US Youth Soccer Region 1 2001 Boys ODP team places 4th of 36 in Italy Tournament
(Via US Youth Soccer) – The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) Boys Region I 2001 team recently completed a trip to Italy to participate in the Piccole Grandi Squadre Tournament. Region I netted a top-four finish in a tournament that featured 36 teams with European youth national teams, as well as academy teams from prestigious clubs in Italy among the field.
Players were selected after being evaluated in an ODP tournament and ID camp last summer, as well as at the US Youth Soccer ODP Thanksgiving Interregional.
The team’s overall performance was highlighted by a 1-0 win over the Hungarian Youth National Team. Virginia’s Jack Ruddy scored the goal off a great cross from Pennsylvania West’s Nevin Baer with just two minutes left in the game. Connecticut’s Hunter Kochiss earned the shutout.
“We could not be more proud of this team both by their play on the field and how they represented us off the field,” said Keith Tabatznik, US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Region I Head Coach. “They played the 4-3-3 to perfection with excellent possession from the back and an increasing ability to create dangerous chances.”
Region I never suffered a defeat in regulation, as the squad was ultimately eliminated in penalty kicks. Region I also added a victory over eventual runner-up Genoa (Italy) in penalty kick thanks to three saves from Lorenzo Gordon of Virginia. Sampdoria (Italy) ended up winning the tournament with Juventus (Italy) rounding out the top-four with a third place finish.
US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Region I 2001 Roster
| State Association | First Name | Last Name |
| Eastern Pennsylvania | Nevin | Baer |
| Pennsylvania West | Griffin | Garrard |
| Virginia | Lorenzo | Gordon |
| Eastern Pennsylvania | Thomas | Hoy |
| Connecticut | Hunter | Kochiss |
| Eastern New York | Benjamin | Kogan |
| Eastern Pennsylvania | Michael | Kuczura |
| Virginia | Ryan | Levay |
| Connecticut | Mitchell | Lyons |
| Virginia | Dennis | Mensah |
| Vermont | Francis | Nardiello-Smith |
| Eastern New York | Daniel | Panto |
| London, UK | John | Poelzlbauer |
| Virginia | Alexander | Robles |
| Virginia | Jack | Ruddy |
| Virginia | Tyler | Smith |
| Virginia | Garrett | Socas |
| New Jersey | Christopher | Tiao |
“Defensively the team was also extremely strong, staying compact and applying collective pressure on opponents,” Tabatznik said. “In the entire tournament (7 games) we allowed just 1 goal and that came off a free kick.”
This team was coached by Eastern New York’s Jose Luis Rebay and assisted by Vermont’s Craig Stone. Both Pennsylvania West’s Garrard Griffin and Vermont’s Francis Nardiello-Smith scored four goals while Virginia’s Ryan Levay captained the squad.
