July 3, 2012
REGIONAL CHAMPS
ENY ODP South wins Girls U-15 title

The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s Girls Under-15 Olympic Development Program South Team captured the Regional I crown in Kirkwood, Delaware last month.

In the two ODP tournaments the team played -- in Mercer County, New Jersey on June 8 to 10 and in Kirkwood on June 23 and 24, ENY South registered a 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 16-3.

Kerri Cavallo and Jessica Ammendola scored the two goals in the 2-1 win over Eastern Pennsylvania in the final. Kerri also scored the only goal against New Jersey in the semifinal with five minutes remaining. Goalkeepers Megan Ricci and Kayla Kelly are U-14 players who played up a year because of an injury and a club conflict with the team’s goalkeepers.

“Megan and Kayla both showed tremendous maturity to come into an older team and play at such a high level,” ENY coach Wayne Fortino said. “To their credit, the girls really welcomed them into the group –– ultimately, it was that team spirit which really was the overriding factor to us winning the regional championship.

“Everyone played significant time in our qualifying games and in the semifinals and final. At some point throughout the season, everyone contributed something meaningful such as a goal, an assist, a blocked shot or a save. They really have been a great group to work with."

Fortino wasn't finished.

“There are some very talented individual players who all bought into the team philosophy and sacrificed for the greater good of the team," he said. "Some played in new positions, for example. We also played a number of different formations throughout the season, which was only possible because of the girls’ ability to learn and understand the various information we were giving them.”

The U.S. Youth Soccer nationals are scheduled for March.