Matchday 1 at the Chula Vista id2 camps treated viewers to a glut of goals. The movement and build-up play of girls and boys was a good reminder that the U.S. and its coaches are committed to creating a more technical and cerebral minded player to go along with the never-say-die attitude which the senior teams often rely on a bit too much.

Girls Match #1 TEAM 5 (GREEN) v. TEAM 7 (Yellow)

Team 5: Madison Ayson, Mia Fishel, Isabella McBride, Kaitlin Zareno, Marissa Arias, Laney Carroll, Isabela Ochoa, Jadenn Carrillo, Natalie Massa, Maya Doms, Emma Viquez, Sophie Jones, Olivia Scheper, Bella Beltran, Sydney Hopkins, Rebekah Valdez

Team 7: Victoria Barnett, Ellie Podojil, Diana Ordonez, Hannah Bebar, Rebekah George Jayden Shinn, Shyann McClary, Emily Chiao, Jill Watson, Hannah Arostegui

GKs (Rotate Teams): Alexis Cordero, Nicole Shulman, Wynter Hatcher, Taylor Rowe

The first match of the Chula Vista id2 camp treated viewers to a goalfest as Team 5 and Team 7 split 10 goals between them. It was an impressive display of smart runs and good ball movement, combined with top class finishing.

Yellow started the game on the front foot, holding the lions share of possession with Hannah Bebar running the show in the center of the park. 

The Galaxy Soccer Club (Illinois) midfielder was combining well with forward Victoria Barnett while Ellie Podojil was demonstrating her strength up top. 

Barnett showed she had the eye for the killer pass as well when she deftly lifted the ball over a defender for Bebar who’s chance for a goal was disrupted by a last ditch tackle.

Minutes later Bebar scored the first goal with a powerful finish.

Podojil was next on the scoresheet with a real poachers goal, reacting fastest after Team 5’s keeper spilled a cross to give team 7 a two-nil lead. 

Bebar was working well in the center of midfield with Shyann Mcclary as the two were creating the right angles for each other, opening the space for their forwards up top and creating channels for the wingers and outside backs to exploit.

It was the strikers, however, who combined to give Yellow a three goal lead as Barnett split the defense with a delightful through ball. Podojil latched onto it and rounded the keeper before touching the ball into the empty net. 

Despite Green’s defensive frailties, Laney Carroll was a strong presence on the left side. Her control in possession and movement down the flank was catalyst for Team 5’s revival. She started the comeback by winning the ball, countering at pace and timing her release to perfection as she found the speedy Mia Fishel who crossed over for Kaitlin Zareno to bring Team 5 back into the game with a confident finish.

As Green grew into the game it allowed Fishel to showcase not just her speed, but here ability to pick out the right run. Operating down the center, Fishel lulled her defenders to sleep before drifting out to the right hand side. It was from there she received a pass and got behind the back line before crossing for Maya Doms who did well to take her time and pick out her spot.

The two goal lead was restored as Team 7 responded straight from the resulting kick-off. Podojil outwitted the outside trap and Bebar slipped her in with a gorgeous slide rule pass. Podojil calmly slotted the ball past the keeper for the game’s 6th goal.

Team 5 made sure not to let the game get away from them as Carroll got forward with gusto once again. The Legends FC product cruised to the byline before centering for Zareno to smash home her second goal of the game.

Zareno had two chances to complete a first half hat trick, after being played in on a gorgeous through ball by Doms and then getting on the end of a cross, but both efforts were put straight into the arms of the keeper.

Diana Ordonez had a chance to add one more for Team 7 on the stroke of halftime, but her shot cannoned off the crossbar. This followed great work by Bebar who received the ball and turned masterfully before releasing 32 with another inch-perfect pass.

Team 5 found the equalizer just after the restart as Fishel was at the hart of every green wave. The San Diego native who is in the U-14 U.S. Women’s National team pool rose highest to flick a corner kick to the back post where it was stabbed home.

