Former Bolt Starts for UNC

Williams One of Many Development Academy Players in College Cup

December 18, 2008

CHICAGO – Last year, Sheanon Williams was playing matches with the US Under-17 National Team. Last Sunday, Williams, who was born in Boston and played with the FC Greater Boston Bolts, started as a freshman for North Carolina in the College Cup.

Alas, the Tar Heels fell to the Terrapins, 1-0, in the national title game at Pizza Hut Park in Texas, but Williams and a slew of others in the title game shared one trait: they all played for US Development Academy clubs.

Maryland’s Matt Kassel (Red Bulss U17/18), along with Zac MacMath (Clearwater Chargers) and Matthew Oduaran (D.C. United), all suited up for Maryland.

Maryland’s trio of Academy alumni were not the only former Academy players to participate in last weekend’s Final Four. UNC’s roster included four former Academy players and Wake Forest and St. John’s featured another nine Academy alumni. In total, 16 underclassmen played a role in the four college programs participating in last weekend’s College Cup weekend.

“The Academy does a great job of getting good teams into the Academy program,” said Kassel. “With playing, the biggest thing is playing with good players around you. That’s the only thing that’s going to make you better, the environment that you’re in. The Academy does a great job of that.

“When we travel to all the different Showcases and the league games, day in and day out, one a week or twice a week you get those games, that’s only going to prepare you for the next level and it definitely did for me.”

North Carolina midfielder Kirk Urso was also a part of College Cup weekend as part of a Tar Heel team also featuring Jarrett Davis (CASL), Billy Schuler (Matchfit and US Under-17 National Team) and Williams. Urso grew up as part of Sockers FC, a Chicagoland club with a long tradition and a member of the inaugural year of the Development Academy program.

“Within our club, the Sockers, they offered a lot of opportunities,” said Urso. “The club aided in my development and helped me gain experience through training. They always offered training. I would go as many times a week as I could with my own team or with one of the teams, and playing in games, whether it was in tournaments, just playing was a huge thing.”

Urso eventually joined U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program. A path similar to 19 other players from Academy clubs who currently make up the 40 player Residency roster.

“In Residency, just being in an environment where you know that you’re playing at a good level every day and have the opportunity to play with other people, touching the ball, in a real soccer environment, it just helps so much,” Urso said. “When I went to college, it was more of a physical adjustment than a mental adjustment. I knew I could play with them, it was just a matter of growing and maturing and just getting ready physically to compete.”

In local Development Academy action, Oakwood SC (Connecticut) went 1-3 over the weekend, while South Central Premier (Conn.) went 0-4.

Return from Former Bolt Starts for UNC to Youth Soccer

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: