US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional Day 2 Recap

Day 2 of 6
Schedules, Scores & Standings
Rosters: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003

BOCA RATON, Fla. (Via US Youth Soccer) — The annual US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional continued Monday in Boca Raton, Fla., as the 1999-2001 age groups competed on the second day of play.

For the second day in a row, college coaches and U.S. Soccer scouts filled the sidelines to watch some of the country’s top female soccer players compete. With the oldest players at the event in action, many of the athletes playing on Monday will be joining the college ranks in the coming years.

+Read: US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional Day 1 Recap

“The Olympic Development Program has always done a great job preparing players to play at the next level,” University of Michigan head coach Greg Ryan said. “The focus has been on development. You bring the best players together. They get to play with new players. It’s very much like what happens at college. They leave their club teams and friends they’ve played with forever and have to join a group of new friends and find out how to play together very quickly.”

The six-day tournament, which will take place Nov. 20-25 at Spanish River Athletic Park and Florida Atlantic University, features teams in the 1999-2003 age groups.

The nearly 400 participating 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.

Summary from Day 2:

1999s | Region II 3, Region IV 1
In the 1999 age group, Region II kicked off its week with a 3-1 win against Region IV. The teams spent the first half primarily in Region II’s attacking end, as the players from the Midwest squad kept Region IV keeper Zoe Clevely busy with continued attempts on goal. Region IV held strong until late in the half, when Region II’s Sarah LaFayette netted a pair of quick goals to put her side up, 2-0. LaFayette completed a hat trick in the 55th minute, as she received a pass in the box and slid her shot inside the far post to give Region II a 3-0 lead. Alicia Talancon found the back of the net shortly after to pull Region IV within two goals, but the Region II defense saw out the game and helped its team to the 3-1 win.

1999s | Region III 1, Region I 0
A late free kick helped the Region III 1999 squad come away with a 1-0 win over Region I. For much of the match, Region I created trouble for the Region III defenders but couldn’t manage to find the back of the net. Region III took advantage of its stingy defensive effort when it won a free kick just outside the 18-yard box 89th minute. Audrey Viso stood over the ball and drove her attempt just inside the left post for the game-winner, as Region III came away with the 1-0 victory.

+Read: NSCAA announces Youth All-Americans, Players of the Year (Girls)

2000s | Region I 2, Region II 0
A strong defensive effort helped Region I earn a shutout victory against Region II in the 2000 age group.  Region I pulled ahead in the 24th minute when Jenna Butler got up and headed a corner down and past the keeper. It took just seconds after halftime for Region I to double its advantage, as Michelle Money found the back of the net in the 46th minute. Those two goals proved to be more than enough, as Region I held on for the clean sheet and 2-0 victory.

2000s | Region III 1, U.S. U-14 GNT 4
The U.S. Under-14 Girls National Team earned 4-1 win over the Region III 2000 squad. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute when the team pounced on a rebound after a save from Region III keeper Samantha Estrada. The national team doubled its lead in the 33rd minute after a rebound another point-blank save from Estrada fell for a charging U.S. player, who finished into an open net. The U.S. added another one shortly before half to extend its advantage to 3-0. Julia Pack pulled the Region III team within two in the 47th minute with a well-placed volley that she placed into the left side-netting. However, the U.S. added a late insurance goal to come away with a 4-1 victory.

2001s | Region II 2, Region III 1
A pair of early goals from Kati Druzina helped the Region II 2001 side to a 2-1 win over Region III. Druzina opened the scoring in the fourth minute and pushed the Region II lead to 2-0 with a strike in the 24th minute. That lead held until the 68th minute, when Trescott Shamlou scored off of a long throw in to pull Region III within a goal. The Southern region team pushed for an equalizer over the final 10 minutes but couldn’t generate another goal, as Region II came away with the 2-1 win.

2001s | Region I 1, Region IV 0
In the 2001 age group, Region I put on a strong effort and came away with a 1-0 victory over Region IV. The first half featured some back-and-forth action, with Region I creating the best quality chances. As the game entered its final minutes, neither side had managed to break through. However, Region I grabbed a late winner when Brianna Jablonowski found the back of the net in the final five minutes to give her side the 1-0 victory.