Photo credit: Karen Krelovich Race

Plymouth Meeting—The 2017 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships kick off Friday, March 3 at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Arizona. The tournament features each of the 2016 champions from US Youth Soccer’s four regions in the Under-16 (2001 birth years) and U17 (2000) age groups. Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s U17 Boys ODP Team will compete for a chance at a national championship.

Eastern Pennsylvania will take on Region III (South) Champion Team Georgia in the semifinals on Friday at 5:30 PM local time. A win will clinch a spot in Sunday’s final on March 5. A loss will send the team to the consolation match. Iowa (Region II) plays Oregon (Region IV) in the other semifinal.

Eastern Pennsylvania earned its place in the national championships by winning the Region I Championships—which features all state associations from Virginia to Maine—last June. The 2000 Boys—then Under-16—defeated New York-West in penalties after a 3-3 game.

“We are proud of the players’ efforts to reach the ODP Championships,” said Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Technical Director Mike Barr. “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 made up of Tom Dodds, Gary Stephenson, Barr and Simon Robinson will head to Phoenix. The players represent 13 different clubs from across the state, Maryland and Delaware. HMMS (Hampden-Monroe-Middlesex-Silver Springs) Youth Soccer Association and Lehigh Valley United will send three players each, while the Ukrainian Nationals placed two on the squad. The full roster is below: