Teams in the 1994 and 1995 age groups took the field for the second time at the annual US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Girls Thanksgiving Tuesday. After three days of play, the high level of talent and elite competition exemplified by US Youth Soccer ODP over the past three decades has been on display.
In the first game of the day, Rachel Blauner's strike just after halftime lifted 1994 Region I over Region II, 1-0. Not much separated other two 1994 teams, Region III and Region IV later in the day. Kelly Fitzgerald and Whitney Pitalo scored in the 31st and 34th minutes respectively to give Region IV a first-half lead. A Region IV own goal before the intermission brought Region III back within a goal. Katherine Sprouse tied the game in the 57th minute and Anna McClung netted the game winner for Region III just four minutes from time. Region III beat Region IV, 3-2.
US Youth Soccer 2011 Golden Ball winner and National Champion, Caroline Chagares, gave 1995 Region I the lead in the 2nd minute. That lead held until the 80th minute when Brianna Hooks leveled for Region IV. Just five minutes later, Darian Jenkins netted the game winner for Region IV, beating Region I 2-1.
Region II and Region III played nearly 80 minutes of scoreless soccer in the 1995 age group, before Meegan Johnston scored for Region II in the 78th minute. Rubina Veerakone added an insurance goal just before the final whistle as Region II beat Region III, 2-0.
2011 US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla.
Scores | Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011
| 1994 Region I 1-0 Region II |
| Goal Scorers: Region I-Rachel Blauner (46:00) |
| 1995 Region I 1-2 Region IV |
| Goal Scorers: Region I-Caroline Chagares (2:00) |
| Region IV-Brianna Hooks (80:00); Darian Jenkins (85:00) |
| 1994 Region IV 2-3 Region III |
| Goal Scorers: Region IV-Kelly Fitzgerald (31:00); Whitney Pitalo (34:00) |
| Region III-Katherine Sprouse (57:00); Anna McClung (86:00); OG |
| 1995 Region II 2-0 Region II |
| Goal Scorers: Region II-Meegan Johnston (78:00); Rubina Veerakone (90:00) |
Schedule
| Wednesday, November 23 |
| 9 a.m. |
1996 |
Region I v. Region II |
Field 1 |
| 10 a.m. |
1997 |
Region I v. Region II |
Field 2 |
| 11 a.m. |
1996 |
Region IV v. Region III |
Field 1 |
| Noon |
1997 |
Region IV v. Region III |
Field 2 |
| Thursday, November 24 |
| 7:30 a.m. |
1994 |
Region IV v. Region II |
Field 2 |
| 7:30 a.m. |
1995 |
Region III v. Region I |
Field 1 |
| 8 a.m. |
1995 |
Region IV v. Region II |
Field 3 |
| 9:15 a.m. |
1994 |
Region III v. Region I |
Field 2 |
| Friday, November 25 |
| 7:30 a.m. |
1996 |
Region III v. Region I |
Field 1 |
| 7:30 a.m. |
1997 |
Region III v. Region I |
Field 2 |
| 9:15 a.m. |
1996 |
Region IV v. Region II |
Field 1 |
| 9:15 a.m. |
1997 |
Region IV v. Region II |
Field 2 |
For more information visit
www.USYouthSoccer.org and follow us on
Twitter @usysodp.
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About US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) - US Youth Soccer ODP, established in 1977, is the original Olympic development program in the United States. Formed to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team could be selected for international competition, selected players are exposed to the nation's top coaches from collegiate institutions, U.S. Soccer and the professional leagues. Programs exist in each state and with competitions such as the US Youth Soccer ODP National Championships, Interregional Training/Competition, Regional Camps and International play. US Youth Soccer ODP continues to lead the way in elite player identification and development. US Youth Soccer ODP is an approved program of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!
®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit
www.USYouthSoccer.org.