Kelyn Rowe (black)U17/18 Academy Finals Starting XI unveiled
July 29, 2010
We admit it: we’re spoiled rotten.
During a 2009-2010 USSF Development Academy season that displayed an embarrassing wealth of youth talent, we were treated to watching some of the best youth soccer players our nation has ever seen.
Today, as we wrap up our coverage of the 2009-2010 Academy season, we face the happy dilemma of selecting the 12 best players from a field of thousands in the U17/18 age group.
We’ve chosen one Development Academy Player of the Year and eleven players from the Academy Finals to be on our U17/18 Starting XI. Many prime talents were left off the list – so rest assured, this is the cream of the crop.
Here are the winners.
Kelyn Rowe (black)U.S. Soccer’s U17/18 Player of the Year is Marvin Iraheta, who led his LAFC Chelsea squad to the Academy Playoffs as the centerpiece of an offense that scored 57 goals in 29 regular season games.
U17/18 Academy Finals Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Andrew Weakly, Crossfire Premier – the three goals he allowed Vardar in the championship were an anomaly in an otherwise outstanding Finals Week performance. He solidified his reputation as one of the Academy’s best by allowing only a single goal in three group games.
Defenders: Zachary Carroll, Vardar – the young defender burst onto the scene at Finals Week, anchoring the Vardar defense, tackling with authority and playing mistake-free football out of the back.
Joseph Dillon, Vardar – Carroll’s physical defensive mate gave Vardar a constant size advantage on the back line. He won balls in the air, on the ground, and provided Vardar the security blanket it needed to win the championship.
Eric Steber, CASL – the sturdy and resilient center back was in the middle of every defensive scrum, and usually came out with the ball at his feet. Showed excellent technical skills defensive awareness organizing the back line.
Midfielders: Damian Rosales, FC Dallas – dominated the right wing in every game. Showed great patience and persistence with the ball, knew when to pass or explode and attack on the dribble. Overall, a very difficult player to contain.
Victor Ulloa, FC Dallas – while he did not exhibit elite speed, Ulloa was silky-smooth on the ball, showed excellent vision and created scoring chances with smart, simple passing. The ideal possession player in the center of the midfield.
Moises Orozco, Real So Cal – dynamic player who set the tempo in the central midfield, spraying balls all over the field, creating on his own and setting up teammates to score.
Edwin Rivas, Real So Cal – shifty, crisp and confident on the ball, also scored several goals with a wicked right-footed shot.
Forwards: Caleb Stanko, Vardar – a midfielder/forward hybrid, Stanko was electric all tournament but took on a starring role in the championship game, making run after run into the Crossfire box. His constant pressure and tireless work rate opened up space for teammates to win the title.
Liam Kelly, Crossfire Premier – tall and wiry, with good ball skills and a live right leg. A pure goal-scorer with an excellent first touch and good confidence going one-on-one.
Kelyn Rowe, Crossfire Premier – Kelly’s partner in crime was among the assist-leaders at Finals Week, using great activity, weaving runs and tight control in traffic to slot in dangerous passes to goal. The two Crossfire forwards had a rare rapport that was enough to get them both on this exclusive list.
The 2009/2010 Academy season is barely over, but the campaign for 2010/2011 has already begun.
New talents emerge every day, and with a new crop of U17/18s ready for action, we’ll be on the beat bringing you coverage of every major Academy event over the next year.
We’ll see you on the field.
During a 2009-2010 USSF Development Academy season that displayed an embarrassing wealth of youth talent, we were treated to watching some of the best youth soccer players our nation has ever seen.
Today, as we wrap up our coverage of the 2009-2010 Academy season, we face the happy dilemma of selecting the 12 best players from a field of thousands in the U17/18 age group.
We’ve chosen one Development Academy Player of the Year and eleven players from the Academy Finals to be on our U17/18 Starting XI. Many prime talents were left off the list – so rest assured, this is the cream of the crop.
Here are the winners.
Kelyn Rowe (black)U17/18 Academy Finals Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Andrew Weakly, Crossfire Premier – the three goals he allowed Vardar in the championship were an anomaly in an otherwise outstanding Finals Week performance. He solidified his reputation as one of the Academy’s best by allowing only a single goal in three group games.
Defenders: Zachary Carroll, Vardar – the young defender burst onto the scene at Finals Week, anchoring the Vardar defense, tackling with authority and playing mistake-free football out of the back.
Joseph Dillon, Vardar – Carroll’s physical defensive mate gave Vardar a constant size advantage on the back line. He won balls in the air, on the ground, and provided Vardar the security blanket it needed to win the championship.
Eric Steber, CASL – the sturdy and resilient center back was in the middle of every defensive scrum, and usually came out with the ball at his feet. Showed excellent technical skills defensive awareness organizing the back line.
Midfielders: Damian Rosales, FC Dallas – dominated the right wing in every game. Showed great patience and persistence with the ball, knew when to pass or explode and attack on the dribble. Overall, a very difficult player to contain.
Victor Ulloa, FC Dallas – while he did not exhibit elite speed, Ulloa was silky-smooth on the ball, showed excellent vision and created scoring chances with smart, simple passing. The ideal possession player in the center of the midfield.
Moises Orozco, Real So Cal – dynamic player who set the tempo in the central midfield, spraying balls all over the field, creating on his own and setting up teammates to score.
Edwin Rivas, Real So Cal – shifty, crisp and confident on the ball, also scored several goals with a wicked right-footed shot.
Forwards: Caleb Stanko, Vardar – a midfielder/forward hybrid, Stanko was electric all tournament but took on a starring role in the championship game, making run after run into the Crossfire box. His constant pressure and tireless work rate opened up space for teammates to win the title.
Liam Kelly, Crossfire Premier – tall and wiry, with good ball skills and a live right leg. A pure goal-scorer with an excellent first touch and good confidence going one-on-one.
Kelyn Rowe, Crossfire Premier – Kelly’s partner in crime was among the assist-leaders at Finals Week, using great activity, weaving runs and tight control in traffic to slot in dangerous passes to goal. The two Crossfire forwards had a rare rapport that was enough to get them both on this exclusive list.
The 2009/2010 Academy season is barely over, but the campaign for 2010/2011 has already begun.
New talents emerge every day, and with a new crop of U17/18s ready for action, we’ll be on the beat bringing you coverage of every major Academy event over the next year.
We’ll see you on the field.
