Finals take shape at the 2018 US Youth Soccer ODP West Championships
The Olympic Development Program provides an amazing opportunity for youth soccer players to improve their skills and compete against their peers. The US Youth Soccer ODP West Championships is an exciting experience for all who participate and a goal for those to strive for who were not invited!
Here is the latest update from US Youth Soccer on the ODP West:
The semifinals are in the books and finals are set at the 2018 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) West Championships at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix. The four-day tournament features teams of elite players in the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 age groups, from the West Region, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Six State Associations have teams in the finals.
Cal South leads the way with eight teams.
Washington, Cal North, and Utah each have three teams, Arizona has two teams while New Mexico has one.
Semifinal Highlights:
2001 Boys
Group A’s Oregon came back twice to earn a 2-2 score at the end of regulation against Cal South. Cal South’s Jaylen Magana put his team up in the 31st minute of play but Oregon’s Andrew Boyle answered just six minutes later. Cal South looked to have the game in hand when Daniel Martinez scored in the 79th minute but Oregon once again answered back. Edson Jimenez-Sutton scored just a minute later to level the score once again. Oregon’s comeback attempt fell short as Cal South topped the team in kicks from the mark to advance to the final.
In the other 2001 Boys semifinal, Utah earned a 5-3 victory over Arizona. Ryen Jiba put Utah up in just the 7th minute of play to give his team an early lead. Arizona finally got on the scoreboard late in the first half thanks to Abraham Casillas. Arizona took a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Gerik Jakubowski and Adrian Burruel but the lead didn’t last. Utah’s Ellis Spikner added two goals and then Ryen Jiba added two more to complete his hat-trick to bring the final score to 5-3.
2001 Girls
Cal South defeated Utah 1-0 thanks to a Mia Wood goal in the 8th minute to seal its spot in the final. Through four games, Cal South has managed to keep any of its opponents from scoring.
Cal South will face-off against Cal North who needed kicks from the mark to defeat Eastern Washington. The game’s two goals both came in the first half of play. Eastern Washington took the lead in the 26th minute when Kaeri Ward scored but just two minutes later Cal North equalized thanks to Erin Brown. Cal North carried that momentum into kicks from that mark and will now face Cal South in the final.
Cal North vs Cal South …. who will win?
2002 Boys
In an all Arizona semifinal, Arizona defeated its Arizona Wildcard counterparts, 3-0. Ruben Osorio put his side up in the 12th minute and then Cameron Chambers doubled the advantage in the 30th minute. Osorio added his second goal early in the second half to guide his team to the 3-0 win.
Cal South will face Arizona after it defeated New Mexico 2-0 to continue its perfect record. Jose Madrigal scored his team’s first-half goal and teammate Brotischi Miles added an early second-half goal to bring the final to 2-0.
2002 Girls
Washington ended Arizona’s winning streak with a close 1-0 victory. After a scoreless first half, Washington’s Brooke Schultz found the back of the net with what would be the game-winning goal. Washington held off an Arizona offense that had scored 16 goals through it’s three preliminary games.
Cal South will face Washington in the final after defeating Utah 3-2 in the other 2002 Girls semifinal. Cal South shot out to an early lead when Mia Guerro scored in just the 3rd minute of play. Kaylie Ronan made it 2-0 in the 28th minute to give Cal South a big edge heading into halftime.
Utah stormed out in the half and leveled the score with goals by Josie Shepherd and Lily Haskins. It looked like the game may go the distance but Angelina Espinal scored in the 76th minute to give Cal South the win.
2003 Boys
Arizona defeated a previously perfect Washington team, 2-0, on the way to earning a spot in tomorrow’s final. Ethan Pham scored the game’s lone first-half goal in the 11th minute and teammate Jaxon Reinhardt scored in the second half to give Arizona the 2-0 win.
Utah defeated a 3-0 Cal South 1-0 thanks to Nicolas Kendi Bellini’s second goal of the tournament. Bellini’s goal in the 30th minute of the game was the first goal scored against Cal South all tournament and send Utah into the final.
2003 Girls
Cal South remains perfect after defeating Cal North in kicks from the mark. Cal South took the lead in 31st minute thanks to Aliza Corona. The goal sent Cal South into halftime with the lead but Cal North battled back in the second half.
Kylie Hummel added her third goal of the tournament in the 60th minute to equalize.
It took kicks from the mark to separate the sides and, with the win, Cal South heads to the final to face Washington.
Washington earned a 1-0 win over Arizona to keep its record perfect and punch its ticket to the final. Caroline Penner’s goal in the 43rd minute was enough offensively and Washington’s defense did its job to seal the 1-0 victory.
2004 Boys
New Mexico defeated Nevada 4-2 to keep its record perfect in the tournament and move into the final. New Mexico has now scored 14 goals while allowing just three. New Mexico’s win punches its ticket into the final where it will face Cal South.
Cal South’s 2-1 win over Arizona earns it a place in the final and keeps its record perfect. Arizona came into the match having played a play-in game early in the day against Hawaii where it won 6-1 but could not earn a second victory in the day.
2004 Girls
Washington advanced to the semifinals as a wildcard team but used that chance to defeat Group B leaders, Cal South, 3-1. Washington’s Sinead Duffy scored in the 35th minute to put her team up but Gritsey Ramirez scored for Cal South just five minutes later to equalize.
Washington sealed the deal in the second half with goals from Halle Fletcher and Lily Paulson to bring the final score to 3-1. Fletcher’s goal gives her six so far in the tournament.
Cal North, defeated Utah, 1-0 to, keep its clean sheet streak going
Cal North clearly punched its ticket into the 2004 final. Zoe Shepherd scored the game’s lone goal in the 47th minute and her team did their part to hold Utah off the scoreboard to earn the victory.
2005 Boys
Cal North remains perfect in the event after a 4-1 victory over New Mexico. Cal North took the lead in just the 3rd minute thanks to Christopher Coquilla fourth goal of the event. Brody Mendez increased the lead to 2-0 giving Cal North a 2-0 lead into halftime.
New Mexico pulled one back with a Shane Pierson but Cal North quickly shut the door on a comeback chance. Cal North immediately answered just a minute later with a Osvaldo Real goal and then Michael Villasenor added a final goal in the 71st minute.
Cal South defeated Arizona 3-0 to set up an all California final. Junior Verastegui scored the game’s lone first-half goal and then added another in the 61st minute to give Cal South a 2-0 lead. Justin Torres added the team’s third goal just eight minutes later to bring the final score to 3-0.
2005 Girls
Cal South defeated Cal North, 3-1, to punch its ticket into the 2005 Girls final. Cal South flexed its offensive firepower by scoring three goals on a Cal North team who had not allowed a goal all event. Cal South heads into the final with 13 goals for and only two against.
Utah will join Cal South in the final thanks to a 1-0 victory over Hawaii.
Sadie Beardall scored her sixth goal of the event and the Utah defense held strong to push the team into the final. Utah will be looking for redemption in the final as it lost to Cal South 3-0 in group play.
Source: US Youth Soccer Press Release
