This weekend, EDP Soccer will host the EDP Cup Fall, annually ranked the top event in the nation by GotSoccer. The event will feature the 8U-15U boys and girls teams from around the country. Games will be held at Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Green Branch Park, Friendship Fields, and Mercer County Park.
Teams from all three local MLS Academies – Philadelphia Union, NY Red Bulls and New York City FC – will be in action, as well as teams from USYS National League Conferences, MLS NEXT, Girls Academy, EDP, ECNL, and USYS Elite 64 will be in attendance, creating a best vs. best experience as clubs compete against different platforms. Teams from all four regions of the country and Canada will be competing, including teams from AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, IL, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA and VA.
A look at some of the events brackets:
The 11U Boys age group welcomes former US National Team star Eddie Johnson’s EJ7 2012 team from Florida to take on some of the top teams in the nation. EJ7 will be in Group A of the Platinum Red Bracket alongside NY Red Bulls Pre-Academy 2012 NY, Real Jersey FC 2012 Pre-MLS and AS Junior Elite. In Group B, is FC Prime 2012 Elite SW Ranches from FL, Coppermine SC, The Football Academy NJ and Cedar Stars Academy Lacey. In Platinum Blue, Chicago Fire Youth SC 2012B Premier, a top side out of Illinois will take on three MLS Next Clubs in NY Red Bulls Pre-Academy 2012 North, BW Gottschee ’12 Blue and SYC 2012B Pre-MLS Next. In Group B, Next Level Soccer 2012 Black, a top side from Arizona joins Michigan powerhouse Nationals Oakland 12 Black, Philadelphia Union Junior Academy 2012 and STA 2012 Pre-ECNL.
Players to watch: Raylon Tong (MF #7-EJ7), Dahveed Porter (AM #10-FC Prime), Gavin Vasquez (FWD #7-FC Prime), Jonah Wyffels (CDM #10-Next Level), Enzo Marques (MF #7-Next Level), Jacob Epstein (MF #6-FANJ), Michael Tripet (DEF #12-FANJ), Jace Taylor (CM #17-Coppermine), David Csiki (CM #22-Coppermine), Bennett Willis (CB-#8-CFYSC), AJ Seale (RW-#6-CFYSC)
The 12U Boys features three of the MLS Clubs, with New York City FC, Philadelphia Union and NY Red Bulls all in the Platinum Blue Bracket. Taking on the three teams will be top teams from around North America in Athlete Institute FC Toronto, Miami Shores SC, SYC, The Football Academy, and Lower Merion SC. In Platinum Red, NY Red Bulls-Stars will take on Nationals Oakland, Paragon FA and Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals in Group B, while PDA 2011 Pre-MLS, Coppermine SC, Futboltech, and BW Gottschee will battle in Group A.
Players to watch: Yaseen Aboulaghed (CB #6-Athlete Institute FC), Ethan Gil (RW #7-Athlete Institute FC), Noah Desrois (AM #9-Miami Shores SC), Henry Sandkamp (LW #7-Miami Shores SC), Mason Cominski (FWD #47-FANJ), Johnny Babula (MF #15-FANJ), Liam Walters (GK #20-Coppermine), Charlie Smoot (MF #34-Coppermine), Landon McCready (MF #19-Coppermine), Bobby Andrews (FWD #7-Ukrainian Nationals), Shane Murphy (MF #22-Ukrainian Nationals), Michael DiPrinzio (CB #5-Lower Merion), Ian Heyward (LW #18-Lower Merion), Hudson Bambino (MF #19-Cedar Stars North), Cooper Finkle (CB #18-Cedar Stars North)
The 13U Boys is highlighted by New York City FC 2012’s in Group A of the Platinum Bracket, as they return for their third consecutive EDP Cup, and will face off against #3-ranked Football Academy NJ 2010 Black, PPA 2010 Green, and FC Florida Academy, a club who has won several EDP Cup Showcases in the past. In Group B, Team Challenger FC B10 Black travels in from Ohio to take on some of the top teams in the Mid Atlantic area in East Coast FC B2010 Academy, STA 2010B ECNL and PA Rush 2010.
Players to watch: Michael Botsakos (FWD #7-STA), Michael Fenton (CDM #7-World Class), Dylan Hurwitz (RW #6-World Class), Brady Feldman (DEF #7-FANJ), Matthew Machado (FWD #59-FANJ), Connor Britt (MF #10-Team Challenger), Brady McComb (FWD #49-Manhattan SC)
The 14U Boys includes USYS Eastern Regional Champion Cedar Stars Academy North, as they look to win another Championship and will take on Manhattan SC ECNL, World Class ECNL and FC Florida in Group B of the Platinum Bracket. In Group A, ECNL National Quarterfinalist STA 2009B ECNL takes on Maryland State Champion PPA 2009 Green, Eastern New York State Champion DUSC B2009 and Connecticut State Champion AC Connecticut B09 EDP National.
