Eastern Pa. team to compete in ODP championships this weekend in Phoenix

A team made up of youth players from across Eastern Pennsylvania will be playing in the Olympic Development Program Championships this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona.

The team of boys born in 2000 take on Georgia on Friday at 5:30 p.m. local time. Championship and consolation matches will be played on Sunday. Teams from Oregon and Iowa are playing in the other 2000 boys semifinal. Games are all being played at Reach 11 Sports Complex.

Eastern Pennsylvania earned its place in the national championships by winning the Region I Championships, which includes all state associations from Virginia to Maine, last June. The 2000 Boys defeated New York-West in penalties after a 3-3 draw.

“We are proud of the players’ efforts to reach the ODP Championships,” Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Technical Director Mike Barr said in a news release. “Eastern Pennsylvania has a strong history in the event. We hope this group adds to it.”

A total of 18 players and a coaching staff that includes Tom Dodds, Gary Stephenson, Mike Barr and Simon Robinson will be in Phoenix. The players represent 13 different clubs from across the state, Maryland and Delaware. HMMS Youth Soccer Association and Lehigh Valley United have three players each, while the Ukrainian Nationals placed two on the squad.

The full roster is below.

About the Olympic Development Program
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team will be selected for international competition; to provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected and licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.