Super Y-League News Release
Sunday, March 3, 2013
BRADENTON, Fla. – The 2013 Super Y-League Girls Olympic Development Program Training Camp finished on a high note on Sunday morning at the world-class facilities of IMG Academy as the U13/14 and U15/16 Select Teams faced off to conclude the four-day camp. The U13/14 game highlighted the day, with the teams playing to an entertaining 2-2 draw.
“We couldn’t have picked which was the ‘A’ and which one was the ‘B’ team,” Select Team coach James Blackwell, of Seacoast United, said. “Fabulous players in the squads in both teams, you really couldn’t pick between them and I think 2-2 was a fair result because the quality of soccer was exceptional, as it has been all week.”
The game opened with the Select ‘A’ squad coming close in just the second minute, Seacoast United’s Gabrielle Brummett shooting just wide of the right post after a good build up. Both teams were sharp in the central third of the field, linking quick passes as both teams aimed to get forward quickly when they won possession.
Select ‘A’ took the lead in the 20th minute when Force Football Club’s Elaina Eckhart picked up possession at the top of the penalty area and drove a high shot into the roof of the net. Select ‘B’ almost answered three minutes later as the VSI West Florida Flames’ Elisha Holmes found space 35 yards from goal and pushed forward before shooting, only to have her effort saved.
Select ‘A’ came close to adding to its lead three minutes before halftime. The New Jersey Stallions’ Samantha Coffey shooting just wide of the right post, but four minutes after the break they made it 2-0 as a good run and cross from the left by FC United’s Madison Hald was tapped home at close range by FC America’s Taylor Smith.
Select ‘B’ was able to hit back quickly, with the Florida Fire Juniors’ Taylor Morgan releasing the Northern Virginia Majestics’ Erika Smith into the right channel, the forward driving home a strong finish to make it 2-1. Then 12 minutes from the end Sheila McQuillen was able to tie the game, picking up possession just outside the penalty area before finishing powerfully into the left corner of the net.
Both teams continued to push until the final whistle, but both were satisfied with the draw as the camp concluded. For USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, the final scrimmage brought to a close what had been a positive weekend for the Super Y-League, with many top players getting the chance to learn what it took to reach the next level.
“We actually have some U12 players here, and their technical ability and tactical awareness has really somewhat surprised me,” Mellor said. “They really know how to play the game, and I think it was an exceptional weekend for those 12, 13 and 14-year-olds in particular, and then the 15s and 16s more than held their own.”