Team 5 found themselves in the lead. Fishel chased down a back-pass and dispossessed the keeper before unselfishly sliding the ball over for Zareno to complete her hat-trick with a composed finish. The The Crescenta Valley Soccer Club forward took her time to let defenders run past her before picking out the open part of the net.

The comeback could have been sealed for good moments later but Team 7 keeper Nicole Shulman made a tremendous double save.

Shulman’s heroics proved important. At the other end, Ordonez picked the pocket of her defender before smashing the ball over the keeper’s head to spare Team 7’s blushes and steal a share of the proverbial spoils. 

 

Girls Match #2 TEAM 6 (GREEN) v. TEAM 8 (Yellow)

Team 6: Marli Berry, Brooke Berdan, Lilli Rask, Emma Hiscock, Aubrey Lechlider, Kalyssa  Van Zanten, Jaelyn Eisenhart, Kylie Minamishin, Sarah Piper, Summer Yates, Kaya Frazier, Taylor Tufts, Aurrora Yarnell, Mattie Murphy, 

Team 8: Clem Macy, Kendall Ingersoll, Hailea York, Sydney Issa, Anisley Ahmadian, Zia Makhathini, Lilian Lucas, Alison Whitaker, Emma Schuppe, Katelyn Penner, Grace Kelley, Mary Lynn McLeod, Christin Baumbick, Skylar Herrera

GKs (Rotate Teams): Alexis Cordero, Nicole Shulman, Wynter Hatcher, Taylor Rowe

Under the guidance of the formidable Tricia Taliaferro, team 6 played a composed and possession oriented game that proved to be too much for Team 8.

As impressive as their passing, was Team 8’s movement off the ball. Especially from Kalyssa Van Zanten who’s constant running confused the defender’s in the yellow shirts. 

It didn’t take long for Team 6’s rhythm to have a bit of a beat to it. Taylor Tufts played a ball into the danger area for Van Zanten. The Chicago native showed great composure to hold off her defender before sliding the ball beyond the keeper.

It didn’t take Van Zanten long to have her brace. This time, the Chicago Magic striker neatly brought down a flighted ball, turned her defender and passed the ball into the side netting with the coolness and serenity of an Alax Morgan.

Emma Hiscock almost made it three-nil as she carved open Team 8 with a knifing run right down the throat of the defense before unleashing a ferocious drive that dipped just under the crossbar, but the keeper was able to beat it away.

Team 8’s difficulties were a result of trying to play the difficult ball. Looking for the stylish pass in the air, rather than the simple 10 yard pass along the ground. The balance of play shifted as soon as the yellows simplified the game. 

The change in style led to a brilliant sequence of five quick passes that ended at the feet Katelyn Penner right on the top of the box. Penner struck the ball well, but her effort was always rising. 

The tide began to turn and yellow were creating chances, but the halftime whistle allowed Team 6 to regroup, just as Team 8 was looking like getting back into the game.

Team 6 came flying out of the gate in the 2nd half. Jaelyn Eisenhart was setting the tone with her constant movement throughout midfield. the pride of Heat FC was popping up in pockets of space to create shooting opportunities for herself. This was due to the fact that Green’s pressure was so high up the field and so efficient that Team 8 could barely get out of its own third.

It wasn’t Eisenhart, but rather Mattie Murphy who found the games third goal as she took the open space in the middle and received a pass with a quality turn, before smacking her shot into the corner.

Yellow settled back into the game and got back into it as well when Zia Makhathini cut inside her defender and brought down a cross with a velvet touch. Her first shot cannoned off the keeper, but she was on hand to stab home the rebound. 

Any thoughts of a revival were killed instantly as Team 6 scored less than a minute after the kickoff. Hiscokc finished off a quick three pass move with a rasping drive following a neat layoff from Marli Berry. 

Team 6 finished off the match with another quality passing move. Once again, high pressure led to a turnover and Tufts found Summer Yates to ensure the match finished with 5-1 score-line. 

