Garth Pollonais, Director of Devlopment Academy @ gpollonais@hotmail.com

or call 864-363-6883

If interested in becoming an Academy Sponsor, please contact:

Rob O’Nan, Club President @ rkotampa@aol.com

or call 224-4912

Former U.S. Soccer Development Academy goalkeeper Zac MacMath is enjoying a successful stretch in recent weeks with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union.

The team’s second-year goalkeeper, who was part of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program at IMG Soccer Academy and also played club ball with Academy member Clearwater Chargers, is in the midst of a 242-minute shutout streak as his side travels to Chivas USA this Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

MacMath was thrust into the Union starting role during the latter half of his 2011 MLS rookie season, and he exudes confidence in the defensive third. Goalkeeping has been MacMath’s path to prominence within his budding soccer career, but at one point he also used to play center back during his time with Clearwater.

“I loved playing center back,” MacMath said. “That is a huge reason why I can read the game well as a goalkeeper, because I can see what the defenders see. I liked being able to run around, challenge corner kicks. But now I’m restricted to goalkeeper.”

The 20-year-old certainly has excelled in that role, especially during the Union’s current stretch that has included a scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps and most recently a 1-0 win against fellow Eastern Conference foe Columbus Crew. The shutout victory against Columbus, in particular, stood out because the team was without Danny Califf due to a hamstring injury.

“The team really tried to regroup after the first three games, particularly with our defending and giving up as few chances as possible,” MacMath said. “In our last couple of games, unfortunately we only got four points when I think we could have had six. But we’re playing really well and coming together.”

The U.S. Soccer youth system was MacMath’s home away from home when he was part of the U-17 Residency Program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. MacMath is from St. Petersburg, Fla., located on the northern side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that connects his hometown and Bradenton.

“It was great,” MacMath said. “Being invited to Bradenton was an amazing experience for me. It was a bonus to be close to the family so they could come to most of my games. From a development standpoint, Coach John Hackworth did a lot for me and my game.”

Transitioning from Maryland to MLS, MacMath was brought into an environment that included a bunch of coach-player connections from his younger playing days. Hackworth moved to the Union coaching staff, Philadelphia head coach Peter Nowak had previously brought in MacMath for a U.S. U-23 National Team trip to China, and Union assistant coach/goalkeeper coordinator Rob Vartughian coached MacMath at Maryland.

It was not set in stone where MacMath would be headed, but the Union came through in taking him with the fifth overall selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

“I didn’t have too much of an idea where I was going,” MacMath said. “Before the draft I was mostly told that I would be in Vancouver or Seattle, but then right before [I was selected] there were rumors of Philadelphia taking me at No. 5. Knowing Coach Rob, John and Peter, that has just been a big benefit to me. Their practicing habits and their personalities, they have been really helpful.”

MacMath made his MLS debut last year, replacing injured Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon during a Sept. 3 match against Real Salt Lake. MacMath would go on to post a 3-0-4 record during his rookie campaign.

Mondragon then decided in January that he would like to return to Colombia to play in his country’s first division with Deportivo Cali. Once again the door opened for MacMath to take the top spot.

“When I decided to join MLS, I had the full intention to be a starting goalkeeper,” MacMath said. “Obviously with Faryd last year, you had a veteran goalkeeper who did really well. Unfortunately he got injured, but for my sake I got some good games in.

“This year I feel a lot more comfortable after training with the first team in the preseason, unlike last year,” MacMath said. “I feel comfortable as a goalkeeper and I’m building confidence. It’s growing more and more.”

MacMath already has had some memorable experiences on his young MLS resume. He played in portions of the Union’s World Football Challenge matches last year against Real Madrid (26 minutes in a 2-1 loss) and Everton (first half of a 1-0 win against a Tim Howard-less side). And along with MacMath’s unbeaten stint last year, the Union has rebounded well from a sluggish 2012 start.

He represents a young wave of starting goalkeepers within MLS that also includes Development Academy alum and D.C. United starter Bill Hamid and U.S. U-23 and Chicago Fire third-year goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

“The U.S. has always had good goalkeeping coming through,” MacMath said. “It just so happens that guys like me, Sean Johnson and Bill Hamid are all very good young goalkeepers and have had the opportunity at the right time. We’re trusted by the coaches, and I think that’s good for the league and good for the young goalkeepers in the National Team setup.”

During 2012, Exact Sports will monitor and train the more than 4,000 players and coaches across the 78 Development Academy clubs using the Mental Achievement Program (MAP). The MAP tool will provide a detailed behavioral profile to every athlete in the Academy and provide them with the tools to increase characteristics such as motivation, confidence, competitiveness, leadership and mental toughness.

“The MAP has been successfully utilized by our National Teams and will be another exclusive opportunity for the players in the Development Academy to improve their overall development,” said U.S. Development Academy Director of Scouting Tony Lepore. “Along with the physical and technical tools, mental preparation is an essential component for success in soccer. The MAP should help players better understand the mental attributes required of them to maximize performance on and off-field.”

EXACT’s Mental Achievement Program was developed by a team of scientists that have expertise in the monitoring of athlete development.  Development Academy clubs join over 60 professional teams such as the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Red Bull, and more than 100 NCAA soccer teams including University of North Carolina, Wake Forest University, and Indiana University, in using the MAP to aid coaching staff and elevate player performance.  “There are many elements within soccer that are mental, such as managing adversity during a corner kick, being confident in goal, showing leadership on the field and interacting with coaches and teammates,” said Executive Director of EXACT Sports Barry Tarter.

Each Academy player will have the ability to annually update his MAP behavioral profile. The program will be utilized by his club coaches to assist in Academy training and preparation.  

“Development Academy clubs will get unrestricted access to EXACT’s team of mental experts,” said Tarter.  Our priority is to assist each club’s coaching staff in better preparing their team and players for success at the highest level.”

- ussoccer.com -

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the Development Academy and the move to a 10-month season.

Why is the U.S. Soccer Development Academy making a move to a 10-month season?

From the start of the Academy program, our goal has been to close the gap with the top footballing nations in the world. The 10-month schedule, from September through June, or July based on postseason play, is what a typical elite soccer player’s schedule looks like around the rest of the world.

Moving to a 10-month season means players can focus on training together three or four times per week and play meaningful games on the weekend nearly year-round. Fewer games and an extended season will allow for the addition of a substantial number of extra training sessions, which are the primary vehicle for player development.”

We are competing in a global marketplace. We are not just trying to prepare elite players for college and the pro ranks in the United States; we are trying to prepare players to compete against the best clubs and international teams from around the world. Therefore, our standard has to be higher.

The move to a 10-month season is being driven by our membership, the majority of which has been overwhelmingly supportive of the initiative because they recognize the value of player development. A number of clubs have already switched to the 10-month season and have seen substantial improvement (Western Conference, Texas Division).

How does playing in the Development Academy help a player develop individual skills?

By participating in the Academy, a player gets substantially more hours on the training field. With as many as four training sessions per week, there is significant opportunity to work on technique and receive instruction from coaches and U.S. Soccer Technical Advisors as part of a continuous seasonal plan for the players’ development. Simply put, the more hours spent with the ball at their feet the better.

On average, clubs will have continuity between 32-40 weeks of active training in a Development Academy 10-month season as compared to 12 weeks of training with a high school season. That adds up to a substantial amount of invaluable training time.

How does the quality of competition compare?

The quality of competition within the Academy environment for games is unmatched on a weekly basis. Players compete against the top players from their region and around the country throughout the year, and they do so after quality preparation throughout the week.

Equally important is the quality of competition and intensity within training sessions among like-minded players of similar motivation and ability. With a reduced number of games, the competition for spots on the field becomes more significant, raising both the level of play and also preparing the players for what they will experience at the elite level.

Players will have the chance to compete in meaningful matches that will determine qualification for the Academy Playoffs, and ultimately the opportunity to play for a national championship.

The rules governing games in the Development Academy match the rules that govern soccer games around the world (FIFA), whereas high school rules often focus on different priorities. For example, allowing substitutes to re-enter a match, which is common in high school and collegiate soccer, is never allowed in a real professional or international competitive match. This rule alone has a huge impact on a player’s development technically, tactically, physically and psychologically.

Is U.S. Soccer saying that kids can no longer play high school soccer?

Every player has a choice to play high school soccer or in the Development Academy. We believe that for those elite soccer players who are committed to pursuing the goal of reaching the highest levels they can in the sport, making this decision will provide them a big advantage in their development and increase their exposure to top coaches in the United States and from around the world.

We are talking about a group of players that want to continue at the next level, whether that is professional or college, which is still the destination for a majority of our graduates.

How will the implementation of the 10-month season occur?

The 10-month season will begin throughout the Academy in the Fall of 2012.

U.S. Soccer also recognizes that there may be challenges during the transition process and is willing to work with individual clubs and players to make the change as smooth as possible.

We understand there may be unique situations for a small population of players, such as those in certain private schools, and we are willing to discuss different options and determine a solution so they can participate in the Academy.

If the best players play in the Academy, won’t that reduce the quality of high school soccer?

Overall, only one percent of all players currently playing high school soccer are involved with the Development Academy.

We are only talking about a small percentage of elite players who have the goal of playing soccer at the highest levels.

