Quartet Enjoys ODP Interregional Experience

Friday, December 3, 2021

A handful of Spokane Sounders players had the opportunity to spend the week prior to Thanksgiving down in Florida among some of the nation’s elite participating in the 2021 ODP Interregionals. Erin Ewers, Sammie Symmes, Tasyn Oosting and Hailey Roberts donned the red, white and blue for the week representing the West.

Erin Ewers, a member of the EPD Washington team for regional camp, was selected for the G2004 West Regional team for Florida after the regional camp.

“I absolutely loved the whole experience because of the amazing coaching, learning opportunities and high level of play that I was faced with. I was so happy to be reunited with my friends from regional camp and I got to meet a couple high level, well-known soccer players that I’ve looked up to since I was little. Overall, I was blessed to be able to go down there and learn more about the game at the highest level.”

Sammie Symmes, playing for Idaho ODP in Arizona, was selected to attend the regional camp in Colorado, where she was selected for the G2004 West Regional team.

“The games went well. We had mixed results, but the team played well and was able to play other high level teams. We had a great team win against East and that was the game we all clicked and played as one, which was a big focus the coaches had for us that game. The experience was incredible and the coaches and girls were the absolute best. Even though we only had a couple practices to get to know each other, we really came together and became as close as sisters. I am so grateful for the chance to represent Region IV and make memories with some amazing teammates from all over the west and be coached by some of the best coaches around!”

Hailey Roberts participated in EPD for Washington and last June was selected from the EPD group to attend a regional OPD camp in Denver. At the end of the Denver camp she was chosen to play for the G2009 West Region team. It would be the first experience like this for her as an individual.

“I enjoyed the independence of traveling to Orlando alone. I missed my team but enjoyed meeting girls from all over the western states. The experience was very exciting and I enjoyed working under pressure to try prove myself to a new set of coaches while surrounded by very talented players. I also enjoyed the classroom sessions where the coaches went over strategies and field positioning. I was honored to play on the field with all of these talented athletes. It has motivated me to keep working hard at training so maybe I’ll be invited back next year.

Roberts’ first experience proved to be rather enjoyable as the West went unbeaten. They opened with a 1-1 draw against South and then downed the East and Midwest 2-0 and 4-1, respectively.

Tasyn Oosting, a regular with the West Regional team, was no surprise as a representative for Region IV, heading to Interregionals for a fourth time. He was excited for this trip having missed out on a chance to go to Spain due to pandemic cancellations. He even arrived a few days early to acclimate to the time change for the best performance possible.

He started things off with a goal in a scrimmage against the B04 West group during training day. The team won 3-1 against South with an Oosting tallying an assist on the opening goal. He set up another goal in a hard-fought 3-2 loss to the East in the second match. Against the Midwest he tallied on a penalty after dribbling between defenders in the box and being fouled. It put them up 2-1 en route to a 4-1 win with him adding two assists as well in the game.

“Overall I had a successful weekend with a goal and four assists in three games. But, I could not have done without my teammates who never thought of me as less and would always make sure I was doing alright whether it was a missed shot or a missed touch. They allowed me to go on and keep moving forward! The ODP experience is nothing like you could ever imagine and I am happy and thankful that I can represent Washington and the Spokane Sounders as a player.”

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