2007 ODP Program Continues Successful Efforts

The Maryland ODP season began last Fall with tryouts and hard choices.  After several months of practices, the U-13, U-15 and U-17 Boys and the U-15 Girls traveled overseas during Spring Break to , (boys) and (girls) respectively to challenge foreign squads.  For the most part all three teams were successful.  All age groups were eventually preparing for the Regional tournament and a chance to go on to the National Finals. 

On June 8^th, the preliminary rounds of the Region 1 ODP Tournament were held in Central New Jersey , commonly known as the Rider Cup.  For the next two days, the teams played three matches against other Region 1 squads and finished with a combined 29 wins, 6 losses and 7 ties.  No squad had more than one loss.  Three teams, the U-15 Girls, the U-16 Boys and the U-17 Girls all ended up with three wins and the opportunity to continue on to the semi-finals two weeks later at Kirkwood, Delaware .   

On June 23, the three teams played their semi-final matches and all three won.  On Sunday for their Region 1 age group championship game, the U-15 Girls won, the U-16 Boys lost in a penalty shootout and the U-17 Girls won in overtime, thus providing Maryland with two Regional Champions.  However, only the U-15 Girls will progress to Frisco, Texas for the US Youth Soccer ODP National Championships to be held in March, 2008.  Overall, a good showing for our small state.

On an individual level, all players were invited to Regional camps held after the tournament in early July.  There the players were watched by the Regional coaching staff and judged on their overall skills as well as their abilities to work as team members.  The list of the Boys called back to Region 1 camp for further training was just recently released and the results are as follows: 

            1994 Boys – 9 called back with 5 of those called to the National camp

            1993 Boys - 8 called back with 2 of those called to the National camp

            1992 Boys - 9 called back

            1991 Boys – 3 called back

1990 Boys – 5 called back and two boys taking part in the National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida

Maryland Boys ODP Players Called Back to Region I and National ODP Camps

1994 - Nine 

Jackson Eskay, Jordan Friedlander, Michael Gamble, David Geschwind, Malcolm Harris, Collin Martin, Dakota Niedermeier, Christian Porras, Jalen Robinson 

1994 National Developmental Camp - Five 

Jackson Eskay, Malcolm Harris, Collin Martin, Cody Niedermeier, Jalen Robinson

1993 Boys - Eight

Dallas Ahminzedah, Benjamin Diaz, Nat Eggelston, Jordan Manley, Kamar Saint-Louis, Marcus Salandy-Defour, Zach Wenger, Lucas Winters

1993 National Camp - Two 

Nat Eggelston, Zach Wenger

1992 - Nine

Jereme Raley, Joseph Pratt, Joseph Gyau, Lester Dewee, Nick Alers, Sam Bradley, Shaquille Phillips, Kevin Andino, Julio Arjona

1991 - Three

Ethan White, Joseph Pace, Chris Hegngi

1990 - Five

Christian Barreiro, J.J. Raley, Michael Hocker, Kamal Briscoe, Prince Lapnet

U-17 National Team Residency Program, Bradenton, FL

Ryan Gracia , Israel Sesay 

The list of the Girls has not been officially released as of this write up, but we are being told there are at least 13 girls on the 1994 squad receiving callbacks.  

Maryland has progressively increased its participation in the Regional and National programs, primarily due to the dedicated work of the ODP coaching staff, managers, and administrators along with the help and cooperation of the players’ parents and club coaches.

On-line registration for the 2008 ODP season should be activated by mid September, with tryouts projected to start in late November/early December.  Highlights of the 2008 ODP program include the 1992 Girls team’s participation in the ODP National Championships in Texas in March and International Trips planned for the 1991, 1993, 1995 boys teams and the 1991 and 1993 girls teams for late March.