A mixed group of 92, 93 and 94 Girls ODP players represented Alabama at the Region III Championships in New Orleans this past weekend and placed Third overall. The group qualified for the championships this past summer at Region Camp as the twelve states were cut down to the top six. The team was led by Andy Manners (MS State), Mark Prizant (AYSA) and featured Amy Anderson (92), Shanna Brooks (92), Allison Cochran (94), Megan Collins (93), Margaret Crawford (92), Dakota Deluca (92), Jessica Dent (93), Lakin Eddy (92), Bailee Harnett (94), Sarah Hook (92), Courtney Hurt (93), Irravadee Makris (92), Morgan Moates (92), Nini Rabsatt-Smith (94), and Ruth Terry (93).

This weekend once again shows how far the Alabama Soccer Association’s Olympic Development Program has come. All three games against Florida#1, Florida#2 and North Texas were true team performances. Alabama’s only loss came to eventual champion North Texas in a hard fought battle in the first game of the competition. In the second game Alabama drew 1-1 with Florida #1 and were unlucky not to grab the victory as they were scored upon with 5 minutes left to play erasing the 1-0 lead. In the Third place game Alabama defeated Florida #2 by a score of 2-0 to finish the weekend with 1 win 1 loss and 1 tie and Third place overall in the competition.