Sandy, UT (1/23/2017)
The 2017 Region IV Championships was a step in the right direction as Utah had 7 of 10 teams advance to the semi-finals. After some heart breaking games, placed 2 in the finals, eventually winning the 02 Boys age group.
UYSA Technical Director, Eric Landon, had this to say about the tournament, "I feel like it was good progression for us. We won an age group for only the second time ever, and lost by either 1 goal or penalties in every other semi-final. If a couple breaks had gone our way we could have had 7 teams playing in the finals. That's the next step for Utah, having our teams advance through semi's and be playing for championships. More than the results though, I was really pleased with how our teams played. We played progressive and attractive soccer which can be seen in the number of goals we scored vs the number of goals against, as well as many of our players selections on the All-Tournament Teams."
The All-Tournament Teams were selected from US Youth Soccer Regional Coach evaluations. Throughout the event players attended training sessions and competed in matches in front of collegiate coaches for the opportunity to be selected to a higher level of play.
UYSA is well represented on the All-Tournament teams with 30 players selected. The dominating fashion in which the 02 Boys team won their age group is clearly reflected in the selection of 8 players almost half of the 18 player roster. Utah had at least one player named to each of the age groups as well.
All-Tournament Teams
2000 Boys
Brandon Cervantes (Midfielder; Sparta; West Valley City, UT)
2000 Girls
Hailee Atwater (Defender; Celtic FC; Kaysville, UT), Jamie Shepherd (Defender; Celtic FC; Highland, UT), Courtney Talbot (Forward; La Roca; West Haven, UT), Kendyl Baker (Goalkeeper; La Roca; Kaysville, UT)
2001 Boys
Dalton Gibson (Midfielder; Sparta; Lehi, UT), Julian Vazquez (Forward; La Roca; Nibley, UT), Benjamin Ortiz (Forward; La Roca; Orem, UT), Ethan Harris (Midfielder; La Roca; Syracuse, UT)
2001 Girls
Jordan Crockett (Defender; USA; Park City, UT), Zoe Jacobs (Defender; La Roca; Kaysville, UT), Ellie Maughan (Forward; La Roca; North Ogden, UT), Brecken Mozingo, (Forward; Celtic FC; Sandy, UT)
2002 Boys
Bode Davis (Midfielder; La Roca; Kaysville, UT), Daniel Powell (Forward; Sparta; Draper, UT), George Pineda (Midfielder; Park City SC; Park City, UT), Jacob Vincent (Midfielder; VKCOBRAS; Salt Lake City, UT), Mateo Palomino (Defender; Sparta; South Jordan, UT), Nathan Ortiz (Forward; La Roca; Orem, UT), Roy Mendoza–Huerta (Midfielder; La Roca; North Logan, UT), Zackery Farnsworth (Defender; Sparta; Park City, UT)
2002 Girls
Devi Dudley (Midfielder; Celtic FC; American Fork, UT), Ragan Fuller (Defender; Sparta; Pleasant Grove, UT), Caroline Stringfellow (Midfielder; La Roca; Syracuse, UT)
2003 Boys
Dante Silvestri (Forward; La Roca; Stansbury Park, UT), Christian Nydegger (Midfielder; La Roca; Highland, UT)
2003 Girls
Boer, Adelyn (Midfielder; La Roca; North Ogden, UT)
2004 Boys
Zach Booth (Forward; La Roca; Eden, UT), Naime Odeh (Midfielder; La Roca; Roy, UT)
2004 Girls
Ellie Walbruch (Midfielder; La Roca; Highland, UT)