CARSON, CA - Day 1 of the U14 Boys National Team camp here at Home Depot Center with the players taking part in intrasquad scrimmages on 75-yard long fields.

The games were enjoyable to watch except for a period in the 2^nd when the short passing game was abandoned for some longball tactics, probably due in part to fatigue. Coach Manny Schellscheidt and his staff are conducting this final U14 camp of the cycle with an eye toward quickening decision making and expanding the players’ range of thoughts related to the tactics of the game. The group will face area club teams during the week.

The first scrimmage saw some good play from Orange forwards Devin Devoy and Sebastian Velasquez,, but it was goalkeeper Dakota Niedermaier, playing in the field during the first scrimmage due to a couple of late injuries, who scored the lone goal of the contest.

The 2^nd contest brought more goals, with both defenses getting exposed on counterattacks quite a bit. Florida’s Desmond Gonzales scored on a rebound effort to put Blue up 1-0, but California’s Esteban Rodriguez countered with a good finish following a pass from Alaska’s Leonard Kusina.

Gonzales scored a 2^nd on a counterattack, and an adult staff member made it 3-1 a bit later. The final goal came from Orange when Derek Sanchez played a short corner to Chicago Wind produce Joel Salmeron, who roped a left-footed finish into the back of the net.

Both Alex Bello and Dakota Niedermaier made good saves on breakaways during the 2^nd contest, which also saw Southern Californian midfielder Oscar Ortega give a composed performance on the ball and as a hub in the middle of the park. Victor Zamora was similarly good for Rockford Raptors.

 

Scrimmage Lineups

Game 1

Team Orange

GK: Josh McNeely (Real So Cal)

D: Andrew Chang (Sockers), Jalen Robinson (Bethesda SC), Todd Wharton (Richmond Strikers)

M: Sebastian Velasquez (Pateadores), Collin Martin (PSA),  Travis Pillon (Danville SC), Dakota Niedermaier (GK – Olney SC),  Mikhail Doholis (Eastside),

F: Devin Devoy (FC Greater Boston Bolts), Yaw Amankwa (DC United)

 

Team Blue

GK: Fernano Pina (Texas Premier)

D: Alfred Edmonds (De Anza Force), Josh Miller (Westside Metros), Bennett Yort (Augusta Arsenal)

M: Ross Tetro (NJSA Gunners), Alex Olofson (CASL), Alex Bello (GK – Athletico Madrid), Matthew Dunn (Solar), Eric Gonzalez (Corona United)

F: Erick Sanchez (West Texas United), TJ Casner (De Anza Force)

 

Game 2 (10 vs 10)

Team Orange

GK: Dakota Niedermaier

D: Derek Sanchez (West Texas United), Malcolm Harris (Potomac SA), Staff, Jerome Cristobal (Vardar)

M: Esteban Rodriguez (Bell Gardens, CA), Victor Zamora (Rockford Raptors), Joel Salmeron (Chicago Wind)

F:  Josh McNeely (GK- Real So Cal), Aldo Magana (Xtreme Italia)

  

Team Blue

GK: Alex Bello (Atletico Madrid)

D: Leonard Kusina (Phoenix SC), Gabriel Lock (San Juan Lightning), Marc Pelosi (De Anza Force)

M: Staff, Atsouh Ayah (Blackwatch Florida), Fernando Pina (GK – Texas Premier), Staff, Oscar Ortega (Aztecs Futbol Club)

F: Desmond Gonzalez (Weston SC)