, the U15 BNT dropped a 1-0 decision to the PDA U16 Academy team.

In the opening match, Joel Salmeron and Bryan Celis each scored at least twice. The U15 BNT played well as a unit and moved well on and off the ball, playing through the midfield much of the time. This group is by most observers’ accounts the first unit of the squad, although there is no such official designation and this group played against the younger opponent on the night. The national team dominated possession, especially in the 2nd half.

As usual, defensive midfielder Atsouh Ayah was a dominant force. He looks to be an extraordinarily good player and shows a maturity beyond his years. Another standout on the night for the U.S. was defender Nathan Smith who was very composed and organized the back line.

Match One Lineups

PDA Ronaldo (U15)
Ethan Boclin, Jake Katz, Mike Fatsis, Ryan Dahan, Travis Cortez, Gino Collonelli, Mike Czyrnek, Bradley Raw, Phillip Reytan, Graham Smith, Josh Toribio, Connor Ventura, Sean Sheridan, Kevin McCarthy

U.S. U15 BNT
GK: Kendall McIntosh (Jacob Shenk)
D: Marc Pelosi, Nathan Smith, Matthew Dunn, Jerome Cristobal
M: Andrew Oliver, Atsouh Ayah, Christian Duarte, Ross Tetro
F: Joel Salmeron, Bryan Celis
Subs: Oscar Ortega, Mario Rodriguez, Ervin Gyjon, Jacob Shenk (GK) Andre Alvarez

In the 2nd match, the U.S. squad faced PDA’s playoff-bound USSF Developmental Academy team from the U16 age group. Johan Hernandez’s 35-yard volley late in 2nd half provided the margin of victory for the PDA team, usually coached by U15 BNT assistant Gerry McKeown.

The U.S. team in the 2nd match was not as athletic nor as cohesive of a unit. They didn’t get much of a flow going on offense and played too many longballs, especially in the first half. The match was also hampered a bit by driving rain.

On the other side, PDA’s defensive unit of Matthias Sheeleigh, David Westlake, Joseph Mineo and Kyle Roach (with Will Joels coming in for Roach at left back in the 2nd half) played quite well in limiting U.S. chances.

The brightest spot for the U.S. was perhaps 2nd half substitute Aldo Magano, who provided a bit of a spark and helped create some late chances for the U.S.

Match Two Lineups

PDA U16 Academy
Gk: Nicholas Cerrnoe
D: Joseph Mineo, Matthias Sheeleigh, David Westlake, Kyle Roach
M: Shaquille Hamilton, Scott Thomsen, Daniel Metzger, Derek Luke
F: Brandon Allen, Nathan Bruccoleri
Subs: Kyle Feather, Randy Falk, Johan Hernandez, Will Joels

U.S. U15 BNT
GK: Fernando Pina
D: Jalen Robinson (sweeper), Malcolm Harris (right), Andrew Chang (left), Travis Pillon (stopper)
M: Michael Gamble, Collin Martin, Erik Sa, Andre Reyes
F: Alberto Diaz, Ethan Decker
Subs: Joshua McNeely, Brody Hickey, Aldo Magano, Austin Yearwood, Ryan Masch, Melvin Snoh (Alejandro Guido was injured)

U.S. U15 BNT Head Coach Jim Barlow is being assisted at the camp by Tony Lepore, Rudy Fuller, Bryan Scales, Gerry McKeown and goalkeeper coach Charlie Inverso.

U15 BNT Roster by Position (Courtesy US Soccer):

GOALKEEPERS (4): Kendall McIntosh (Santa Rosa United; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Joshua McNeely (Real So Cal; Hidden Hills, Calif.), Fernando Pina (Texas Premier; Houston, Texas), Jacob Schenk (PDA; Watchung, N.J.)

DEFENDERS (12): Andre Alvarez (Santa Clara Sporting; Albany, Calif.), Andrew Chang (Sockers FC; Highland Park, Ill.), Jerome Cristobal (Vardar; Sterling Heights, Mich.), Malcolm Harris (Potomac; Damascus, Md.), Marc Pelosi (DeAnza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Travis Pillon (Mustang SC; Oakland, Calif.), Mykal Riley (Arsenal FC; Lake Elsinore, Calif.), Jalen Robinson (Bethesda SC; Catonsville, Md.), Michael Russo (Olney Rangers; McLean, Va.), Andrew Sounders (PSA; Amherst, Ohio), Nathan Smith (Cal Odyssey; Clovis, Calif.), Austin Yearwood (Charlotte SA; Charlotte, NC)

MIDFIELDERS (22): Atsou Ayah (Black Watch; Tampa, Fla.), Marco Carrizales (FC Dallas Juniors; Dallas, Texas), Maul Corboz (NJSA; Manahawkin, N.J.), Alberto Diaz (Aztecs Premier; Chula Vista, Calif.), Christian Duarte (Texas SC; League City, Texas), Matthew Dunn (PSA; Dallas, Texas), Alfred Edmonds (DeAnza Force; San Jose, Calif.), Michael Gamble (Baltimore Bays Chelsea; Columbia, Md.), Eric Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy Academy; Corona, Calif.), Alejandro Guido (Aztecs Premier; Chula Vista, Calif.), Irvin Gijon (Players Soccer Club; Las Vegas, Nev.), Brody Hickey (Dallas Texans; Plano, Texas), Collin Martin (DC United Academy; Chevy Chase, Md.), Ryan Masch (DeAnza Force; San Jose, Calif.), Oscar Ortega (Albion SC; San Ysidro, Calif.), Andre Reyes (Dallas Texans; Flower Mound, Texas), Joel Salmeron (Chicago Fire Academy; Cicero, Ill.), Erick Sanchez (Houston Dynamo Academy; Edinburg, Texas), Ross Tetro (NJSA 04; Marlboro, N.J.), Sebastian Velasquez (Los Alamitos Italia; Los Angeles, Calif.), John Villantoy (Met Oval; Masperth, N.Y.), Victor Zamora (Rockford Raptors; Rockford, Ill.)

FORWARDS (10): Bryan Celis (Texas Premier FC; Houston, Texas), Ethan Decker (NJSA 04; Green Brook, N.J.), Desmond Gonzalez (PSA; Miami, Fla.), Kellen Gulley (Mississippi Chicago Fire; Clinton, Miss.), Aldo Magano (SCYSO; Ontario, Calif.), Andrew Oliver (Westside United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Esteban Rodriguez (Italia Ill; Dell Gardens, Calif.), Mario Rodriguez (Rampage; North Hollywood, Calif.), Erik Sa (PDA; Watchung, N.J.), Melvin Snoh (Spirit United; Coatsville, Pa.)