US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Interregionals wrap up in Florida

Day 3 of 3
Rosters: 1997 | 1998 | 1999
Daily Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2

BRADENTON, Fla. (Via U.S. Youth Soccer) – The annual US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Boys Winter Interregional finished Sunday in Bradenton, Fla. with all age groups completing the action. The three-day tournament, which took place at IMG Academy featured elite boys teams in the 1997, 1998 and 1999 age groups from each of the four US Youth Soccer Regions.

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The players were selected from US Youth Soccer State Association and Regional level evaluations. Throughout the week, players will attend training sessions and compete in matches against other Regions, in front of U.S. Soccer national staff and collegiate coaches to maximize their exposure for selection to the next level of play.

With programs in all 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, US Youth Soccer ODP, the original Olympic development program, is available to any player. US Youth Soccer ODP is the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League, and the majority of current and past national and youth national team members, as alumni.

Highlights from Day 3:

1997 Boys: Region I v. Region III
Region I finished at the top of the 1997 standings after a 1-0 victory over Region III. Region I’s Matthew McCann scored the match’s only goal in the 34th minute, and Region I was able to hold on for the 1-0 victory.

1997 Boys: Region II v. Region IV
Region II took care of business against Region IV to slide into second place with a 2-0 victory. Antonio Williams broke the scoreless stalemate in the 50th minute, and 10 minutes later Jarrod Ronquillo doubled Region II’s lead for the 2-0 victory.

1998 Boys: Region I v. Region III
Region III jumped to first place in the standings by handing Region I its first loss of the tournament 3-2. Region III looked to be cruising after Tyler Dacaret scored the first two goals in the 13th and 40th minute respectively. Jerome Williams tacked on his second goal of the tournament in the 51st minute to give Region III a 3-0 lead. However, a Region III own goal merely two minutes later, and a Benjamin Dao goal in the 58th minute put Region I within striking distance, but Region III was able to hold off the late charge by Region I, and the match ended 3-2 Region III.

1998 Boys: Region II v. Region IV
Region II earned its first win of the tournament by defeating Region IV 2-1. A Region IV own goal gave Region II the early lead in the 24th minute, and Antonio Sanchez gave Region II a two goal lead four minutes later. Milo Barton cut Region II’s lead in half in the 39th minute, but it was to no avail as neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second half, and the match ended with a 2-1 Region II victory.

1999 Boys: Region I v. Region III
Region I and Region III came into today both at the top of the standings with four points, and it was Region III who took home the 1999 crown by defeating Region I 2-1. Edison Giron began the scoring for Region I in the 15th minute, but Region III was able to respond with Dante Brigida equalizing in the 36th minute. A draw looked to be in the future until Darius Lewis knocked in the game winner in the 72nd minute to give Region III the victory, and a first place finish.

1999 Boys: Region II v. Region IV
Region II finished off the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Region IV. Leroy Enzugusi began the scorying in the 11th minute to give Region II the early 1-0 lead. The score would remain that way for the majority of the match until Mitchell Hammer scored the equalizer in the 69th minute. Region II recovered as Lamondre Roumegoux scored the game winner and an insurance goal in the 73rd and 76th minute respectively to give Region II the 3-1 win.