CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 29, 2014) – The annual
US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Boys Thanksgiving Interregional commenced
Saturday in Casa Grande, Ariz. with all age groups starting the action. The three-day tournament, which will take place at Grande Sports World will feature elite boys teams in the 2000 and 2001 age groups from each of the four
US Youth Soccer Regions.
The players were selected from US Youth Soccer
State Association and Regional level evaluations. Throughout the week, players will attend training sessions and compete in matches against other Regions, in front of U.S. Soccer national staff and collegiate coaches to maximize their exposure for selection to the next level of play.
With programs in all 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, US Youth Soccer ODP, the original Olympic development program, is available to any player. US Youth Soccer ODP is the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League, and the majority of current and past national and youth national team members, as alumni. To learn more, visit
www.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/OlympicDevelopmentProgram.
Highlights from Day 1:
2000 Boys: Region I v. Region IV
Region I and Region IV netted the only tie of the game as Virginia's Bardia Kimiavi struck first for Region I, only for Oregon's Gian Gargurevich to equalize for Region IV as the game ended 1-1.
2000 Boys: Region II v. Region III
Region II earned a narrow 1-0 victory over Region III as Michigan's Erick Conerty scored the only goal of the match to put Region II at the top of the standings.
2001 Boys: Region I v. Region IV
Region IV defeated Region I 3-1 to open the tournament as goals were scored by New Mexico's Jayson Baca, Nevada's Azriel Gonzalez and Oregon's Eduardo Salazar-Cruz for Region IV. Region I's lone goal came from Griffin Garrard.
2001 Boys: Region II v. Region III
Region III will join Region IV at the top of the standings after securing three points with a convincing 3-0 victory over Region II. Florida's Josh Darius began and and ended the scoring with the first and third goals of the match with South Texas' Trevor Prince's goal sandwiched in between.