High School soccer will continue to make an important contribution to the soccer landscape in this country.

Are you saying that playing high school soccer impedes player development?

High school certainly has a place in the soccer landscape in this country. For the elite player who is committed to reaching the highest levels, the Development Academy provides a more focused environment for player development through more training, fewer matches and against better competition, and a schedule and rules that are consistent with how the game is played around the world.

Won’t a player miss out on the fun of playing high school soccer?

High school soccer certainly plays an important role for those kids who participate. The elite players who choose to commit to the Development Academy will be around like-minded individuals in pursuit of a similar goal and will experience many of the same benefits. Players will have the chance to compete with and in front of their family, friends and club members, along with college and pro scouts, and most important, our Men’s National Team scouting network on a weekly basis.

Will younger players get less playing time than they would in high school?

One of the primary goals of the Development Academy is to encourage clubs to have younger players “play up” against older competition in both training and matches. This both speeds up young players’ development and challenges them against better competition, which keeps their interest in the game.

While playing time is a part of development, the majority of improvement for young players takes place on the training field. With increased time in training against better competition, players can accelerate growth. At the same time, coaches have more of an important role to invest time in each player’s personal development.

Are the coaches in the Academy better than high school?

There are many quality coaches in both the Development Academy and high school teams. The Academy environment allows for more focused and consistent training with less emphasis on games. Academy players and coaches also receive ongoing feedback, instruction and guidance from U.S. Soccer Technical Advisors, who are also the main scouts for the U.S. National Team programs.

What are some of the benefits of playing in the Development Academy?

Having players in this elite training environment for 10 months promotes increased technical standards and allows for greater accountability for players and coaches.

Coaches have a great opportunity to devote more time in training to following the U.S. Soccer Curriculum and Best Practices.

Both players and coaches must learn to deal with and manage the challenges of playing a 10-month season in matches using international rules, which is what they will experience at the highest levels.

A 10-month season allows for a greater opportunity to institute a style of play, develop and implement a system, and build team chemistry in accordance with the U.S. Soccer Curriculum and Youth National Teams.

This format allows for more careful seasonal planning, scouting and player identification, with ongoing evaluation and mentoring from U.S. Soccer Technical Advisors and National Team coaches.

The expanded season gives teams increased opportunities for younger kids in their club to “play up” against older players in both training and matches, thereby accelerating their development.

Playing high school is a more enjoyable experience and creates a better connection to the community. Academy teams don’t provide players with the social aspect of high school sports.

From a social standpoint, U.S. Soccer appreciates the value of high school soccer and will place a greater responsibility on the Development Academy clubs to develop the person as well as the player – both on and off the field

Player          High School     College Attending

Jeremiah Barnes, Clearwater, Kenyon College, OH
Mark Biddinger, Berkeley Prep, University of Louisville, KY
Jacob Frahm, Land O’ Lakes, University of North Florida
Danny George, Countryside, Florida Gulf Coast University
Andrew Hitt, Countryside, University of West Florida
Mike Mitchell, Braden River, University of South Florida
Patrick Shelton, Wharton, High Point University, NC
Rheese Wiltshire, Shorecrest Prep, Elon University, NC

U-18 Girls

Player          High School     College Attending
Laura Cason, River Ridge, Thomas University, GA or Maryville University, MO
Meghan Dodge, East Lake, Mississippi College, or Jacksonville State University, AL
Lisa Jadick, River Ridge, Southeastern University
Kaitlin Parker, Clw. Central Catholic, Florida Gulf Coast University
Katherine Pedersen Clearwater United States Air Force Academy

Both clubs have a long history in the Tampa Bay area of developing players who have gone on to be successful
in college programs, on U.S. Soccer national teams and in the professional ranks. The list includes current and former
MLS standouts such as Kenny Cooper of the Portland Timbers, Bobby Boswell and Richard Mulrooney of the Houston
Dynamo, Zac MacMath of the Philadelphia Union, Jeffrey Cunningham and Korey Veeder of the Columbus Crew, Blake
Wagner of Real Salt Lake and Scott Bower of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Among other notable alumni are Bryane Heaberlin, (US U17, U18 and U20 Women’s National Team goalkeeper,
recently committed to the University of North Carolina), Eugene Starikov (FC Tom Tomsk, Russia), Jeff Attinella and JP
Rodrigues (FC Tampa Bay), Brian Waltrip (Norway), Gus Kartes (Greece), Joey Collewijn (Holland and England), Kevin
Pahl (U14 and U15 US National Teams), and Atsou Ayah, (current U18 Chargers Academy team member, formerly of the
US U17 National Team Residency Program).

“This merger is between two like-minded clubs with a focus on the development of soccer players at every level,”
Clearwater Chargers Director of Coaching Peter Mannino said. “We are excited about what the future will hold for
everyone and our ability to continue to be a leader in the Tampa Bay soccer community.”

Chargers Soccer Club is expected to draw players from six counties with the continuation of their local soccer
opportunities as well as additional regional and national opportunities. Players age 4 to 19 will compete in recreational “inhouse”
leagues (U5-U10), recreational travel leagues (U12-U19), and the top competitive soccer leagues in the state,
region and nation (U9-U18). Clearwater Chargers Soccer Club is currently one of four clubs in Florida and 78 in the nation
to serve as a United States Soccer Federation Development Academy for boys U16 and U18, and is also part of the
Southeast Pre-Academy League (U14 Boys). Additionally, the club has an application on file for participation in the Elite
Clubs National League (ECNL) for girls U14-U18.

“This is a great opportunity for two of the longest-standing clubs in Florida, let alone in the Tampa Bay area, to
come together combining our resources to continue to provide local opportunities and player development with additional
regional, national and international-level opportunities across the whole club,” said Jim DiNobile, Fusion FC Director of
Soccer Operations.
 

The merger brings together a director staff with an unprecedented level of experience for the Tampa Bay region:

•  Peter Mannino, Clearwater Director of Coaching (nearly 20 years); USSF B license
• Jim DiNobile, Fusion FC Director of Soccer Operations (nearly 10 years); U.S. Soccer coaching and instructionalstaff and U.S. Soccer academy scout, USYS ODP Region III Staff Coach, USSF A license
• Garth Pollonais, Clearwater USSF Development Academy Director & U16 coach; USYS ODP Region III Staff
  Coach, USSF B license
• Mauricio Pesaresi, Fusion FC, Boys Director of Coaching; USYS ODP Region III Staff Coach, USSF A license
• Roberto Lopez, Clearwater USSF Development Academy U18 coach, U.S. Soccer Staff Coach; USYS ODP
  Region III Boys ‘88 Assistant Coach, former U20 Men’s National Team staff, USSF A license.
• Richard Chisolm, Fusion FC Girls Director of Coaching and Goalkeeper Director; USYS ODP Region III Staff
  Coach, USSF A license, USSF Goalkeeper license
• Tim Mulqueen, Clearwater USSF Development Academy goalkeeper coach, former U17 National Team
  goalkeeper coach, USSF A license
• Steve Heighway, former Clearwater DOC, Liverpool FC player and director of Liverpool Youth Academy;
  currently a Clearwater technical advisor
• Kevin Clinton, Clearwater Goalkeeper Director; formerly of the Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Siggi Nagele, Clearwater college advisor, technical trainer; former Eckerd College women’s coach and FYSA
  ODP Staff Coach
• Roland Moldovan, Fusion FC club coach, speed & agility coach; FYSA ODP Staff Coach, USSF B license

The Chargers Soccer Club competitive program will feature teams at multiple levels in each age group with both
Region Cup and State Cup-level teams. Among the leagues in which Chargers Soccer Club teams could compete are the
Club Directors League, United Soccer Association, the Florida State League, the Region III Premier League, the National
Premier League, the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Premier League and the Southeast Pre-Academy League.
The club will also explore the possibility of combined competitive tournament teams for players looking for the opportunity
to play with their local club team as well as at major college showcase tournaments.

Chargers Soccer Club will be a club where players of all abilities have a place to play, a club that stresses
development of the soccer player, and a club that emphasizes - along with good soccer - striving to make a player the
best person they can be through the principles of integrity, honesty, dedication and commitment.

The club’s new logo, currently being developed, will proudly display three stars signifying three national
championships. Fusion FC (formerly BlackWatch SC and the New Tampa Soccer Association) captured the 1985 U18/19
Girls national championship, while the Clearwater Chargers (encompassing the former Countryside Lightning Soccer
Club) captured a pair of National Championships (1995 & 1997 James P. McGuire Cup, U-19 Boys).

The showcase facility for Chargers Soccer Club is Premier Sports Campus, located in Lakewood Ranch in
Manatee County and featuring 22 fields and more than 140 acres. Currently serving as the site of the 2011 Nike
International Friendlies and the USSF Development Academy Winter Showcase, the Premier Sports Campus will also
host the highly successful Chargers Soccer Club Labor Day and Easter tournaments.

Additional details will be posted at www.clearwaterchargers.com and www.fusionfutbol.com as they become
available.

Q- We here that the Clearwater Development Academy program has been on probation and will have the program pulled from them.