Players to watch: Griffin Warner (FWD #16-World Class), Josh Deskin (LW #77-World Class), Kalin Sanchez (MF #80-FANJ), Hunter Kawas (MF #17-FANJ), Ronan Hanley (CAM #30-AC Connecticut), Sean Adeyamo (FWD #40-AC Connecticut), Edgar Cuenca (CB #24-AC Connecticut), Owen Paucer (MF #24-Manhattan SC)
The 9U Boys feature top teams from Canada, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The Gold Bracket has Game Awareness Elite traveling down from Canada to take on SYC, SJEB and Cedar Stars Academy North in Group A. In Group B, TSF Academy, Coppermine SC and Torpedoes will try to knock off Philadelphia Union Junior Academy to win the group.
Players to watch: Adrian Gellert (MF #10-FANJ), Andrew O’Neill (DEF FANJ), Keanu Kerrigan (FWD #11-TSF), Vicenzo Pagano (DEF #21-TSF), Rocco Livelli (DEF #9-TSF), Andres Garcia (MF #32-Cedar Stars North), Julian Lopez (MF #39-Cedar Stars North)
The 10U Boys features several of the Zone 1 programs from MLS NEXT, as well as USYS National League Conferences. MLS NEXT clubs include Philadelphia Union Junior Academy, Real Jersey FC and Cedar Stars Academy North. The Football Academy NJ, Coppermine SC, PA Rush, Chelsea Piers Shoreline and International SC round out the top bracket.
Players to watch: Lucas Orozco (CM #7-Real Jersey FC), Kaiden Hector (FWD #11-SYC), Mason Cox (CB #8-SYC), Brady Henry (DEF #22-FANJ), Joey Ippolito (MF #5-FANJ), Jeremiah Gaba (FWD #13-Coppermine), Ali Toure (LB #9-Coppermine), Brendan Andrews (DEF #21-Ukrainian Nationals), Tyler Melchionni (GK #2-Ukrainian Nationals)
The 14U Girls includes back-to-back EDP Cup winners Jersey Shore Boca Jr FC O’Hara, who will look to defend their crown in the Diamond Bracket against some fierce competition. CS St-Hubert travels south from Canada to take on SJEB 09G GA, NJ Premier G2009 and Real Jersey 2009 GA in Group A, with Wall Elite Spirit, South Shore FC Legacy and Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 09G GA joining Jersey Shore Boca in Group B.
Players to watch: Parker Maher (DM #59-Ukrainian Nationals), Kierra Sliecher (CM #11-Ukrainian Nationals), Madison Zaun (FWD #11-Real Jersey), Ava Feeney (GK #1-Real Jersey), Jaslyn Chen (CM #11-NJ Premier)
The 13U Girls Diamond Bracket features Girls Academy side and New Jersey State Champion SJEB FC 10G GA, and also NJ State Cup Semi-Finalist Match Fit Shore, as well as Maryland State Cup Semi-Finalist PPA 2010 Green. The bracket also includes Team Challenger FC G10 Black from Ohio, Girls Academy teams Real Jersey 2010 GA and Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 10G GA, as well as USYS Mid Atlantic Conference sides NLSA 2010 Girls Elite and WUSC 2010.
Players to watch: Pia Vasquez (FWD #15-PPA), Maya Matthews (CM #17-PPA), Anna Ruyak (DEF #20-PPA), Mya Narcisi (#8-SJEB FC), Grace Madgey (#11-SJEB FC), Sydney Thomas (FWD #4-Team Challenger), Katie Yadamiec (MF #3-NLSA), Hafsa Hussain (FWD #18-NLSA), Brinley Reynolds (CM #28-Real Jersey)
The 12U Girls will have the #4-ranked Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 2011G Pre-GA in the Diamond Bracket. They are joined by New Jersey top teams, Real Jersey 2011 Pre-GA, NJ Premier FC G2011 and Match Fit Academy Shore, FC Bucks Avalanche from Pennsylvania, CNY Premier 2011 Girls from New York West, and Bayshore SC Rockets from Maryland.
Players to watch: Maggie Rink (CM #13-Ukrainian Nationals), Karter Brady (CM #19-Ukrainian Nationals), Abaigeal Igo (CM #7-Ukrainian Nationals), Sloane Raymond (MF #24-CNY Premier SC), Bailee Halsey (GK #49-CNY Premier SC), Camryn Potter (FWD #18-CNY Premier SC), Jaqueline Goldovsky (FWD #7-NJ Premier)
The 11U Girls will see six teams competing for the top spot in the Diamond Bracket. The Football Academy NJ 2012 Black and Match Fit Academy FC 2012 Shore enter as two of New Jersey’s top teams, and will be joined by Medford SC Magic and WUSC 2012, as well as Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 12G Black and NYCFC Girls 2012.
Players to watch: Charlotte Bautis (FWD #30-FANJ)