To Buy a DVD of the Game
Click HERE!!
My name is Colm O Neill and I am Shane's dad. I got your e-mail address from him. I am sending you this e-mail just to thank you for the phenomenal experience you have provided my son as a result of the Boys Soccer All American Game that you organized in December. It is ironic that he was fortunate to get on the roster, then he was very much in two minds about playing as a result of the nonsensical threat of suspension by the soccer academies. He chooses to go and has one of the best soccer weekends of his life! The whole experience he still raves about including how well organized it was, how good the standard of soccer was, and how nice it was to get an opportunity to see soccer at the next level at the NCAA College Cup. In addition, with regard to the gear he received, I am only slightly exaggerating in saying that the only time he takes off the warm-up top with high School All American Game logo on the back is to wash it!
With regard to what he will do next year, it is all up in the air, but again all I can say is that his going to the All American game has brought his exposure to a whole new level and by golly he is a happy camper that he went. As a result of the weekend, he has a number of excellent, top level opportunities that he is kicking around - excuse the pun - and an awful lot of those opportunities would never have surfaced without him attending the game you organized.
Finally, after seeing how playing in the weekend has benefitted Shane, all I can say is that any high school soccer player who gets the opportunity to play in the Boys high School All American Game should jump at the opportunity and would be out of their mind to turn it down suspension or no suspension. We have a younger boy who is a sophomore in high school and suffice it to say I would already be starting to hope that he would somehow in able to beg, steal, or borrow his way to the game in 2 years time as I am telling you now his is going! Thanks again, Colm O'Neill
"Just wanted to thank you, and all your efforts to pull this off. Dakota has not stopped talking about how great of a time he had and how awesome you treated him. This will be something he will remember for the rest of his life. Definately worth the 2 game suspension." Debi Edwards
West MVP Shane O'Neill East MVP Dakota Edwards
East All-American Team
West West All-American Team
2011 Game Summary
Unable to train together due to several players having club commitments in Birmingham as well, the West squad showed no ill effects as they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead just 4 minutes into the game on a Qudus Lawal (Chicago Mather) goal and assisted by Ryan Howe (Rockford Boylan). The goal appeared to wake the East up as they increased the pressure but were unable to get on the scoreboard as they trailed 1-0 at the half.
The second half saw Lawal add his second goal of the game on an assist from Dustin Munger to give the West squad a 2-0 cushion. Just when things looked bleak for the East, Jonathan Campbell (Greensboro Day) scored on a header from Dan Citrin (Sidwell Friends) to make it 2-1. Minutes later, Donovan Fraser tied things up on an assist from Donovan Cole (Portage High) and the game looked destined to end in a tie. However, Femi Hollinger-Janzen (Bethany Christian) scored on an assist from Qudus Lawal with under seven minutes to play to seal the victory for the West 3-2.
Shane O'Neill (Fairview High) was named the West MVP and Dakota Edwards (Sayville High) was named the East MVP. For the first year, the game was a huge success. Numerous college coaches attended the game and found a lot of value in it. The game will return to Birmingham in 2012 so stay tuned.
The Game will be played at West Campus Field in Birmingham, AL.
Home of the UAB Blazers
