2007 US Youth Soccer ODP National Championships

1991 Girls
California South came out early in the championship match with Bianca Burright (Ojai, CA) finding the back of the net in the 7th. It wasn’t until after half time that New Jersey was able to refocus and step up their attack. Nicolette DeLaurentis (Sicklerville, NJ) scored in the first minute of the second half and Mary Wagner (Wall, NJ) quickly followed with a goal of her own in the 49th to secure the New Jersey championship, 2-1.

“It is interesting because we had a team that played with a lot of heart. We were down 1-0 at the half against a great team that had a lot of control in the first half,” said Glenn Crooks, New Jersey’s coach. “We thought they won the physical battle in the first half and got a lot of headers. One adjustment at the half was to be more aware of that. We started controlling the air game more and challenged a lot more.”

All five goals were scored in a busy first half of the North Texas versus Michigan consolation match. Chelsea Hunter (Novi, MI) got the game started for Michigan with a goal in the 11th. Kimberly Castleberry (McKinney, TX) and Ellen Scarfone (Mesquite, TX) brought North Texas into the game with goals in the 17th and 31st. For the tie, Olivia Stander rushed one past the goalkeeper in the 35th, but Melanie Foncham (Plano, TX) followed up with one of her own in the 38th. North Texas was able to hold their lead in the second half and take third place in the championships.

1989 Girls
The championship match between California South and Eastern Pennsylvania featured two strong teams both working hard for the victory. It would take more than one-hundred minutes of play for Lauren Alwine (Elizabethtown, PA) to score for the win.

“It is fantastic. What makes it so exciting is the quality of the competition. It is not just winning, it is winning against good teams,” said Darren Ambrose, Eastern Pennsylvania’s coach. “Everyone contributed today, no matter how big or how small, that’s all that matters.”

In the consolation match Michigan fought for a third place finish. Sarah Loh (Grand Rapids, MI) scored in the 15th. Leslie Briggs (Richardson, TX) is no stranger to high pressure games. Her team, the Dallas Texans Red 88, won the US Youth Soccer National Championships this past summer. Briggs scored in the 19th to tie the game. Michigan came back after the half and Jenna Caroslo (Novi, MI) and Courtnay Lord (Brighton, MI) scored in the 63rd and 88th. Michigan won 3-1.