A- ABSOLUTLY NOT TRUE! Our USSFDA program has NEVER been on probation and are not losing the program next year,   

     In four years of the Academy program, the Chargers have always been in "Good Standings" with USSF.

Q- We here another local Club will be joining the USSF Academy league next season

A- Again, NOT true! Only four Clubs in Florida are United States Soccer Federation Development Academy programs,

     Clearwater, IMG, Kendall SC and Weston FC. New Clubs for next year have already been announced by US Soccer, and

      no Clubs in Florida was added for the 2011-2012 season

Q- Will Clearwater be playing and holding practices only at the Premier Sports Campus?

A- The Academy program will be based in Clearwater and will practice and play games there. We will however, have

     both practices and league games at the new Premier Sports Campus during the year. The program currently has

     players coming from areas around the state such as, Gainesville, Orlando, Lakeland, Aurburndale, Tallahassee, Tampa,

     Brandon, Bradenton, Sarasota as well as Clearwater, to accomadate all players can not happen, so one site will be the

     base location.

Q- How much will it cost to play for the Academy? We here it is between Five and Ten thousand dollars per year per player.

A- The average cost for the four years of the Academy program per player is only $3600.00. The first two years were much 

     as the travel was more extensive. The cost now is no greater than anyother team that travels to all the major showcase

     tournaments during a regular season. The Club is active in securing sponsorships to help off set the cost of the

      program for each player, our goal is to make it a cost free program and will remain a point of focus. we also

     have programs to help families that financially need the help. The Chargers do not turn away players that have a 

     financial need.

Q- Is this program right for everyone?

A- No! This program is for dedicated players that have the drive to become the best they can be, determination to work hard

     3-5 times a week, play against the BEST competition each and every game, has the desire to acheive a higher level of 

     play and competition and has the commitment to reach those goals. An Academy player will have to maintain a certain

     GPA that will be checked by the staff, school work is a vital part of this program. 

U-14 (Players born Aug. 1^st, 1996 and younger) to be coached by B. Triplett / K. Jewell

U-15 (Players born Aug. 1^st , 1995 and younger) to be coached by P. Mannino / A. Rafferty

Ø       All eligible soccer players must play for CSC. Player registered thru FYSA and US CLUB.

Ø       Every player MUST attend minimum 3 trainings per week, all team functions and games.

Ø       Specific training sessions throughout the year will include strength and conditioning, nutritional, mental preparation and college seminar.

Ø       Any outside soccer related activities must be pre-approved by the Academy Dir. and Club DOC.

Ø       All players will start at least 30% of all games. The goal is player development not winning trophies.

Ø       Current league/tournament scheduling options include: Pre-Academy games against the other DA Clubs in the Southeast Division , CDL, Region III Premier League, CASL, Disney Showcase, Dallas Cup and USSF Friendlies

Ø        THE FOCUS AND GOAL HERE IS TRAININGS, BETTER QUALITY EVENTS , MEANINGFUL FRIENDLIES AND GAMES.

Ø       OUR PRE-ACADEMY TEAMS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE FYSA STATE CUP COMPETITION!!!!

For further information please contact:

Peter Mannino , DOC at 727-446-7761 or email at chargersdoc@msn.com

Garth Pollonais, Director of the Academy at 864-363-6883 or email at gpollonais@hotmail.com

But for at least one person in attendance, just being able to soak in the spirit and atmosphere of an English Premier League game mattered more than the final score.

“You watch on TV all the time,” Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath told MLSsoccer.com by phone recently. “But when you’re really there, it’s a whole different experience.”

MacMath was at Goodison Park not only as a fan but also as a player getting in some valuable training time.

It was the second time MacMath went overseas to train with the EPL side, but the first time he did it in the midst of Everton’s regular season. That made the experience even more valuable for MacMath, who for part of his trip stayed with US national team and Everton ’keeper Tim Howard, his friend and mentor.

“It was good seeing how he goes through his pregame ritual and game day stuff,” MacMath said of Howard. “It was a very good experience my second time being there. It was nice seeing familiar faces and getting some good hard training in.”

Following his training stint with Everton, the 20-year-old MacMath stayed in Europe, where he met up with some of his MLS teammates and rivals in the Netherlands for the Generation adidas tour. Then the Union goalkeeper went directly to Florida for the recent US U-23 camp.

Only when that camp wrapped up this past Friday did MacMath get to stay in his home state of Florida and spend some time with his family for the holidays.

“I’ve been traveling around a lot but it’s been fun,” said MacMath, who’s coming off an impressive rookie season for the Union, when he went 3-0-4 while filling in for injured starter Faryd Mondragón. “I’m trying to stay as fit and sharp as possible.”

While extremely busy over the past month, MacMath didn’t get the call for the first U-23 camp, which was held in Germany from Nov. 7-16. The Union netminder admitted that was “a little bit of disappointment” but doesn’t make too much of it considering he’s now very much in the mix to make Caleb Porter’s U-23 Olympic squad.

And should he be one of the goalkeepers called upon to represent the US in next summer’s Olympics in London, he knows it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The fact that the Summer Games are being held in the same country where he’s had the privilege to train and learn the game from some of the world’s elite players is an added bonus.

“It would mean everything to me personally and to my family,” MacMath said. “Watching the Olympics every four years with my family, it’s something every kid dreams about. Especially because it’s in London, where some of the best players in the world play, it would mean everything for me to be a part of that.”

Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.

The Union group, the largest contingent from any MLS team, will be reunited in Amsterdam on December 5 after MacMath and Okugo end their training stints with Everton and SC Freiburg, respectively. Despite having graduated as a Generation adidas player at the conclusion of the 2011 season, Mwanga will be joining the GA squad one last time.

The tour is part of adidas’ ongoing commitment to help advance soccer in the United States and Canada through MLS. Players who join MLS through the Generation adidas program are provided unique opportunities to hone their skills, develop as professionals, and receive educational grants. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget.

While in Amsterdam, the team will also attend a UEFA Champions League match between two of the most successful professional soccer clubs ever – Ajax and Real Madrid C.F. – on Dec. 7 at the Amsterdam Arena. Three days later, the team will watch AZ Alkmaar host De Graafschap in a top-flight Dutch league (Eredivisie) match at AFAS Stadion.

“This annual offseason tour is invaluable for young players, and we are excited to see this talented group come together in the Netherlands,” MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin said. “Our players’ development is enhanced by their exposure to legendary clubs like Ajax and the opportunity to compete against their peers in other countries.”

Generation adidas Match Schedule

Dec. 8: Generation adidas vs. Ajax Reserve team (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 13: Generation adidas vs. FC Volendam (in Volendam)
Dec. 14: Generation adidas vs. Almere City FC (in Almere)

Date                   Matchup                                                                         Time           

Nov. 30, 2011  Brazil Under-17 Men vs. Turkey Under-17 Men    2 p.m. ET    

Nov. 30, 2011  U.S. Under-17 Men vs. France Under-17 Men    5 p.m. ET    

Dec. 2, 2011    France Under-17 Men vs. Brazil Under-17 Men    2 p.m. ET   

Dec. 2, 2011    U.S. Under-17 Men vs. Turkey Under-17 Men     5 p.m. ET   

Dec. 4, 2011    Turkey Under-17 Men vs. France Under-17 Men  2 p.m. ET   

Dec. 4, 2011    U.S. Under-17 Men vs. Brazil Under-17 Men       5 p.m. ET    

Goal Summary

Goal Summary

Goal Summary

Clearwater Chargers U-17/18 0- Richmond Kickers 1

The U16’s fell to South Carolina United 2-1,

Goal Summary

  the 16's came back on Sunday to beat Georgia United 3-2

Goal Summary

 The U18’s fell on Saturday 4-0, before a tough 2-1 loss on Sunday.

Goal Summary

George Mason makes its first appearance in the Soccer America Men’s Top 25 this season at No. 18 following its 1-0 win over Old Dominion, which went into the game unbeaten and untied with the nation’s best offense. Sophomore Wesley Sever had several good chances in the first half for the Patriots, but ODU’s French goalkeeper, could not be beaten.

Furma maintained their #23 ranking with3-0 win over Presbyterian, and 0-0 tie with East Tennessee State, Freshmen Nicolai Hammer has seen significant time off the bench, and Kevin Pahl awaits his opportunity.

                        11:30AM- U16’s vs. U17 National Team

Location: IMG Academies, National Team fields, Bradenton

Saturday-9/17- 10AM- U18’s vs. U17 National Team

                        11:30AM- U16’s vs. U17 National Team

Location: Premier Sports Campus, Lakewood Ranch

For more information: Contact:

Peter Goulish

Academy Admistrator

727-224-4351

LOCATION:

PREMIER SPORTS CAMPUS AT LAKEWOOD RANCH

S.R. 70, EAST OF LORRAINE ROAD, NEAR THE POST OFFICE.  PLEASE FOLLOW LINK TO WEBSITE.

http://www.lakewoodranch.com/community/sports-complex.cfm

  PLEASE FILL OUT THE ACADEMY TRYOUT PLAYER PROFILE AND BRING TO TRYOUT. 

docs/2011-12%20Academy%20Tryout%20Player%20Profile.doc

ALL PLAYERS MUST WEAR SHINGUARDS.

ACADEMY DIRECTOR - GARTH POLLONAIS

CELL: (864)363-6883, EMAIL: gpollonais@hotmail.com

ACADEMY ADMINISTRATOR – PETER GOULISH

CELL: (727) 224-4351, EMAIL: pcg742002@yahoo.com 

The U17/18 Chargers defeated the Richmond Strikers 2-1 

Goal Summary

Shelton, R. Patrick - 45' Jehs, Travis - 66'

The U15/16 Chargers defeated the Richmond Striker 3-1 

Goal Summary

Thomas, Cameron - 17' 58' Vasconcellos Jr., Fabio - 14'

Sunday, Sept. 25th;

The U17/18 Chargers fall to McLean YS 1-0

The U15/16 Chargers tie McLean YS 0-0

In a special ceremony tonight at the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, the players were on hand to sign for their respective schools as they prepare for the next chapter of their academic and athletic lives.

  “We are extremely proud to once again have so many young men and women from Clearwater Soccer Club moving on to compete at the next level," Clearwater Director of Coaching Peter Mannino said. "The ultimate purpose of the club is to prepare a student/athlete - which means pushing our players to have a strong focus on academics and a strong work ethic. We strive to create the discipline that helps them balance the demands of academics, soccer and social activities, so they are ready to take responsibility and be accountable.”

 More than 500 Clearwater Soccer Club alumni have gone on to play college soccer since the club was founded in 1972.

 The U-18 Boys U.S. Soccer Development Academy team is coached by Garth Pollonais, Director of the Clearwater U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Peter Goulish, Steve Heighway and goalkeeper coach Kevin Clinton.  The U-18 Boys Premier team is coached by David Sica and Mark Lewis. The U-18 Girls are coached by Pollonais and Marco Pollastri.  

 U-18 Girls

Player                                    Position                 High School                         College Attending

Lindsey Brown              MF/D                Northeast                      Lee University

Torey Camporini            MF                   Clearwater C. C.            Fairfield University

Jennifer Casey              F                      Shorecrest                    Brown University

Lindsey Cooper             MF                   Clearwater C. C.            University of Florida

Emily Divito                  MF/D                St. Pete Catholic           Wellesley College

Bryane Heaberlin           GK                   Berkeley Prep                University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dana LaRocque            F                      Venice                          Jacksonville University

Sierra Lelii                     F                      Seminole                      Nova Southeastern University

Jennifer Marzi                MF/D                Clearwater C. C.            Southeastern Louisiana University

Linzy Rakestraw             D                      Plant                             Boston College

Taylor Richardson         D                      Berkeley Prep                Vanderbilt University

Rebecca Rinkevich        D                      Plant                             Davidson College

U-18 Boys                    

Player                                    Position                 High School                         College Attending

Wesley Charpie                   MF                          Tarpon Springs                    University of South Florida

Kendall Crouse                    D                             George Jenkins                   Palm Beach Atlantic University

Tanner Guy                           MF                          East Lake                              Methodist University

Nikolai Hammer                  F                              Countryside                          Furman University

Hunter Maricle                     GK                          Countryside                          Virginia Tech

Jagger Martinez                   MF                          Countryside                          Northwestern University

Kevin Pahl                            MF                          George Jenkins                   Furman University

Alex Politis                            D                             Tampa Prep                         Rollins College

The 2011 Development Academy Winter Showcase will feature every team for the first time in the 2011-12 season, including Academy newcomers Georgia United and Vancouver Whitecaps. Teams will alternate match dates, with some teams kicking off on Friday, Dec. 2 and wrapping up play Monday, Dec. 5, while others will play Saturday, Dec. 3, through Tuesday, Dec. 6. Detailed schedule information will be available closer to the event.

The event in Sarasota will mark the ninth Nike International Friendlies, previously called the Nike National Team Friendlies, since 2003. The U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team has participated in all nine competitions while Brazil will be appearing for the seventh time, Turkey for the third time and France for the first time.

The 2011 Academy season kicked off this weekend with 50 games, but there were eight games last weekend as four clubs began their season. U.S. Soccer director of scouting Tony Lepore took time to talk to ussoccer.com about the upcoming season, including changes from last season and the increased ties between the Academy and the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Since its launch in the fall of 2007, the Academy has provided an increased focus on training and player development by providing a clear connection between the U.S. National Teams and more than 4,000 young players across the country. Top youth coaches and players have direct access to U.S. Soccer staff on a regular basis through the structured programming overseen by U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna.

The Academy also provides opportunities for the country’s top referees to be identified and trained in a positive learning environment under the direction of U.S. Soccer’s Referee Department.

- ussoccer.com -

or call 864-363-6883

Starikov, however, received a belated invite, joining the group in Carson, Calif., on Thursday. He will participate in the rest of the proceedings and be available for the friendly against Chile on Jan. 22.

The Ukranian-born, Florida-bred attacker left Stetson University during his sophomore season to become a member at Zenit St. Petersburg, a club where his father has connections. He spent the 2009 Russian Premier League campaign with the squad’s youth side, scoring six goals in 22 matches. The 5-foot-8 player landed a spot substitute role for the RPL champions before going on loan to Tomsk where he played in nine matches, scoring one goal.

Starikov, who is eligible to play for the US or Ukraine, brings the number of Americans in Carson to 25. He’ll join an attacking crew that includes Juan Agudelo, Mikkel Diskerud and Teal Bunbury. 

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 CHICAGO (March 16, 2011) – U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen has finalized a 20-player roster ahead of the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The group will travel to Dallas on March 20 for a week of training before departing for Guatemala City, Guatemala, on March 25 to begin its quest to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team has been drawn into Group B of the CONCACAF tournament and will face Suriname on March 29 at 8 p.m. ET and Panama on April 2 at 6 p.m. ET at Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores. Both games will be televised on ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.

At the 12-team regional event, the top two teams in each group will advance to the tournament quarterfinals, and the four quarterfinal winners will seal a berth to the FIFA U-20 World Cup, set for July 29-Aug. 20 across eight cities in Colombia. The U.S. will be attempting to qualify for an eighth-consecutive time, having qualified for 13 U-20 World Cups since the tournament began in 1977.

“As a staff, we’ve done our due diligence during the last year and a half,” said Rongen. “I can’t speak enough about all the players that we’ve looked at who have put in a tremendous amount of work and energy in each and every camp. That made this selection probably tougher than any other cycle and that’s a good thing. It means we’ve gotten deeper in every position and that we’ve got a great talent pool.” 

• Rongen Quote Sheet
• Full Rongen Podcast

The group features a pair of FIFA U-20 World Cup veterans in defender Gale Agbossoumonde and midfielder Dillon Powers. Additionally, midfielder Amobi Okugo helped the U.S. qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup but was not part of the team that traveled to Egypt. The trio leads the team in international U-20 caps, with Agbossoumonde earning 26 in his career and Okugo and Powers each making 13 appearances.

Okugo is one of eight representatives of Major League Soccer, and will be joined by Philadelphia Union teammate Zac MacMath, who has established himself as the top goalkeeper in this age group. The Union are the only MLS team with two players on the roster.

Joining MacMath are fellow MLS rookies Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Omar Salgado (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Zarek Valentin (Chivas USA), who were all selected in the top four of this year’s SuperDraft. Defender Korey Veeder is also an MLS rookie, allocated to the Columbus Crew in a special lottery. FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls will be represented by Home Grown signees Moises Hernandez and Sacir Hot, who are also beginning their first year in the league.

Hernandez, Hot and Valentin are three of the 10 players who are alumni of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, a group that also includes three of the four college players on the roster.

Powers, who played for Texas-based Andromeda before Notre Dame, was named the Academy’s U-17/18 Player of the Year for the 2008-09 season. UCLA’s Kelyn Rowe was part of the Crossfire Premier team that played in two-straight Finals Week championship matches in 2009 and 2010, while Duke’s Sebastien Ibeagha hails from the Houston Dynamo Academy. Rowe’s UCLA teammate Eder Arreola grew up playing for Pateadores before the inception of the Academy, and makes it four college players on the roster.

Agbossouomonde (IMG Academy), Conor Doyle (Dallas Texans), Moises Orozco (Real So Cal) and Veeder (Clearwater Chargers) signed professional contracts straight from their Academy teams, and have since established themselves at the U-20 level.

Eight players will join the team from professional leagues spanning five other countries. Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town), Doyle (Derby County) and Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United) will all travel to Dallas from England and Hoffenheim’s Joe Gyau and 1860 Munich’s Bobby Wood will join the team from Germany. Agbossoumonde from Sweden’s Djurgardens, Greg Garza from Estoril Praia in Portugal and Orozco from Mexico’s UANL Tigres round out the foreign-based contingent.

The Americans have never won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, but the tournament format returned in 2009 after 13 years without crowning a champion. With 12 FIFA U-20 World Cup appearances, the U.S. has qualified more than any other CONCACAF nation.

At the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship held in Trinidad & Tobago, the U.S. opened with a 3-0 win against Jamaica and a 0-0 draw with Honduras. Needing a win or a tie against El Salvador to secure a place at the World Cup, Brek Shea and Tony Taylor scored first-half goals en route to a 2-0 victory that sent the U.S. to Egypt and into the CONCACAF semifinals.

