White (AdiPure) remained undefeated scoring 4 first half goals on the way to an 4-1 victory over yellow (AdiTunit).

In the first 8 minutes, white scored 2 goals. The first was created by Matt Hatzke overlapping into the corner and crossing the ball back from the end line to George Josten who finished to the near post from 15 yards.

The second was all Eric Brunner. Brunner anticipated and was able to steal an errant square on his side of the field. He paraded down the field until he got to the top of the box and finished to the near post on his ex-college team mate, Casey Latchem.

The third goal (in less than 15 minutes) Brunner serves in a 30 yard free kick into the box. Pierre-Louis receives the ball is allowed to turn by Sherard and finishes from an acute angle after taking several touches.

The final white goal was taken with Josten coming across the box with Sherard on his hip. Josten created enough space to squeak in the goal to the — wait for it — yes to the near post. Sherard went down from an “injury” and did not return.

Shea Brek salvaged a pride goal with a good cross that Zambrano one-timed in the 38th minute (teams only played 35 minute halves today).

1st half:

White:

F: Ricardo Pierre-Louis, George Josten

M: Alex Nimo, Geoff Cemeron, Peter Lowry, Salinas Shea

D: Matt Hatzke, Eric Brunner, Yomby William, Jonathan Leathers

G: Brian Edwards

Yellow:

F: Jeremy Barlow, El-Hadj Cisse, Pavle Dundjer

M: Brek Shea, Keith Savage, Sherron Manswell

D: Hugh Cronin, Brandon Owens, Andre Sherard, Julius James

G: Casey Latchem

2nd half:

White:

F: Ely Allen, Ricardo Pierre-Louis, Damiano Maximilliano

M: Dan Stratford, Peter Lowry, Alex Nimo

D: Matt Hatzke, Eric Brunner, Yomby William, Jonathan Leathers

G: Andrew Kartunen

Yellow:

F: Sherron Manswell

M: Cesar Zambrano, Jeremy Barlow

DM: Brek Shea, Keith Savage, Jonathan Sabbatini
D: Hugh Cronin, Julius James, Matthew Britner, Brandon Owens

G: Casey Latchem

White:

Ely Allen didn’t get to take advantage of the goal scoring feeding frenzy. He’s a quality player with a good left foot.

Matt Allen was scheduled to play but did not.

Eric Brunner has terrific instincts and even scored a goal.

Geoff Cameron had his best game teamed up with Lowry. He was strong on the ball and was battling to stop yellow transitions. Adequate skill.

Maximilliano Damiano – Big. Soft feet. Had a nice head flick to free Pierre-Louis. No thanks. Not good enough.

Sean Franklin was my revelation of the combine. Terrific player. Top notch. Would like to see him several more times to ensure that this wasn’t a flash in the pan.

Matt Hatzke had the assist on the first goal. He’s playing better. But, at this point, future doesn’t look bright for him.

George Jostens scored 3 goals to win the “golden flip flops” award for leading goal scorer. He was a handful for a woeful yellow defense. I still question his first touch and his ability to get separation.

Jonathan Leathers had a rougher game. His clearances from the back weren’t well struck. He’s got very good speed.

Peter Lowry – best player at the draft. He makes people around him better. 2 goals on Sunday. Smart player.

Alex Nimo undersized wide midfielder that has a nice cross. He has a long way to go before he’s ready for 1st team action.

Pat Phelan is a good ball handler and smart player that has been well coached. He has speed issues as well.

Ricardo Pierre-Louis is a project. His first touch is questionable. In a weak forward class, some team may take a flier on him, but he will make a ton of mistakes and will be a major project to be productive. He’s big and strong. He should buy Lowry dinner because he made him look so good.

Shea Salinas is a fast wide midfielder. Tremendous confidence to get around the corner. Combines well (at the combine – ha ha ha, sorry). Reminds me of Eric Avila. Salinas was advised not to play at the combine because he supposedly broke a bone in his face, recently. Pretty gutsy.

Yomby William, the oldest player at the combine – 26yo, doesn’t have much upside. He might be worth a late round flier. He has good ball skills and wheels to cover. His defensive positioning is weak and would need to be improved.

Yellow:

Jeremy Barlow was erratic. Never slowing down to be more precise.

Tony Beltran injured did not play.

Matthew Britner is a smart player with an adequate touch and good 1v1 tackler.

El-Hadj Cisse doesn’t have enough quickness on his first touch and his shot to be effective. He’s got speed, but doesn’t work off others very well.

Hugh Cronin lacks speed, but has good instincts and works hard for others, but that just may not be enough. He would be worth a very low draft pick.

Pavle Dundjer hard shot, but too slow to play wide – cheats to middle to try and play small game. He made a terrific cross to Cisse with an open goal that Cisse mis-kicked and wound up losing. ugh.

Julius James top class; Went to middle to stop the goal scoring in the first half.

Stephen King is a solid player. He’s heady and honest. He has athletic challenges.

Sherron Manswell doesn’t have enough speed to play up top, doesn’t have enough skill to play defensive midfield. Allows too much space and time for attackers.

Chance Myers has talent. I liked his ability to get forward from his right back position. He’s got a long way to go.

Brandon Owens is a tough tackler in 1v1 situations. He’s good in the air, but his best chance appears to be right back. He was shaky with Sherard in the middle. Gives up too much space to attackers.

Jonathan Sabbatini is absolute money. He goes both ways. He gets his head up. He is the only South American player at the combine worth picking up.

Keith Savage tries hard. Not a viable option – perhaps as a Josh Gros wide midfielder running up and down the line. But then you’re willing to be satisfied with Gros’s horrible crossing. He’s just not very good and he’s over his head.

Brek Shea – best of the U17. struggled in the back in the second half. Has much to learn but he has the core skills to be successful.

Andrew Sherard is the biggest disappointment at the combine. He has been a disaster in Titantic proportions. I thought that he was a viable central defender. He was horrible, horrible, horrible. I wonder if he was injured on the fourth goal or if his agent hired a sniper to put him out of his misery. He was worse on the outside but wasn’t bleeding goals.

Cesar Zambrano was another disappointment. After watching him play so smartly and so well against UMass in the NCAA. He scored a goal that was the total sum of his success at the combine. His passing was inadequate. He looked slow. Too bad.