Super Y-League News Release
Sunday, March 2, 2014
BRADENTON, Fla. – The 2014 Super Y-League Olympic Development Program Boys National Camp concluded on Sunday morning at the world-class facilities of IMG Academy with the announcement of the camp’s National Select Teams in both the U16 and U14 divisions.
Players from across the country were honored following impressive performances both in training and competition, as the camp’s invitees competed in the IMG Cup College Showcase.
“We were very pleased to see how quickly the players were able to come together and become cohesive teams during the weekend,” USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor said. “There were a number of extremely impressive performances from the ODP squads as they faced sides that have obviously been together for a much longer period of time in their club systems.”
Among those selected to the U16 Select Team was West Pines United’s Devon Nothard, who helped his side claim the U15 championship at last December’s SYL North American Finals. Ironbound SC’s John Antunes was also selected, following up his strong performance at the North American Finals last December that saw him named to the U15 All-Tournament Team.
“I think it’s been a fantastic experience for the players,” said University of Akron assistant coach Stuart Dobson, who coached Antunes’ squad at the camp. “The way the ODP program has developed over the past few years, I think USL has done a great job putting together professional facilities, and getting top-level coaches to come in and work with these players, and they get a different experience that they ordinarily don’t get on a week-to-week basis.”
The U14 Select Team included U14 North American Finals All-Tournament Team member Edinson Giron of Washington FC, Kendall SC midfielder Michael Villegas, and Alliance Academy goalkeeper William McCarthy.
Parsippany SC’s Nick Kozdron, a selection to the North American Finals U13 All-Tournament Team, was also chosen, as were his camp teammates Vincent Manzo of Alliance Academy, Alexander Gonzales of Real Maryland, and goalkeeper Angelo Lazar of Atlanta Fire United from a strong side led by Coach Steve Gummer.
“Just to work with these players - and everyone’s at a high level - you can really see the players, once they get their confidence, realize that, hey, I’m not just going to stay at this level, I can really achieve more,” Dobson said. “To play against these other teams that have come in and the IMG teams that have been together for months - sometimes years - and realize you can compete at that level, I think it’s been an eye-opening experience and I think players will go from here with a new inspiration.”
2014 SYL Olympic Development Program Select Teams
U16 Select Team
GK – David Monks, Toronto Lynx Jrs.
GK – Justin Stoll, NJSA 04
D – Devon Northard, West Pines United
D – Paul Calkins, Knoxville Soccer Academy
D – Bryan Medina, Ironbound SC
D – Tyler Treat, Kalamazoo Kingdom
D – Carson Brinks, Alliance Academy
D – Jackson Greenspan, Lightning Soccer Club
M – Phillimon Bedard-Khalid, Kendall SC
M – John Antunes, Ironbound SC
M – Nicholas Couch, Orlando City SC
M – John Stark, MPS Crusaders
M – Dalton Seckinger, Atlanta Fire Juniors
M – William Pauls, Parsippany SC
F – Jose Huerta, Cedar Stars Academy
F – Lorenzo Bolanos, Northern Virginia Royals
F – Angel Meraz, Florida Fire Juniors
F – Jeremy Park, Ironbound SC
U14 Select Team
GK – Angello Lazar, Atlanta Fire United
GK – William McCarthy, Alliance Academy
D – Zyen Jones, Alpharetta Ambush
D – Andres Renfigo, Cedar Stars Academy
D – Nate Cole, MPS Bulldogs
D – Kevin Morris, Thunder Soccer Club
D – Jason Diaz, New Jersey Stallions
M – Alexander Gonzales, Real Maryland
M – Issa Rayyan, Waza FC East
M – Michael Villegas, Kendall SC
M – Rhys Jeffery, Southern Soccer Academy
M – Allen Gavilanes, Cedar Stars Academy
M – Nicholas Kozdron, Parsippany SC
M – Michael Neascu, Alpharetta Ambush
M – Brennon Creek, Kalamazoo Kingdom
F – Edinson Giron, Washington FC
F – Vincent Manzo, Alliance Academy
F – Ryan Powell, Northern Virginia Royals