A scoreless semifinal against host Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain set up a dramatic penalty shootout. U.S. goalkeeper Brian Perk stopped two shots to send the U.S. to the championship match, where they would fall 3-0 to Costa Rica.

U.S. Under-20 MNT Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2):

Zac MacMath (Philadelphia Union; St. Petersburg, Fla.), Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.)

DEFENDERS (8):

Gale Agbossoumonde (Djurgårdens IF; Syracuse, N.Y.), Greg Garza (G.D. Estoril Praia; Grapevine, Texas), Moises Hernandez (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Sacir Hot (New York Red Bulls; Fair Lawn, N.J.), Sebastien Ibeagha (Duke; Missouri City, Texas), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Zarek Valentin (Chivas USA; Lancaster, Pa.), Korey Veeder (Columbus Crew; St. Petersburg, Fla.)

MIDFIELDERS (5):

Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United; San Francisco, Calif.), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Moises Orozco (UANL Tigres; Oxnard, Calif.), Dillon Powers (Notre Dame; Plano, Texas), Kelyn Rowe (UCLA; Newport Beach, Calif.)

FORWARDS (5):

Eder Arreola (UCLA; Chino Hills, Calif.), Conor Doyle (Derby County FC; McKinney, Texas), Joe Gyau (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Silver Spring, Md.), Omar Salgado (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; El Paso, Texas), Bobby Wood (TSV 1860 München; Irvine, Calif.)

The Crew did not re-sign World Cup veteran Frankie Hejduk in the offseason before signing Chilean Sebastian Miranda to the position.

There is not a lot of cover behind Miranda, however, especially with Danny O’Rourke still out after undergoing knee surgery in November.

One possibility had been recent MLS SuperDraft pick Rich Balchan, but the Indiana product has impressed at center back.

Bliss admitted not knowing a great deal about Veeder, 19, who played for Crystal Palace Baltimore (USSF D-2) last season.

“We were able to see him live during the (MLS) combine,” Bliss said. “The U-20s had an intra-squad scrimmage and he played the second half. His best spot is probably right back, but he can be a utility guy anywhere across the backline.

“In the (USSF D-2) he could probably get away at centerback, but at the MLS level he’s a bit undersized.”

Bliss also stressed that Veeder could be an option at defensive midfielder.

Veeder hopes to join the Crew in Columbus for training next week and later in Atlanta, but he will rejoin the U-20s in late March for the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Guatemala leading up to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in July.

Bliss is happy to exchange the short term absences for a possible future benefit.

“At his age and if he continues to develop with the Under 20’s and the training we’ll be able to give him in reserve action, down the road he could be a potential player for us in the first team,” Bliss said.

Prior to entering the US Soccer Residency program, Veeder was a key member of the Charger 2006 U15 State Championship team. Following his residency stint, Veeder returned to the Chargers, playing for its Development Academy team, where he was named to 2009 South Conference U-17/18 Starting XI, and the Winter Showcase 91-92 Academy Select team #1.

Four MLS clubs participated in the weighted player lottery for 19-year-old Veeder which was held MLS league headquarters. The St. Petersburg native played with Crystal Palace Baltimore in USL last year.

 Toronto FC (45.52 percent) had the best chance at acquiring the US Under-20 prospect followed by the Seattle Sounders (24.83 percent), the Columbus Crew (19.31 percent) and the Colorado Rapids (10.34 percent), but Columbus prevailed.

Each MLS club has the option of withdrawing from participation in any player lottery. The teams’ percentage chances, which are calculated by taking into account a team’s record over its last 30 regular season games, will be adjusted ahead of each of the three lotteries based on the number of teams that participate.

The league uses the lottery mechanism for: 1) players who have completed their college eligibility and sign after the SuperDraft; 2) underclassmen who sign Generation adidas contracts after the SuperDraft; and 3) players who were previously offered MLS contracts and did not sign.

#2 Seed Maryland: Zac MacMath

#5 Seed SMU: Max Rockwell

#12 Seed William & Mary: Andrew McAdams(pre-Academy)

Penn: Alex Tuch

Princeton: Max Gallin

Providence: Anthony Bauman

USF: Jeff Attinella (pre-Academy), Ben Sweat, Shane Wixted, TJ Roehn, JJ Bostic, Sean Rafferty

The 6-foot, 185-pound senior midfielder led the Mustangs (26-2-3) to the Class 4A state championship this past season, recording four goals and 21 assists. The 2010 All-North Suncoast Player of the Year and a Florida Athletic Coaches Association Class 4A First Team All-State selection, Rockwell has battled back from two anterior cruciate ligament tears in his right knee, one in the first game of his sophomore season and the second during the state tournament his junior year.
Rockwell has maintained a 3.28 GPA in the classroom. A member of his school’s student council, he has volunteered locally as a youth soccer coach and camp counselor.

“Max Rockwell has no ups and downs,” said Peter Mannino, director of coaching for the Clearwater Chargers club program. “His game is solid, he leads by example. No circumstances, no adversity, affect him. He’s the heart of the team. He’s just a workhorse but with skill to go with it.”
Rockwell has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at Southern Methodist University this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Rockwell joins recent Gatorade Florida Boys Soccer Players of the Year Hasani Sinclair (2008-09, American Heritage School), Shawn Barry (2007-08, American Heritage School), and Eugene Starikov (2006-07, Palm Harbor University) among the state’s list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

Ben Sweat: University of South Florida

Mike Attal: Columbia University

Max Rockwell: Southern Methodist University

Matt Kimball: Brigham Young University

TJ Roehn: Univeristy of South Florida

Javon "JJ" Bostic: University of South Florida

Anthony Bauman: Providence University

Shane Wixted: University of South Florida

Kevin "KP" Pahl: Furman University(2011)

Nicolai Hammer: Furman University(2011)

"I can’t take all the credit for this [pick]," Vartughian said. "[Union assistant] John Hackworth coached him on the [under-17 national team], and Peter [Nowak, Union coach] selected him to a U23 national team trip to China, and myself have known him for quite some time. Zac has abilities that far exceed anything that can be taught, but he is only 19, so we want to make sure that we groom him to become our future goalkeeper, because he certainly has the potential."

MacMath, who will fulfill commitments to the U.S. Under-20 national team, is expected to battle for the backup spot, with much of his work coming in MLS’ revived reserve league. With Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon expected in the coming days via free transfer from the German club FC Cologne and Brad Knighton boasting 4 years of MLS experience, MacMath will have to earn his way onto the team.

He’s done that for much of his career.

"I had to work my way up at Maryland, and I don’t expect that to be any different here," said MacMath, a first-team All American and 1st -team All ACC Conference selection in 2010. "I am working with a coach [Vartughian] that I know well and have a lot of respect for. I am excited for the challenge."

That challenge will wait, for now, as MacMath will join Union teammate Amobi Okugo and the rest of the U.S. Under-20 teams in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifications in April. MacMath will report to Philadelphia next week, before leaving for training camp, which will include 2 weeks in Florida and 17 days in Greece.

At Maryland, MacMath led to the Terrapins to the 2008 National Championship and the 2008 and 2010 ACC Championship. He leaves the Terps with 4 school records, season goals against average, .44; season shutouts, 15; career goals against average, .65, career shutouts, 34(tied).

Dec. 9, 2010

CHICAGO (Dec. 9, 2010) – U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen has finalized a 24-player roster for an upcoming training camp in Sunrise, Fla., from Dec. 12-19. The camp will include two friendlies against Canada on Dec. 16 and Dec. 18.

The group features a combination of nine players who will be making their first appearance in a U-20 camp and relative veterans of the program. That contrast can be seen in the pair of goalkeepers, Zac MacMath and Kevin Piedrahita. MacMath just finished his junior season at Maryland and is nominated for Best Young Male Athlete of the Year, while Piedrahita of Colombia’s America de Cali will be in his first U.S. camp.

In all, the roster features 11 college players and professional players who ply their trade in eight different countries. There are three representatives of Major League Soccer, including D.C. United’s Conor Shanosky and a pair of Philadelphia Union players in Jack McInerney and Amobi Okugo.

Okugo will anchor the group of midfielders along with Dillon Powers as both players also played key roles during the 2009 cycle. They will be joined by collegians Steven Evans (Portland) and Kelyn Rowe (UCLA) and professionals Joshua Gatt (SC Rheindorf), Joseph Gyau (Hoffenheim) and Alex Molano (Dinamo Zagreb). Rowe was a stand out on the Crossfire Premier team that advanced to the championship game in the past two Development Academy Finals Weeks and is one of eight former Academy players heading to Sunrise.

Soony Saad is coming off of an impressive freshman season at Michigan, having led the Wolverines to their first Final Four. He will be one of two college players among the group of forwards along with Louisville’s Dylan Mares. Fellow forward Conor Doyle, who is continuing a whirlwind year that has taken him from the Dallas Texans to Derby County in England, will also participate in his first camp under Rongen.

