Challenge ECNL players Olivia Ausmus (99 ECNL/goalkeeper) and Jaylen Hinkley (97 ECNL/defender) have been selected out of the recently held Region 3 camp in Montevallo, Alabama to the Region 3 Olympic Developmental Regional Pool for the upcoming 2013/14 cycle. Each summer South Texas selects players to attend and compete in the Region III Olympic Development Camp. Teams from each of the 12 states in the Southeastern part of the country are represented with trainings and matches conducted by the Regional Staff over a four day period. At the end of the camp, the Region selects 30 players to represent the Region 3 in National events over the next year.  The Olympic Development Program is the United States Youth Soccer Association’s identification and developmental program to assist the National Team Staff in selecting players.

“Both Olivia and Jaylen have had excellent years for the club. It is not surprising to our staff that they have been selected to represent the Region 3 ODP Team. Olivia (Challenge 99 ECNL) has consistently been the top goalkeeper in the Texas Conference all year and is without a doubt one of the top goalkeepers in the country. She has had the opportunity to play up on both our 98 and 97 ECNL teams on several occasions and has represented herself very well. Jaylen started on Challenge 97 and moved up to Challenge 97 ECNL in the spring. She has shown great work ethic and has done a great job as a wide player for a team that shows continuous improvement. Both players are extremely committed to getting better, love to play, and are awesome people. I am incredibly proud of both young ladies."   - Pat O’Toole, Director of Coaching

"Olivia has had an excellent year, and has clearly capped it off with an excellent summer. She had the opportunity to play up 2 years at the ECNL National Playoffs in June and followed that up by being selected to the Region III ODP team this month. Clearly she is being recognized as an elite goalkeeper and we are all excited about that! Olivia is very talented and with continued hard work, the sky is the limit for her, both on a regional and national level. I am extremely proud of her development over the last year, on and off the field, and I can’t wait to see her continue to grow and improve.”  -Chris Maravalli, ECNL Assistant Director/Director of Goalkeeping.

“Jaylen has had an incredible year of development. She began the year in Challenge 97 and helped lead them to a State Championship, playing as a midfielder and forward, and finished the season playing in the midfield with 97 ECNL.  Being selected to the Regional team as a defender shows her versatility and understanding of the game.  Our goal is always to develop players who understand principles of the game so that they can apply those principles to any position and system they are thrown in to.  I have no doubt Jaylen will continue to excel anywhere we need her on the field.”  -Stuart Self, Challenge ECNL Director.