Carson, California – A flurry of goals is how the U.S. U15 Boys National Team finished training camp at the Home Depot Center Saturday.

Jim Barlow’s squad played two matches, a 6-0 win over Albion SC that followed a 1-1 draw against Real So Cal.

“I think we made progress throughout the week,” said U.S. Head Coach Jim Barlow. “A lot of the guys started to catch on and the new guys started to fit in towards the end of the week.”

Six different U.S. players were able to find the back of the net against San Diego-area side Albion.

Wilfred Williams started the goal-fest after working a quick 1-2 with Adonis Amaya, freeing Williams from the center backs and allowing him to slide the ball past the goalie’s right side.

The U.S. made it 2-0 when Albion’s goalkeeper was unable to stop Amar Sejdic’s 20-yard strike.

{mosimage:300}Albion could have cut the deficit before the half after a penalty kick was called in its favor. However, U.S. goalie Cesar Jerez guessed the right way and was able to block the shot as well as the subsequent rebound.

Barlow switched personnel in the second half, subbing in Bradford Jamieson, Danya Kafai, and moving Jeffrey Rhodes from left back to midfield.

“We moved Jeff up because that’s where he normally plays, and he did look more comfortable in that position,” Barlow said.

Those three players accounted, in some way, for the U.S. last four goals.
 
Jamieson notched his goal after Albion’s keeper failed to hold on to a cross, which he pounced on to poke it into the empty net.

Later, Kafai played a good through ball to Rhodes inside the 18-yard box, which he then blasted between the left post and the keeper, making the score line 4-0.

Kafai added the fifth goal himself after slotting home a great cross from Bradford. The final goal came from Alejandro Segovia

Alejandro Segovia tallied the final goal to make it 6-0. After receiving Kafai’s heel pass, Segovia streaked through Albion’s defense and placed the ball beyond the reach of the keeper.

Even though it was a dominating performance by the U.S., there were moments where the backline was too casual, allowing it to get outnumbered.

“Maybe because we had the ball a lot and because we weren’t being put under a lot of pressure, we got a little careless and didn’t get our shape back which left us a bit exposed,” Barlow explained.

 The first game didn’t go as smoothly for the U.S. Even though it was pressing for the majority of the game, the team saw itself down 1-0 at halftime.

Minutes before the end of the half, the U.S. fell asleep during a Real So Cal’s corner and allowed a player to get a header in, giving Real the lead.

It was unfortunate that the U.S. trailed, having come close to scoring several times before giving up the goal.

DeAndre Robinson’s shot from just outside the 18-yard box was denied by the crossbar. Moments later, Corey Baird had a volley off a rebound was also rejected by the crossbar.

Felipe Liborio Jr. had his chance to open the scoring summary, but Real’s keeper stuffed his first shot while his second attempt was cleared off the line.

“The first game was interesting because I thought it was probably our best stretch of soccer in terms of putting plays together and keeping the ball in the other team’s end, yet we were still down 1-0,” said Barlow.

The second half continued seeing the U.S. attack. Both outside backs, John Requejo and Elisha Martin, were instrumental in trying to bring the U.S. back.

Both players had great runs along the flanks, and Requejo’s crosses were consistently well placed, but found no one there to finish them.

Having both Requejo and Martin to carry the ball forward, it allowed the outside midfielders, Herber Mejia-Flores and Joab Santoyo, to play more centrally. As a result, the equalizer came.

With Requejo neutralizing the left side, Mejia-Flores drifted inside with the ball. Seeing no outlet where he could play the ball, he took two touches to create some space, and sent a well-placed shot into the lower left corner past the outstretched hands of the Real’s goalie.

Despite some half chances being created in the second half, the U.S. team couldn’t get over the finishing hurdle, and had to settle for the 1-1 draw.

As for most camps in the U15 age group, development was the key component.

“We are always trying to get to know all the qualities that our guys have and can bring to the table,” Barlow said. “I help them see what it can all look like when they are really engaged and alert in every single play.”

Playing older competition, players had to overcome a much faster speed of play, and a dimension of physical play they don’t see week-in-week-out..

Barlow made sure these players came in with the knowledge that they were going to be pushed, and that coaches would be scrutinizing their mistakes for sake of their development. For the most part, the results this week were pleasing to the veteran coach, who also runs the program at Princeton.

“So much of this camp is trying to get these guys to continue to develop in ways that will help them in the long run,” he said. “Our guys did a good job welcoming those challenges and we are excited for the potential in this group to narrow down for the next camp.”

The U.S. U15 BNT will come together again in May for an international camp that will include matches with European national teams.

Roster by Position (Courtesy of U.S. Soccer):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Gianni Carillo (New York Red Bulls Academy; Pine Bush, N.Y.), Cesar Jerez (Cosmos Academy West; Ontario, Calif.), Evan Louro (New York Red Bulls Academy; South River, N.J.), Carter Richardson (Crew Soccer Academy; Dublin, Ohio)

DEFENDERS (13): Vernon Bailey (Dallas Texans; Dallas, Texas), Bryce Cregan (PA Classics; Dallastown, Pa.), Michael Jimenez (Chicago Fire Juniors; Munster, Ind.), Guyllian Kabala (Seacoast United; Manchester, N.H.), Patrick Khouri (Daniel Island Soccer Academy; Charleston, S.C.), Elijah Martin (Cal Odyssey; Fresno, Calif.), Matthew Nance (Vardar; Washington, Mich.), John Requejo (Santa Barbara SC; Carpinteria, Calif.), Jeffrey Rhodes (Westside United; Brownsburg, Ind.), Joe Rodriguez (Matchfit Chelsea; Montclair, N.J.), Bruno Scodari (Olney Boys and Girls Club; Silver Springs, Md.), Billy Stevens (NY Red Bulls Academy; New Hyde Park, N.Y.), Wilfred Williams (Fusion; Johnson City, Tenn.)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Corey Baird (San Diego Surf; Escondido, Calif.), Omar Castro (Plant City FC; Plant City, Fla.), Bradley Dunwell (Alliance Academy; Grand Rapids, Mich.), Zachary Herivaux (Shalrie Joseph SC; Chestnut Hill, Mass.), Herber Mejia-Flores (GFA Rangers; Manassas Park, Va.), Kevin Pollitz (NY Red Bulls Academy; Morganville, N.J.), Victor Rolph (Colorado Rush; Golden, Colo.), Joab Santoyo (Arsenal FC; Fontana, Calif.), Amar Sejdic (United FC; Louisville, Ky.) Tyler Turner (South Central Premier; West Haven, Conn.)

FORWARDS (9): Adonis Amaya (Cosmos Academy West; Westminster, Calif.), Jorge Calix (Team America; Alexandria, Va.), Andre Fortune (Triangle United; Raleigh, N.C.), Danya Kafai (Juventus Sports Club; Redwood City, Calif.), Felipe Liborio Jr. (Aztecs Premier; Chula Vista, Calif.), DeAndre Robinson (West Pines United; Hollywood, Fla.), Rubio Rubin (Westside Metros; Beaverton, Ore.), Alejandro Segovia (Westside Metros; Beaverton, Ore.), Wesley Wade (New York Red Bulls Academy; South Orange, N.J.)