Name    Pos. Ht. Wt. Birth Date Hometown Club /College

Agbossoumonde, Gale D 6-3 195 11/17/91 Syracuse, N.Y. G.D. Estoril Praia (Portugal)

Doyle, Conor F 6-1 175 10/13/91 McKinney, Texas Derby County FC (England)

Evans, Steven M 6-1 175 09/19/91 Troutdale, Ore. Portland

Garza, Greg D 5-8 155 08/16/91 Grapevine, Texas G.o. Estoril Praia (Portugal)

Gatt, Joshua M 5-10 165 08/29/91 Plymouth, Mich. SC Rheindorf Altach (Austria)

Gyau, Joe M 5-8 155 09/16/92 Silver Spring, Md. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany)

Ibeagha, Sebastien D 6-1 180 01/21/92 Missouri City, Texas Duke

Kitchen, Perry D 6-0 160 02/29/92 Indianapolis, Ind. Akron

Zac MacMath, Zac GK 6-1 175 08/07/91 St. Petersburg, Fla. Maryland

Mcinerney, Jack F 5-9 160 08/05/92 Alpharetta, Ga. Philadelphia Union (MLS)

Molano, Alex M 5-9 155 04/10/92 Grapevine, Texas NK Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)

 Okugo, Amobi M 5-11 165 03/13/91 Sacramento, Calif. Philadelphia Union (MLS)

Piedrahita, Kevin GK 6-1 170 06/18/91 Queens, N.Y. America de Cali (Columbia)

Powers, Dillon M 6-0 180 02/14/91 Plano, Texas Notre Dame

Rowe, Kelyn M 5-8 150 12/02/91 Newport Beach, Calif. UCLA

 Ruelas, Adrian F 6-2 170 03/18/91 Fontana, Calif. Celtic F.C. (Scotland)

Saad, Soony F 5-11 165 08/17/92 Dearborn, Mich. Michigan

Salgado, Omar F 6-4 170 09/10/93 EI Paso, Texas Unattached

Schoenle, Eric D 6-2 150 09/29/91 Yardley, Pa. West Virginia

Sweat, Ben D 6-2 180 09/04/91 Palm Harbor, Fla. South Florida

Valentin, Zarek D 6-0 155 08/06/91 Lancaster, Pa. Akron

Veeder, Korey D 5-11 165 10103/91 St. Petersburg, Fla. Unattached

Roster By Position: GOALKEEPERS (2): Zac MacMath (Maryland; St. Petersburg, Fla.), Kevin Piedrahita (America de Cali; Queens, N.Y.) DEFENDERS (8): Gale Agbossoumonde (G.o. Estoril Praia; Syracuse, N.Y.), Greg Garza (G.o. Estoril Praia; Grapevine, Texas), Sebastien Ibeagha (Duke; Missouri City, Texas), Perry Kitchen (Akron; Indianapolis, Ind.), Eric Schoenle (West Virginia; Yardley, Pa.), Ben Sweat (South Florida; Palm Harbor, Fla.), Zarek Valentin (Akron; Lancaster, Pa.), Korey Veeder (Unattached; St. Petersburg, Fla.) MIDFIELDERS (7): Steven Evans (Portland; Troutdale, Ore.), Joshua Gatt (SC Rheindorf Altach; Plymouth, Mich.), Joe Gyau (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Silver Spring, Md.), Alex Molano (NK Dinamo Zagreb; Grapevine, Texas), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Dillon Powers (Notre Dame; Plano, Texas), Kelyn Rowe (UCLA; Newport Beach, Calif.) FORWARDS (5): Conor Doyle (Derby County FC; McKinney, Texas), Jack Mcinerney (Philadelphia Union; Alpharetta, Ga.), Adrian Ruelas (Celtic F.C.; Fontana, Calif.), Soony Saad (Michigan; Dearborn, Mich.), Omar Salgado (Unattached; EI Paso, Texas)

The 32 teams were placed into four pots for each age group, based on seeding, and were randomly drawn into eight groups of four. The top finisher in each group will move on to the third annual Development Academy Finals Week at The Home Depot Center from July 10-17.

The Academy Playoffs were incorporated into the program’s schedule in 2009 to increase the number of meaningful games that a team plays over the course of the season, while still limiting the number of games overall.

The top seed in the U-17/18 age group, Indiana United Academy, will attempt to reach Finals Week for a third consecutive year, having won the championship in 2008 as a U-15/16 team and in 2009 as a U-17/18 group. Formerly known as Carmel United, Indiana United has been placed in a group that also includes No. 10 Concorde Fire, No. 17 Lonestar Aztex Academy and No. 29 New England Revolution.

The Baltimore Bays have earned the top seed in the U-15/16 age group, and have been drawn into a very diverse group that includes the No. 10 Dallas Texans, No. 24 Chivas USA and No. 32 Kansas City Wizards. The Bays are one of 19 clubs to qualify both teams to Greensboro, and in the U-17/18 age group, the No. 5-seeded Bays will face No. 16 Chicago Fire, No. 21 Texas SC DTH and No. 31 FC Westchester in an attempt to reclaim the U-17/18 crown they won in 2008.

As demonstrated in 2009 when No. 31 seed Cal Odyssey made an incredible run to Finals Week and then to the U-51/16 championship match, teams have everything to play for in Greensboro as the Acaemy season winds down. But to the teams who have made it this point, reaching Greensboro is a testament to the hard work put in during a 10-month season.

California Development Academy is in its first year of the U.S. Soccer program and is among the double qualifiers at Playoffs. CDA earned the No. 17 seed in the U-15/16 age group and was drawn against No. 7 PDA, No. 16 Internationals and No. 32 Birmingham United. As the No. 11 seed in the U-17/18 age group, California Development Academy was placed in Group H with No. 6 IMG Academy, Vardar and FC Milwaukee.

LAFC Chelsea, who was the first team to qualify both teams for Finals Week during the inaugural season of the Development Academy, will once again be looking for a strong showing from both teams in Greensboro to reach Finals Week for the third straight year. As the No. 20 seed in the younger group, they are pitted against No. 5 Real Colorado, No. 14 D.C. United and No. 26 Vardar.

Derby County Wolves U-17/18 enter Playoffs as the eighth seed following their run to the 2008-09 U-15/16 championship. In Greensboro, they will need to battle New York Red Bulls, Greensboro Youth Soccer and the PA Classics to reach Carson again in 2010.

Two U-17/18 groups include a pair of Academies associated with Major League Soccer clubs, as Group C will see a matchup between FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy and Group D includes both D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo.

(2): Samir Badr (FC Porto; Fairfax, Va.), Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.)

(7): Gale Agbossoumonde (SC Braga; Syracuse, N.Y.), Chad Barson (Akron; Lewis Center, Ohio),

Bryan De La Fuente (Chivas USA Academy; Bell, Calif.), Perry Kitchen (Akron, Indianapolis, Ind.), Kofi Sarkodie (Akron; Huber Heights, Ohio),

Zarek Valentin (Akron; Lancaster, Pa.), Parker Walsh (1860 Munich; Irvine, Calif.)

(8): Erik Benjaminsen (Stabæk; Sandvika, Norway), Lester Dewee (Olympique de Marseille; Kensington, Md.),

Bryan Dominguez (Miami FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Alex Molano (Dinamo Zagreb; Grapevine, Texas), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Moises Orozco (Real So Cal; Oxnard, Calif.), George Pantelic (FK RAD Belgrade; Woodland Hills, Calif.), Cesar Zamora (Chivas USA; Sylmar, Calif.)

(4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls; Barnegat, N.J.), Shaun Greenfield (FC Chernomorets; Weston, Fla.),

Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union; Alpharetta, Ga.), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich; Irvine, Calif.)

The Bulls finished this past season as the 2008 BIG EAST Champions, including a perfect 8-0-2 record at home. During the NCAA tournament, the Bulls beat Harvard, 2-1, in the second round, and then defeated UNC Greensboro, 3-1 in penalty kick’s, in the Sweet 16 to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight.

Ben states :

In terms of numerical odds, even a player that has advanced so far is a very long-shot to make a living playing pro.  There are dozens of top clubs throughout the United States – close to 80 in the US Soccer Development Academy and many more besides -- each with a full roster of talented players.  Thus, there are literally thousands of youth stars each year. 

Yet, in the top professional league in the US, there are currently sixteen teams with a maximum roster of twenty-six players.  That means a maximum of 416 total players on MLS rosters.  MLS rosters include dozens of international players from all over the world, and many long-time professional veterans.  Hence, each team adds at most a small handful of first-time pros each year.  To fill the handful of spots, MLS can choose from among players ranging from Academy standouts in their early teens to collegiate stars in their early twenties.  Most players never get a serious look.  Even for those who go so far as to be invited to the MLS Combine – an annual invite-only camp for elite players selected for review by MLS coaches and general managers – they will arrive only to be advised by representatives of the MLS Players Union that a large majority of them will have to be looking for a job doing something else. 

For the fraction of those who make it, neither riches nor job security likely awaits.  Most rookies join the league at minimum salary on non-guaranteed contracts, and many do not survive on the roster for a full season.   The most recent MLS collective bargaining agreement brought improvements for players in terms of guaranteed contracts and compensation.  However, even with these, in MLS, a young player who is not part of the Generation Adidas program will very rarely be given a guaranteed contract until reaching twenty-four years of age and three years of MLS service.  Thus, up until July 1^st each year, a player can be released without notice with one month’s severance pay, abruptly putting the player out of work.  Most such players make at or near the minimum salary of $40,000 or the “reserve player” minimum of $31,500.  Such a salary in a major city does not go a long way, and certainly does not provide much of a cushion in the event of abrupt termination.

