March Round Up: MLS coach returns, YNT victory
The club soccer world is busy this month with nearly every level of the game having an event, showcase, or some other noteworthy tournament on the calendar. The spring season brings a revealed light to the game at every level,…
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Continue ReadingThe club soccer world is busy this month with nearly every level of the game having an event, showcase, or some other noteworthy tournament on the calendar. The spring season brings a revealed light to the game at every level, as teams begin a new heading toward the postseason playoffs in a few months.
This month, there was plenty of action on the field as the US Youth Soccer National League P.R.O. event was held in Arizona for the U15 through U19 age groups. The Girls Academy League also had the Champions League playoffs in Florida with the victors being crowned in the U13 through U19 age groups.
Off the field, there was news of the return of a former MLS academy coach back to the sidelines with an MLS affiliate at the Boys ECNL level.
At the international level, the U.S. Women’s program enjoyed the spoils of a successful trip to Dominican Republic with the 2022 Concacaf U20 Women’s Championship. The men’s program returned to international action with a trip to Argentina in the U17 and U20 age groups. Plus the U15 Girls National Team is in camp for a week in Southern California as the next generation gets together for week-long training with the new head coach.
Youth Club News
Former LA Galaxy Academy coach returns to LAFC affiliate
Brian Kleiban is returning to coach club soccer. The former LA Galaxy academy coach is back on the sidelines nearly three years after being dismissed by the MLS franchise. LAFC So Cal, an affiliate of MLS franchise LAFC and the historic club from San Fernando Valley previously known as Real So Cal, confirmed to PrepSoccer on Wednesday that Kleiban is coaching the Boys ECNL teams in the 2006 and 2009 age groups. He started working for the club last week.
Kleiban’s popularity rose in 2012 with a video clip of his U11 team playing possession-dominant style in a Cal South State Cup game. The clip now has over a million views. That team would go on to more accolades with success at the international level against clubs like FC Barcelona and Ajax.
The quality of Kleiban’s teams was well-known in Southern California, but the results against European opposition garnered national interest. After years of coaching at the club level, he joined Chivas USA’s academy in 2013. The MLS franchise dissolved in 2015 and Kleiban joined LA Galaxy.
He lasted at LA Galaxy for four seasons before the controversial exit for the MLS franchise in 2019. LA Galaxy dismissed Kleiban as the club’s U19 coach after one of the players from the team, Ulysses Llanez, signed a professional deal with VfL Wolfsburg in Germany instead of signing with the MLS, according to reports.
The reports also said that Kleiban’s brother, Gary, was representing Llanez along with another player, which upset the front office at LA Galaxy.
After a brief hiatus, Brian Kleiban is back at the elite level of the club game with his new stint at LAFC So Cal Boys ECNL. Kleiban, who started with the teams last week, is taking over the LAFC So Cal 09 team, which is 3-5-2 in ECNL play this season, and the 06 team, which is 5-2-4 in ECNL play.
Brian Kleiban did not return a request for a comment by the time of publishing.
Girls Academy Champions League Champions
2009/U13 South Shore Select (MA)
2008/U14 Nationals (MI)
2007/U15 Cincinnati United Premier (CUP)
2006/U16 Colorado Rush (CO)
2005/U17 Florida United Soccer Club (FL)
2003/2004/U18/19 FC Bay Area Surf (CA)
Nationals (MI) won the Girls Academy Champions League championship in the U14 age group and won the overall club title for the success of the club in every age group.
U.S. Youth National Team News
Regional Champions, Again
The U.S. U20 Women’s National Team won the 2022 Concacaf Women’s U20 Championship last week. USA defeated Mexico 2-0 in the final to finish the event with 49 goals scored, and zero conceded. US Women’s U20 head coach Tracey Kevins talked with PrepSoccer before the final about the challenges on and off the field during the tournament.
Michelle Cooper won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot from the event. Lexi Missimo, Emily Colton, Emily Mason, and Cooper were named to the Concacaf Best XI from the event. Talia DellaPeruta became the first U.S. Youth National Team player to win four Concacaf youth titles: U15 (2016), U17 (2018), U20 (2020 and 2022).
The U20 Women’s World Cup is scheduled for August in Costa Rica.
Time for the Test
The U.S. U17 Men’s National Team is in Argentina this week for games against Uruguay and Argentina, the first international games for this age group since 2020. USA lost the opener against the host side on Tuesday. San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Cruz Medina Cruz Medina M State CA scored the lone goal in a 2-1 loss. Diego Kochen had a stellar showing in the game including a couple of spectacular saves.
The U20 Men’s National Team is also headed to Argentina this month. The U20s will play Argentina and River Plate during the training camp, which kicks off on March 21.
Seattle Sounders midfielder and Alaska-native Obed Vargas is the lone player born in 2005 on the roster. The rest of the squad is made up for players born in 2003 and 2004.