“We’re being able to identify some technical players and some better soccer minded players,” said id2 Girls Associate Director and Team 6 head coach, Tricia Taliaferro. “I felt like green was able to possess, knock it around. They had some gamesmanship as far as changing the point [of attack] and keeping possession higher up the field.” 

“We are looking for talent, technical players with good insight, the ability to read the game, with personality and obviously the physical attributes necessary to play with the national team or internationally with the id2 team," says id2 coachv Benjamin Ziemer.

 

Boys Match #1 TEAM 1 (GREEN) v. TEAM 3 (Yellow) 

Team 1: Cameron Orr, Grady Easton, Isaac Torres, Andres Labate, Chase Marion, Ernie Aguilera, Antonio Lopez, Donovan Praslin, Ethan Valenti, Leo Alvarez, Evan Davila, 

Team 3: Owen Mears, Kevin Carmichael, Brandon Stoliar, Mario Penagos, Bryson Hankins, Wasi Odegaard, Maximilian Goeggel, Cole Fontenelle, Gonzalo Solorio, Adam Saldana, Aldair Sanchez, Marco Millan, 

GKs (Rotate Teams): Carlos Leon, Maclean Learned, Ashton Murga, Nate Kim, Joseph Diaz Sarabia

Behind stellar performances from Mario Penagos, Gonzalo Solorio and four goals by Bryson Hankins, Team 3 proved to be too much for Team 1 as the gents in the Yellow bibs ran out 5-2 winners. 

Maximilian Goeggel opened the scoring for Team 3 with a close range finish after Yellow bulldozed its way right through the heart of green’s defense. Gonzalo Solorio had a part to play in the high pressure paying off. The midfielder needed to step out after receiving a bloody nose for jumping in front of an attempted clearance to keep the attack alive in the buildup. 

Green looked to be up for the fight. Antino Lopez and Leo Alvarez were looking dangerous in the midfield and the two linked up for an instant reply. Lopez held the ball and released a gorgeous pass into the path of Alvarez who used a delayed run to outwit  yellow’s high defensive line. Alvarez sent a stinging drive that dipped wickedly inside the far post, leaving the keeper with no chance.

From then on out it was the Hankins show in terms of goal scoring, but he had a star studded supporting cast. 

Goeggel turned provider for the second goal as he won the ball in the center circle and played a quick combination through the midfield before sliding the ball through for Hankins to smash home his first goal and yellow’s second. 

The two would link up moments later. Goeggel made another strong drive through the midfield and was brought down by the second defender after beating the first challenger with a “helicopter.” Goeggel had the presence of mind to jump up set the ball down and play a pinpoint pass for Hankins to claim his brace with an electrifying finish. All before Green could even think about setting up to defend the set-piece. 

Two turned into three for Hankins, but once again it was a clever combination of passes which opened the door for the striker to claim the glory. Solorio showed no ill effects from the previous blow he received to the face as he played a quick one two with Hankins who took the space and his chance, with minimum fuss.

Hankins would claim his fourth from a corner kick won by the industrious work of left back Aladair Sanchez. The defender would take the corner himself, finding Hankins at the back post to round off a four star performance with a well placed downward header.

On the other flank, right midfielder Mario Penagos was quickly becoming Super Mario. Penagos showed his dribbling skills and passing range in the first half, twice linking up with left winger Wasi Odegaard to create genuine goal scoring opportunities.   

In the second half Penagos played with a touch of class and maturity that belied his young age. Twice he brought the ball down with Berkampesque like touches. This was sandwiched in between a moment of genius as Penagos cut in to receive a pass. The winger took a quick look up and noticed the keeper off his line before chipping him from well outside the area. 

Team 1 never stopped fighting and were rewarded for their persistence when Alvarez got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Chase Marion to grab a consolation goal.