Division two professional soccer in the United States provides some additional jobs, but those jobs generally provide even less security and compensation.  Historically, many Division two franchises have struggled financially, sometimes going out of business.  Most players receive a very modest monthly salary that often is only paid for the portion of the year during which the club is playing games.  Hence, many such players must work additional jobs to make ends meet.

European soccer presents a different pathway to a potential professional career, yet the challenges are similarly daunting.  Even before consideration of on-field ability, consideration of an American player by a European club must navigate a sea of legal and regulatory issues.  Every nation has its own law regarding immigration of foreign nationals.  In addition, many leagues have limitations regarding recruitment of foreign players, and FIFA (the international governing body of soccer) imposes further restrictions and particularly limits international movement of young players.   Far too often, I hear stories of young players who make the mistake of investing their time, energy, money and hopes on international tryouts that are doomed from the start due to legal and regulatory issues that are not fully understood. 

Young players seeking to start a career in Europe must also understand that it is exceedingly rare that a contract will be offered without a successful tryout, no matter the player’s prior accomplishments.  This adds to the difficulty in a number of ways. 

First, it is very often difficult for an American player to know in advance what they are getting into.  European clubs are generally complex organizations with numerous staff members and “teams” ranging from the professional squad to youth affiliates.  Only a few staff members will actually be relevant to a decision to offer an aspiring trialist a spot with the club.  It may not be difficult to obtain a training stint with a club, but that does not necessarily translate to a true tryout.  If your goal is a spot with the club, be careful before you go to make sure that you understand the dynamics at the club.  If, as is usually the case, you are obtaining these facts from some “middleman”, make sure that you check out whether that person is reputable.  Unfortunately, there are many “scouts,” agents, or aspiring deal-makers who either themselves do not understand what they are doing, or who sadly are willing to mislead.  Also, understand that you will in most cases be responsible for all or most of the cost of a trial and that you must be very careful otherwise if you hope to maintain NCAA eligibility.

A true trial will generally challenge an American to show a club that he is “better than what they have.”  No club is likely to recruit over a local player who has grown up with the club and take on all the extra risks involved in a foreign player unless it sees a clear upgrade. 

As with MLS, an “offer” will generally not translate to immediate fame and fortune.  Most initial offers to young players include little more than room and board, some pocket spending money, and a spot on a junior or reserve team.  A lengthy stay is not guaranteed.  Usually a club will have an “up or out” assessment after a year or two.  A player will need to perform on the field and mostly likely adjust to significant cultural and language differences off the field in order to succeed.  There is typically very little “emotional” support, and in some cases outright animosity from local players competing for an ultimate spot on the professional team.  Only with successful promotion will the player receive a longer contract and a true salary.

None of the above is meant to discourage the aspiring professional player.  It is great to have dreams, and the prospect of making a living playing a game that you love is a wonderful dream.  However, it is important to be educated and to be smart.  A few tips meant to help in that regard:

·         Pursue your dream, but pay attention to academics and other off-the-field responsibilities, too.  Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.  No matter how good a soccer player you are, the odds are that sooner or later you will have to make a living doing something other than playing. 

·         Take great care before crossing the line to becoming a “professional” and surrendering NCAA eligibility.  Unfortunately, the NCAA rules are not very compatible with the international system of professional soccer.  Many actions – e.g., permitting a club to pay for airfare for a trial,  accepting a one-year developmental contract for minimal pay, interactions with a non-attorney agent, etc. – that are standard for a young player in the international soccer system may nevertheless close the door on collegiate possibilities while by no means assuring professional success.  It is a shame that the NCAA creates such major consequences for actions that are in reality simply a testing of professional waters, but, given this reality, “crossing the line” is a huge decision that must be carefully considered.

·         If your goal is MLS, far and away the most safe and lucrative manner of entry is the Generation Adidas program.  Each year, MLS signs roughly ten college underclassmen and/or high school boys to contracts that are multi-year, guaranteed, and, by the MLS scale, well-paid.  The process by which players are selected for such contracts is weighted heavily toward performance with US National teams or top college programs.  The only major down-side to such contracts is that they are unavailable to college seniors.

·         MLS is currently undergoing significant change as the teams attempt to establish “Academy” teams, and this is something an aspiring professional player should watch carefully.  At present, MLS Academies are not like European Academies in which players train five to six times a week and live, train and go to school in a residential setting.  Yet they have become a point of emphasis and are meant to supply “home grown players” to the professional team.  Current plans involve each MLS team signing a half dozen or so such players to reserve contracts worth between $30,000 and $40,000 per year—a significant number of players and a major new route to pro soccer.  Yet players considering joining MLS Academies must be careful.  Most players will not be offered a contract.  MLS teams are given “exclusive MLS rights” to their Academy players, and thus a player who joins an MLS Academy team is restricted from joining any other MLS club and contractual bargaining leverage is significantly decreased.  Moreover, the MLS Academy teams are all new and they are not all equally well-developed, nor are all of them as strong as some of the non-MLS Academy programs.  Thus, before joining an MLS Academy team, make sure you understand the pros and cons and the team’s plans with regard to your particular circumstances.

·         US youth National Teams are a great means of attracting international interest.  As noted above, this rarely leads to offers without trials; however, national team participation can open many doors.  However, note that in recent years many players and parents have found that local programs can be equal to or better than the residency program for the U17 national team when all factors are balanced.

·         If your goal is European soccer, note that the concept of a “young player” in Europe is very different than in the United States.  By the time a player goes to college in America, he has reached an age at which he is generally too old to enter European soccer at anything other than a first team or high reserve team level, and it is extremely difficult to convince a European club to take such a player with no pro experience and without the European training given at younger ages in preparation for professional soccer.  Yet, as discussed earlier, to go to a European club at a younger age typically involves giving up college possibilities in return for little to no money or guarantee of success.

·         Putting aside the handful of players who do well enough to walk straight into a professional contract in Europe, the best alternative pathways are probably to either (a) go over as an early teenager to study and live and play as an amateur and see where this takes you (but this involves a major life-changing choice for most people) or (b) to make a calculated decision to go over in lieu of college on a development contract for a year or two, having a back-up plan if no full professional contract is offered.

·         Finally, I strongly advise that players and their families receive good, competent, experienced advice.  While the NCAA places limitations upon speaking with agents, players are permitted to consult with an “attorney advisor” for assistance in assessing the professional landscape.  For any aspiring professional player, the choices are difficult and complex and the landscape is far from clear, but the decisions to be made are of great importance. 

*Wasserman Media Group is a global sports and entertainment company with leadership positions in athlete representation, global property sales, action sports, and corporate and property consulting. Wasserman’s soccer practice is considered the most prominent in the sport, handling more than 250 players such as Americans Mia Hamm and Landon Donovan and international football stars including Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen. In addition, Wasserman has represented many naming rights and sponsorship relationships including the historic $180 million deal to name the Emirates Stadium in London, home of the famed Arsenal Football Club. Wasserman Media Group also serves corporate clients such as American Express, Castrol, Procter & Gamble and T-Mobile.  Casey Wasserman, Chairman and CEO of WMG, serves on the Board of Directors for the USA Bid Committee in its effort to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to the United States in 2018 or 2022.

The top finisher in each group will compete in the semifinals on April 2, with the final held on April 4.

Joining the U.S. in Dallas will be a mix of youth national team veterans and newcomers, which include youth players, newly signed Francisco Navas Cobo from the Houston Dynamo and Tigres’ Moises Orozco.

Zac MacMath and Kofi Sarkodie, who were teammates at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, while Will Packwood, Tyler Polak and Jared Watts played in the 2009 edition of the tournament. Dillon Powers and Amobi Okugo were part of the previous U-20 cycle, with Powers featuring for the U.S. at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup and Okugo part of the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

U.S. U-20 MNT Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS

(2): Justin Luthy (Boston College; Dublin, Ohio), Zac MacMath (Maryland; St. Petersburg, Fla.)

DEFENDERS

(7): Chad Barson (Akron; Lewis Center, Ohio), Jesus Gonzalez (CZ Elite; Burbank, Calif.), Ian Hines-Ike (Chivas USA Academy; Littleton, Colo.), Tyler Polak (CSA Legacy; Lincoln, Neb.), Kofi Sarkodie (Akron; Huber Heights, Ohio), Zarek Valentin (Akron; Lancaster, Pa.), Jared Watts (Wake Forest; Statesville, N.C.)

MIDFIELDERS

(7): Jose Altamirano (San Diego State; San Diego, Calif.), Bryan De La Fuente (Chivas USA Academy; Bell, Calif.), Ruben Gonzalez (Chivas USA; Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Will Packwood (Birmingham City; Concord, Mass.), Dillon Powers (Notre Dame; Plano, Texas), Cesar Zamora (Chivas USA; Sylmar, Calif.)

FORWARDS

(4): Will Bates (Virginia; Chester, Va.), Ryan Finley (Duke; Lumberton, N.J.), Francisco Navas Cobo (Houston Dynamo; Richmond, Texas), Moises Orozco (Tigres; Oxnard, Calif.)

