USYS Nationals: Philly Area Boys Standouts Day 2
Day two of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Orlando featured three Philly-area boys teams. All three teams – PA Dominion 2007, PA Dominion 2004 and Lower Merion Invictus 2004 all won their games. Diego Guzman, Midfielder, PA Dominion…
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Continue ReadingDay two of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Orlando featured three Philly-area boys teams. All three teams – PA Dominion 2007, PA Dominion 2004 and Lower Merion Invictus 2004 all won their games.
Diego Guzman, Midfielder, PA Dominion 2004
As he did in leading PA Dominion to the state cup win over Lower Merion Invictus, Guzman put his team on his back after they fell behind on a free kick goal to Baton Rouge. Picking off a goal kick, Guzman tap the ball forward, outran two defenders and chipped the keeper to tie the game and then a few minutes later off another goal kick was fed into space by Zachary Morales and made 2-1 with a ball hit with pace. Guzman later had a secondary assist on a well-taken rocket from Colin Woehlcke tha sealed PA Dominion’s second straight win.
Colin Woehlcke, Midfielder, PA Dominion 2004
On a team loaded with so much talent, a player like Woehlcke can sometimes get overlooked but his contributions in the 3-1 win over Baton Rouge went beyond his goal that iced the game. His pressure forced a mistake that led to Guzman’s game winning goal and he was active on the night with and without the ball.
Shane Velez, Defender, PA Dominion 2004
Velez solidified the back line that limited Baton Rouge to a wonder strike of a free kick goal and not a lot else. His positioning and leadership on the back line are so key to the team and he has a knack for finding his way forward in key moments as well.
Tommy Walsh, Midfielder, Yardley Makefield Soccer Celtic 2008
YMS’s second game wasn’t one of the ones being streamed but Walsh deserves a mention for scoring a hat trick in the 3-0 win. Through two games, Walsh has four goals to lead Celtic. Walsh has a high soccer IQ, makes smart runs and works hard so it’s not surprising to see him shining at this level.
Isaac Shuster, MIdfielder, PA Dominion 2007
Shuster scored the game-winner in the first half in a 2-0 win over BVB International that made it two wins in a row for PA Dominion. His chance came from a deflected ball that he was able to control nicely, tap down to himself and fight off a defender and the keeper coming off his line to put away.
Liam Hartman, Midfielder, Lower Merion Invictus 2004
Hartman led the Invictus attack in a 4-1 win over Germantown Legends, heading home a Braden Alicea cross to make it 3-0 and tracking down a Joe Pariano pass, beating a defender and the keeper with a well taken finish to 4-0. Hartman’s movement and pace were too much for the Legends defense in a big bounce back win for Invictus.
Sam Nyenka, Forward, Lower Merion Invictus 2004
Nyenka helped set up the opening goal and ended up with the game-winner with a great finish after a ball was chipped over the top from Tim Madden. Nyenka technical ability and calmness under pressure is why he’s such a weapon for this Invictus team.
Joe Pariano, Midfielder, Lower Merion Invictus 2004
One of the leaders of the team with his two-way play in the midfield, Pariano had a good night connecting passes going forward and winning the ball in defense. His combination with Hartman and Nyenka nearly produced a goal in the first half and his through ball to Hartman set up his second goal.
Matthew Bellew, Defender, Lower Merion Invictus 2004
Bellew had an absolute beauty of a goal to open the scoring in the first half. He picked off a pass out of the back on the left flank, passed it off to Nyenka who fed it to him and he was able to split two defenders and fire off a shot into the right side of the net with the outside of his right foot.