1989, 1990s duke it out at US Youth Soccer ODP Girls event
Region I vs. Region IV … it’s always a battle no matter the
age group or circumstances. During Tuesday’s action at the
US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional,
Region IV twice got the upper hand. Click here for all the
scores and game details from Tuesday’s matches of 1989 and
1990 teams …
Region IV got the upper hand twice in 1-0 decisions over
Region I during Tuesday’s action at the US Youth Soccer
ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional at Boca Raton, Fla. The
1989 and 1990 Region IV teams posted 1-0 victories. In the
Region II vs. III contests, the 1990 Region III team won 2-0
while the 1989s played to a 2-2 draw.
1990 Region IV 1, 1990 Region I 0
Michelle Spacciapolli once again showed why the first and
last five minutes of each half are critical in soccer
matches.
The 14-year-old from San Diego scored only 30 seconds before
half, and Region IV was able to carry that lone goal to a
victory over Region I.
“I think we deserved it,” Region IV coach Jan Smisek said of
the goal. “Basically we had the majority of possession in
the first half, and majority of the game in the first half
was played in front of their goal. When you got the ball
that much it’s kind of a relief to get that goal.”
Smisek said the play of keeper Bianca Henninger and
midfielders Lauren Brown, Beth West and Teresa Noyola were
pivotal.
“I was happy with the effort and intensity,” Region I coach
Andy Biggs said. Region I tried a long-pass attack, where
defenders were looking to play the longest possible forward
ball. “In the first half the forwards weren’t in great spots
to receive those passes.”
Biggs said the team’s second-half play was markedly better.
He noted the play of defender Alyssa Pember and midfielder
Miyuki Hino.
1989 Region II 2, 1989 Region III 2
Region III once again proved a 2-0 lead might be the worst
possible lead.
Region II’s Danielle Toney scored immediately after
halftime, and 10 minutes later Jordan Hilbrands added
another goal as the teams settled on a 2-2 draw.
“I felt we controlled the first half and felt we could get a
couple more in the second half,” Region III coach Kevin
Dempsey said. “But we came out a little flat and made one
defensive mistake … at this level players on all four teams
are good enough to make you pay, and they did.”
Casey Nogueira staked Region III to a 1-0 lead and Ashley
Miller made it 2-0 in the first half.
Dempsey said defender Erica Campanelli played well at both
ends of the field.
Region II coach Corbin Stone moved his forwards to play a
higher to start the second half, and the change had an
immediate impact. “There was certainly a difference (in the
match) when we started that.”
Other top performers for Region II were midfielders Emily
Esbrook and Samantha Huecker and forward Laura Heyboer.
1990 Region III 2, 1990 Region II 0
Merrit Mathias and Kim Castleberry scored goals leading
Region III to a victory in an otherwise evenly played match.
Mathias struck in the first half with a well-placed drive to
the far post. Castleberry basically dispossessed a defender
and muscled her way to the second goal.
“We talked about the opportunities we get as a team, we must
execute,” Region III coach Ronnie Hill said. “In the first
half we had good opportunities … and the goalkeeper made
good saves. Our challenge in the second half was if we get
an opportunity, put it away.”
Hill said Ashley Rape played well in midfield and central
defense, and Drea Hampton was strong in the midfield.
Susannah Dennis played well until leaving the game with a
hip injury.
“We had good attacking opportunities, but at times we looked
like a team that had been together only two or three days,”
Region II coach Ron Rainey said. “Hopefully this will allow
us to get connected as we go on throughout the week.”
Rainey was pleased with the play of defender Nicole Lipp and
first-half keeper Cat Parkhill.
1989 Region IV 1, 1989 Region I 0
Kylie Wright’s cross found Carli Castaneda, who made a nice
move to create space then scored the only goal of the match
as Region IV opened the event with a win.
“I’m happy with the result because we always compete with
Region I,” said Region IV coach Philippe Blin. “It goes back
and forth. Sometimes it’s them and sometimes it’s us. Today,
it was us!”
Blin said first-half keeper Jorden Kussman, defenders Kate
Deines and Nicole Sweetman and midfielder Kendra Perry were
key to victory.
“Honestly, we played well and thought their goal came
against the run of play,” said Region I assistant Michelle
Salmon, who is filling in for head coach Richard Ilsley,
whose college team is involved in NCAA play this week. “I
thought defensively, we looked very solid and that was one
of our goals coming into the game.”
Region I got strong play from defender Gretchen Miller,
midfielder Sinead Farrelly and midfielder Amy Caldwell.