We initially saw Korey two and a half years ago in a tournament in New Jersey and we recognized that he had special talent," stated Palace Baltimore’s Sporting Director and Co-Head Coach Jim Cherneski, who also serves as Chief Scout for North America for Crystal Palace in London. "Six months after that, we sent him over to the UK where he spent two weeks being looked over by our Academy staff. We all liked him a lot and the London club wanted to keep him, but due to FIFA rules on age and work permits, we weren’t able to bring him over at the time. But we have a good relationship with Peter Mannino, Director of Coaching at the Clearwater Chargers, so we were able to stay in close contact over the following two years."

Cherneski concluded: "We’re very pleased with Korey’s continued development and now we’re excited to help launch his pro career. We believe he’s a special player with special talent and we believe he’s going to be a very good professional player."

Gary Issot, Coach of the London club’s U-18 Academy team, remarked: "When Korey was over here 2 years ago, he did very well. He played in a friendly against Queens Park Rangers and did very well at right back. We were really impressed with his passing from full back and his technical quality. At the time we would have loved to have signed him, but we weren’t able to make it happen. He’s got a terrific attitude and looks like he could adapt to English football well. We were really encouraged by his performances."

Born October 3rd 1991, Veeder was a member of the elite US U-17 National Team residency program in Bradenton, Florida from 2007 to 2008, representing his country on 21 occasions. He is currently a member of the US U-18 National Team pool. Veeder was named to the NSCAA/ADIDAS All-American Team in 2007 and 2008. Veeder played his club soccer with the Clearwater Chargers Soccer Club in Clearwater, Florida from 2005 to 2008.

"I’ve loved watching and playing soccer since I was very young," said Veeder. "I’d been hoping to get signed as a pro one day, so this is a dream come true. I’d love to get to play for Crystal Palace in London and then eventually play in the Premier League."

The 12-member first-team features four players from Florida, three each from California and Texas and two from Arizona. Only players from winter-season teams are eligible. ESPN RISE named fall and spring All-America teams for those respective seasons.

Juan Gutierrez guided JSerra to a section crown and Reed Williams of Corona del Mar did one better – a section crown and region title (California’s highest level of play). Mark Daus, George Malki, Max Rockwell, Wes Sever and Josh von Allworden each helped their teams to state titles.

Note: Players are listed with position, name, school (city, state), year in school, college signing/commitment (if available).

First Team

F: Miles Byass, Redlands (Redlands, Calif.), Sr., San Diego State
F: Juan Gutierrez, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Jr.
F: Wes Sever, Tampa Prep (Tampa, Fla.), Sr., George Mason
F: Reed Williams, Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.), Sr., UCLA
MF: Zach Barnes, Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas), Sr., Southern Methodist
MF: George Malki, Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sr., Cal Poly
MF: Max Rockwell, Mitchell (New Port Richey, Fla.), Sr., SMU
MF: Ben Sweat, Palm Harbor University (Palm Harbor, Fla.), Sr., South Florida
D: Mark Daus, Jesuit (Dallas, Texas), Sr., Santa Clara
D: Sebastian Ibeagha, Hightower (Missouri City, Texas), Sr., Duke
D: Josh von Allworden, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), Sr., Oregon State
GK: Eric Reyes, University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Sr., UC Santa Barbara
Coach: Hubie Collins, Jesuit (New Orleans, La.)

Second Team

F: Juan Castillo, Kingwood Park (Kingwood, Texas), Sr., Southern Methodist
F: Julio Morales, Willow Glen (San Jose, Calif.), So.
F: T.J. Roehn, Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), Sr., South Florida
F: Blake Wise, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), Indiana
MF: Jonathan Canales, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Sr., UC Santa Barbara
MF: Brian Ford, Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.), Jr.
MF: James Garcia-Prats, Strake Jesuit (Houston, Texas), Sr., Luther (Iowa)
MF: Alex Henry, Poway (Poway, Calif.), Sr., UC Davis
D: Julio Alarcon, Bel Air (El Paso, Texas), Jr.
D: Eric Brunter, Servite (Anaheim, Calif.), Sr., Loyola Marymount
D: DeVante DuBose, Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.), Sr., Virginia Tech
GK: Ryan Aubrey, Jesuit (Dallas, Texas), Sr., Buffalo

Third Team

F: Jarred Arde, Gulfport (Gulfport, Miss.), Sr., Drake
F: Bryan Lima, North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.), Sr., Virginia
F: Andrew Palumbo, Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.), Jr.
F: Ryan Price, Melbourne (Melbourne, Fla.), Sr., Florida Gulf Coast
MF: Kerel Bradford, Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), Sr., Indiana
MF: Stephen Cabos, Jesuit (New Orleans, La.), Jr.
MF: Bryan Lima, North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.), Sr., Virginia
MF: Aaron Simmons, Mansfield (Mansfield, Texas), Jr.
D: Connor Drechsler, Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.), Sr., Cal Poly
D: Chris Fisher, St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), Sr., Cal Poly
D: Patrick Wall, Strake Jesuit (Houston, Texas), Sr., Notre Dame
GK: Sean Cote, Plano (Plano, Texas), Sr., George Mason

First-team player bios

Sheldon Shealer ESPN RISE

The following are player bios on the 12 members of the ESPN RISE Winter All-America team and the Coach of the Year.

F: Miles Byass, Redlands (Redlands, Calif.), Sr.
Byass, a youth national team member, returned to high school play this past winter and delivered a 30-goal season en route to being named the San Bernardino County Player of the Year. He was a CIF Division III first-team selection. He signed with San Diego State.

F: Juan Gutierrez, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Jr.
Gutierrez was the Orange County Register and CIF Southern Section Offensive Player of the Year after leading JSerra to the Division I title and a Southern Regional semifinal appearance. Gutierrez finished with 22 goals and scored seven game-deciding goals.

F: Wes Sever, Tampa Prep (Tampa, Fla.), Sr.
Sever, a George Mason signee, scored 14 of his 32 goals in the playoffs as Tampa Prep claimed its third title in four years. Sever was a Tampa Tribune first-team selection.

F: Reed Williams, Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.), Sr.
Despite missing time due to injury, Williams, a UCLA signee, netted 32 goals to lead Corona del Mar to the CIF Division IV and CIF-Southern Region titles. He scored twice in the team’s 3-2 win over JSerra in the section semifinals then netted the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Santa Barbara for the title.

MF: Zach Barnes, Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas), Sr.
Barnes scored 15 goals and was selected by the coaches as the Texas District 6-5A offensive MVP. The Southern Methodist signee was a first-team selection by the Dallas Morning News.

MF: George Malki, Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sr.
Malki, a U.S. under-18 national pool member, was a driving force in Pinnacle’s 25-1-1, state title-winning season. The Cal Poly signee scored 19 goals and added 10 assists. He was a first-team All-State selection by the Arizona Republic.

MF: Max Rockwell, Mitchell (New Port Richey, Fla.), Sr.
Rockwell was named the St. Petersburg Times all-North Suncoast Player of the Year after helping Mitchell to the program’s first state title. The Southern Methodist University signee led the team with 19 assists.

MF: Ben Sweat, Palm Harbor University (Palm Harbor, Fla.), Sr.
Sweat, a South Florida signee, had 22 goals and 11 assists while leading Palm Harbor University to a Class 6A runner-up finish. Sweat was named the St. Petersburg Times All-Pinellas County Player of the Year.

D: Mark Daus, Jesuit (Dallas, Texas), Sr.
Daus, an all-tournament selection during the Texas 5A state playoffs, spent time at midfield and on defense leading Jesuit to a state title and a FAB 50 No. 1 ranking. He was named the District 8-5A MVP and was a first-team Dallas Morning News all-area selection. Daus signed with Santa Clara.

D: Sebastian Ibeagha, Hightower (Missouri City, Texas), Sr.
Duke signee Ibeagha was named the District 23-5A MVP, which is a rare feat for a defender to be picked as the district’s overall MVP. He guided Hightower to a second-place district finish, the best-ever showing for this program.

D: Josh von Allworden, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), Sr.
Von Allworden not only was a lock-down defensive player, but a scoring threat, as well. The Oregon State signee netted 14 goals and had six assists. His play helped Corona del Sol to an Arizona state title, and along the way the team posted 15 shutouts. He was a first-team All-State selection by the Arizona Republic.

GK: Eric Reyes, University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Sr.
Reyes, a member of the Puerto Rican under-21 national team pool, had an eye-popping 0.11 goals against average. He allowed only three goals during the season, and also got some field time where he scored a goal and had four assists. Reyes signed with UC-Santa Barbara.

Coach: Hubie Collins, Jesuit (New Orleans, La.)
After losing eight starters from last year’s Louisiana state championship and FAB 50 No. 1 team, this was pegged as a rebuilding year for Jesuit. Instead, the program built on its dynasty. Jesuit finished 30-0-1 in 2010, pushing its national-best undefeated streak to 63 matches entering the 2010-2011 campaign. Along the way, Jesuit posted shootout victories over Florida state champions Melbourne and Bishop Verot. In eight seasons as Jesuit’s head coach, Collins sports an eye-popping 229-6-9 record.