Despite the disparity in the score-line, there were still plenty of bright spots for Team 1. Not only were Lopez and Alvarez dangerous in the center of the park, but Andres Labate showed he has the tools to be a complete player. Despite being listed as a forward, Labate started the game at right back and not only was solid in one on one situations, but his distribution out of the back was solid. In the second half he switched to center back where a much more organized defense conceded only two goals. One from a dead ball situation and the other a moment of magic. 

 

Boys Match #2 TEAM 2 (Yellow) v. TEAM 4 (Green)

Team 2: Hunter Hanes, Vincent Fucetola, Maximus Dattoli, Aaron Edwards, Abraham Covarrubias, Evan Schoer, Erik Centeno, Felipe Medina, Luis F Rivera Valles, Luis Raul Toledo, David Montes

Team 4: Hayden Sargis, Alexis Rodriguez, Jovani Casillas, Ryan Rasmussen, Dominic Vega, Brogan Townsend, Romario Quintero, Emmet Bowler, Caden Long, Kevin Welch, Cameron Dunbar, Daniel Rocha Mendez

GKs (Rotate Teams): Carlos Leon, Maclean Learned, Ashton Murga, Nate Kim, Joseph Diaz Sarabia 

Team 4 ended the day’s matches with a five star performance to defeat team 2 by a 5-1 score-line.

It all looked so different as Team 2 opened the scoring early. Aaron Edwards received the ball on the right side about 40 yards from goal. He looked up to see the goalkeeper in “no man’s land” and sent the ball soaring over his head.

The instant reply was almost forthcoming as Jiovani Casillas played a defense splitting pass to Dominic Vega who would put his effort just wide. It was more than a mere warning shot, but rather a sign of things to come.

Yellow continued to look comfortable, however, with the diminutive Felipe Medina showing that good technique and a quick mind can be just as deadly as size and strength. Medina showed an ability to navigate his way out of traffic, whether it be with silky combination play, smooth passes, or an exhibition of dribbling in tight spaces. 

Just behind him, Luis Raul Toledo was spraying mid to long range passes that not only reached their intended target, but looked to be the key to unlocking team four’s defense. 

Team 4 had a small cub that played like a lion of its own in Cameron Dunbar. It was the left outside midfielder who brought his side back into the game. Dunbar collapsed inside to help with the high pressure, won the ball, road two heavy challenges and cooly slid the ball just inside the far post.

Adam Saldana was next to find a way through Team 2’s defense with a through ball for Vega. This time, the forward made no mistake as he scored what would prove to be the game winner. It was a tidy finish, but questions have to be asked of the goalkeepers positioning. 

The match was sealed as high pressure from Casillas met with a lackadaisical moment from the keeper. The striker stepped in front of the clearance and then popped the lose ball into the empty net. 

Casillas and Vega continued to run Team 2’s defense ragged as the two were making smart runs off each other before playing the ball into the channels. The connection paid dividends as Casillas bagged his second in succession. It started with Vega slaloming through three players before releasing Casillas who blew by Hunter Hanes before catching the keeper at his near post with a well disguised toe poke.    

Ryan Rasmussen finished the scoring as, once again, a keeper was caught out of position and blushing. This time the lofted finish came from 25 yards out. 

While the likes of Casillas, Vega and Co. were taking the plaudits, it was the dirty work of players like Kevin Welch that allowed them to shine. The offensive minded players were allowed to focus on attacking because Welch closed down gaps and plugged holes by seeing the game a few steps ahead and being in the right positions at the right times. Throughout the match, Welch played outside-back, center-back and as defensive mid. Each time he was in the right spots to make a play or break up the attack. Once involved, Welch was tenacious in the tackle and simple in his pass. 

Team 4’s task was also made easier by the goal keeping of Maclean Learned. The most vocal of the keepers, Learned made good reaction saves, had a spectacular flying save and for the most part had his angles right, especially when making sure not to get beat at his near post. Questions still remain about his positioning at times, but with time on his side and the tools there, the future for him and all players look promising after day one of matches at the Chula Vista id2 camp.