Super Y-League News Release
Sunday, February 24, 2013
BRADENTON, Fla. - The 2013 Super Y-League Boys ODP National Camp concluded on Sunday afternoon at IMG Academy with the top performers from the week of training and scrimmages facing off in the Select Team scrimmages. VSI Pinellas' Oswald Francis capped his weekend with the only goal in the U15/16 Select scrimmage, giving the Select 'A' squad victory against their Select 'B' counterparts.
"All of the coaches in the 15/16s, every one of those coaches were college coaches at outstanding schools, so to hear them say the level really impressed them was pleasing," USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor said.
In the final scrimmage, the Select 'B' side had the better of the opening half as their midfield carried much of the play. Super Nova FC standout Zebulun Cross created the first good opportunity in the eighth minute, stepping up to win possession before creating space for a shot from 25 yards that was parried to safety. Cross came close again moments later, only to shoot over.
West Pines Strikers midfielder Jean Orvil also had a good first half, and played a clever pass to release Nikolas Touros of the New York Magic - F.A. Euro, only for the shot from the left to slice wide. Select 'A' goalkeeper Greg O'Connell of the Westchester Flames then had to come off his line sharply to deny an effort by the Chicago Fire's Asanti Herring after a good through-ball by Ironbound SC's Dylan Santos.
The Select 'A' team had one good opportunity before the break as Southern Soccer Academy's Tyler Edwards drove a fierce shot just wide of the right post. As the second half moved on, however, the 'A' team began to gain more control, and it could have taken the lead in the 48th minute when Edwards' fired another good shot that was parried, only for Aidan Cronin to send the rebound over the crossbar.
Francis then went close as he ran onto a good through-ball by Edwards on the hour-mark, only for Select 'B' goalkeeper Stanley Purygin to make a good save. With three minutes to go, however, Francis would find a winner as he sent home a flying volley into the right corner of the net after the ball had looped up in the penalty area following a ball in from the right.
The goal gave the game a winner, but ODP camp coach, and IMG Academy staff member and former professional Aidan Davison was happy with what he had seen throughout the event and hoped the players would continue to develop as they take lessons learned in the past four days back to their clubs.
"When I see these kids develop and improve, when you see them in six months or a year or at the college level, or the pro level, it makes your day," Davison said.
While much of the weekend was spent on the field, Mellor hoped the players would also benefit from the off-field sections of the weekend, which saw a seminar on nutrition, college recruiting and mental conditioning, would benefit players as they looked to move into the college, or even professional, ranks.
"What I really hope, based on what we present here, is that those players go away understanding what the next levels are," Mellor said. "They're coming through the youth programs, but it's important to understand that there's a whole new level."