Schedules, Results and Standings
Match Rules
Daily Recaps
PHOENIX (Jan. 9, 2017) — The 2017 Region IV US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Championships, began Jan. 5 at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix. The four-day tournament will feature teams of elite players in the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 age groups, from Region IV, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The four day tournament will ultimately determine who represents Region IV in the 2017 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in the 2000 and 2001 age groups. Washington 99 Boys won its Region IV title last year while the California South 99 Girls and 2000 Boys and Girls won their respective Region IV and ODP National championships.
With programs in all 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, US Youth Soccer ODP, the original Olympic development program, is available to any player. US Youth Soccer ODP is the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League, and the majority of current and past national and youth national team members, as alumni.
Some match highlights from today's finals:
2001 Girls
The 2001 Girls Team went into the final undefeated and with a 3-0-1 record after wins against Eastern Washington, Arizona, and Alaska and a draw against Cal North. The team was a rock defensively having not conceded a goal in any game while scoring 13 of their own. Led by one of the top goal scorers in the group, Brecken Mozingo, Utah looked to have a great chance against powerhouse Cal South, owners of a perfect record and 26 goals for with 0 against.
The game itself was a hard fought battle between two of the best teams in the western region. Through two 40 minute halves neither team gave an inch and the game remained scoreless. Off to overtime we went before an 84th minute goal from Samantha Williams gave Cal South the lead. Despite Utah's best efforts that goal would stand to be the winner, giving Cal South the 2017 ODP Region IV Championship.
2002 Boys
The 2002 Boys final featured two teams entering with perfect records of 4-0-0. Utah took on Arizona in what promised to be an exciting match. Arizona entering the game having only allowed 1 goal in 4 games while scoring 10 of their own. Utah, with the high scoring trio of Daniel Powell, Dyson Clapier, and George Pineda, was the most explosive team in the age group averaging over 5 goals a game and scoring more than double the next highest scoring team. In a classic offense vs defense match up the championship game was sure to be epic.
In the match-up that pitted strength against strength offense came out on top as thanks to a 24th minute goal by Dyson Clapier Utah was able to hold on for the win despite scoring 4 goals less than their average. While Utah's offense dominated the headlines their defense was also quite strong only allowing 2 goals the entire tournament this combination of offense and defense was exciting to see and made the 2002 Utah boys one of the best teams to watch.