U.S. U17 Men’s National Team Roster – March Camp
GOALKEEPERS (2): Ryan Carney (New England Revolution), Diego Kochen (Barcelona/ESP) DEFENDERS (6): Jayson Castillo (Seattle Sounders), Ronnie Dalgado Ronnie Dalgado D LA Galaxy | 2024 State #9 Nation CA (LA Galaxy), Tyler Hall (Inter Miami), Stuart Hawkins (Seattle Sounders), Gershon Henry (Real Salt Lake), Oscar Verhoeven Oscar Verhoeven D State CA (San Jose Earthquakes) MIDFIELDERS (5): Brian Carmona (Charlotte FC), Cruz Medina Cruz Medina M State CA (San Jose Earthquakes), Edwyn Mendoza Edwyn Mendoza M State CA (San Jose Earthquakes), Luis Moreno Luis Moreno M State TX (Houston Dynamo), Pedro Soma (UE Cornella/ESP) FORWARDS (7): Fidel Barajas Fidel Barajas F Sheldon | 2024 State CA (San Jose Earthquakes), Micah Burton (Austin FC), Bajung Darboe (Philadelphia Union), Andre Gitau Andre Gitau M TX (Houston Dynamo), Paulo Rudisill Paulo Rudisill M State CA (LA Galaxy), Ezekiel Soto Ezekiel Soto F State #29 Nation TX (Houston Dynamo), Luke Zielinski (Philadelphia Union)
The Future
The U.S. U15 Girls National Team is in camp in Chula Vista this month. This is the second camp for head coach Katie Schoepfer, who called in 36 players for the week in Southern California. Twenty-six clubs are represented among those 36 players with Solar SC (TX) leading the way with seven players.
The strength of this age group is in the midfield as Kennedy Fuller Kennedy Fuller 5'5" | F Southlake Carroll (TX) | 2024 #1 Nation TX (Solar SC), Kimmi Ascanio (Florida United), and Sofia Atehortua (NYSC) all have elite traits that suggest full national team potential.
U.S. U15 Girls National Team Roster – March Camp
GOALKEEPERS (4): Olivia Geller Olivia Geller null | GK Southlake Carroll | 2025 State #56 Nation TX (Solar SC; Southlake, Texas), Emily Jenkins (ISC Gunners; North Bend, Wash.), Molly Vapensky (Chicago FC United; Evanston, Ill.), Kennedy Zorn (SC del Sol; Peoria, Ariz.)
DEFENDERS (11): Riley Bradley (CESA; Greenville, S.C.), Mya Brandon Mya Brandon null | D State #6 Nation MI (Michigan Hawks; Canton, Mich.), Jaelyn Byeman (Crossfire Premier; Redmond, Wash.), Maddie Costello (SUSA; Stony Brook, N.Y.), Alexis Coughlin (Legends FC; Corona, Calif.), Sofia Fox (Crossfire, Premier; Kirkland, Wash.), Jordyn Hardeman Jordyn Hardeman null | D State #17 Nation TX (Solar SC; Prosper, Texas), Daya King (Legends FC, Moreno Valley, Calif.), Kai Price (Concorde Fire; Atlanta, Ga.), Katie Scott (Internationals SC; Erie, Pa.), Jocelyn Travers Jocelyn Travers D Santa Cruz | 2025 State #35 Nation CA (FC Bay Area Surf; Santa Cruz, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (14): Kimmi Ascanio (Florida United; Doral, Fla.), Sofia Atehortua (NYSC; Fairfield, Conn.), Amelia Bray (Seattle United; Bainbridge, Wash.), Riley Cross (PDA; Chatham, N.J.), Addison DeJoseph (United Futbol Academy; Roswell, Ga.), Eres Freifeld (Crossfire Premier; Redmond, Wash.), Kennedy Fuller Kennedy Fuller 5'5" | F Southlake Carroll (TX) | 2024 #1 Nation TX (Solar SC, Southlake, Texas), Emma Johnson (Indiana Fire Juniors; Greenfield, Ind.), Coda Jones Coda Jones null | M Memorial | 2025 State #157 Nation TX (Solar SC; Frisco, TX), Hannah Jordan Hannah Jordan null | M Southlake Carroll | 2025 State #19 Nation TX (Solar SC; Southlake, Texas), Ainsley McCammon Ainsley McCammon null | M State #18 Nation TX (Solar SC; Aubrey, Texas), Leena Powell (Tudela FC; Culver City, Calif.), Chloe Ricketts Chloe Ricketts M Dexter | 2025 State MI (Michigan Tigers; Dexter, Mich.), Lauren Stevens (San Diego Surf SC; Encinitas, Calif.)
FORWARDS (7): Abby Ballek (Real Colorado; Timnath, Colo.), Ava Harrison Ava Harrison null | F State #44 Nation CA (San Diego Surf SC; San Diego, Calif.), Caroline Helfrich (Virginia Union; McLean, Va.), Alexandra Pfeiffer (St. Louis Scott Gallagher; St. Louis, Mo.), Casey Phair (PDA; Warren, N.J.), Sealey Strawn Sealey Strawn F State #66 Nation TX (Solar SC; Prosper, Texas), Lauryn Thompson (NC Courage; Wake Forest, N.C.)