Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score Champions to be Crowned Saturday

Published on October 18, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

PROVIDENCE, RI (Friday, October 18, 2002) - While the Los Angeles Galaxy and New England Revolution will do battle for the greatest prize in American professional soccer in MLS Cup 2002 on Sunday, 24 kids representing 11 states across the country, will seek glory of their own as they compete for the national titles of the 2002 Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score(tm) (DPS) youth skills competition at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

The winners of the fifth annual event will be honored by San Jose Earthquakes and U.S. World Cup star Landon Donovan at halftime of MLS Cup on Sunday in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Donovan's teammates on the defending 2001 MLS Cup champion Earthquakes, Ronnie Ekelund and Joe Cannon, will be present at Gillette Stadium on Saturday morning to congratulate the winners.

A boys and girls national champion will be named in each of three age divisions: 8-9, 10-11 and 12-14. The finalists will be making the all-expense paid trip to Foxboro with their parents, many for the first time (a complete list of participants and individual details follows). In addition to Miami and Houston, the 24 participants represent each of the 10 MLS markets. .

The six DPS National Champions will also have the opportunity to present the Nickelodeon Games and Sports (GAS) Play of the Year later Saturday night at the Gala Awards Ceremony at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Nickelodeon GAS and on-air host Mati Moralejo will tape the finals on Saturday morning at Gillette Stadium and the event will be featured in a special DPS edition of GAS in November.

Some of the stories to look forward to this weekend include the quest of two local participants who will be striving to win a title on home turf: Scituate, Rhode Island's own Brittney Blanchette (Girls 8-9) and Jessica Morrow of Andover, Massachusetts (Girls 10-11). The two Revolution supporters will be joined at the event by five California natives, including four Los Angeles Galaxy fans. Another element of interest will be whether the lone representative from Florida, Marcus Svensson of Plant City, will be able to capture another National Title after winning the Boys 8-9 Division at last year's championships.

The national finalists have already advanced through three previous levels of competition within their local markets to reach the Pepsi MLS DPS National Finals. After emerging from Local and Sectional Competitions, they moved on to the Team Competition with the top four scorers nationwide in each age division winning the opportunity to compete at MLS Cup 2002.

In March Pepsi announced an extension of its official sponsorship with MLS, becoming the new and exclusive national title sponsor of the MLS Dribble, Pass & Score(tm) (DPS) program in 2002, the largest national grassroots soccer skills competition in the country. The official youth skills competition of MLS, Dribble, Pass & Score(tm) challenges kids between the ages of six and 14 in a nationwide event that culminates with the crowning of the winners at MLS Cup. Since the program kicked off in 1998 as Dribble, Pass & Shoot, more than a half-million kids have participated in the fun and free opportunity to test their soccer skills in the areas of dribbling, passing and scoring. In conjunction with Pepsi's involvement this season, the name of the program was altered to Dribble, Pass & Score, which sends the proper message about the ultimate objective of the sport of soccer: scoring goals.

Pepsi, an Official Sponsor of Major League Soccer since the League's inception in 1996, became the first-ever Title Sponsor of the League's All-Star festivities last summer. During the 2001 MLS All-Star Weekend in San Jose, Pepsi presented the All-Star Skills Challenge, and is the annual presenting sponsor of the League's "Best XI" Award, which honors the top players in MLS at the conclusion of the regular season.

The Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score competition will return next year with the 2003 edition beginning in January. Individuals interested in bringing a local competition to their community may call the DPS hotline, (888) MLS-9008, or visit the Youth Soccer section on www.MLSnet.com for more information.

Digital images of all 24 participants are available by calling or e-mailing Simon Borg at (646) 831-1698 or sborg@MLSnet.com. What follows is an outline of the various stages and elements of the competition:

SKILLS AND SCORING: Points scored from the following three events are combined to create a cumulative total:

Dribbling - Participants are timed as they dribble a ball through a slalom-style course of flags.

Passing - Youth players pass three balls through a line of flags set 10 yards away. Distances between flags vary. The participant receives a specific point total based on accuracy.

Scoring - Participants take three shots at a goal covered by a bounce-back net with marked targets. Points received are based on the targets that are hit.

FORMAT: The program includes four levels of competition:

Local Competitions - Approximately 50 first-round competitions will take place in each MLS market from April to July. The top scorer in each of the three upper age divisions advances to a sectional competition.

Sectional Competitions - Each MLS market holds a sectional competition in late July and early August. The top four scorers advance to the Team Championship held at an MLS Stadium in conjunction with the local MLS team.

Team Championships - All 10 MLS teams host one team championship at their stadium during a regular season game in August or September. In the case of non-MLS markets, MLS will make arrangements to run the Team Championship at a suitable location.

National Finals - The top four scorers (first-place only) in each division from the 12 Team Championships advance to the National Finals at MLS Cup 2002 on October 19. Each finalist, along with a parent, receives an all-expenses paid trip to MLS' championship game.

2002 Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score National Finalists

Boys 8-9 Division Girls 8-9 Division Mike Agombar Glenview, IL Brittney Blanchette Scituate, RI Shane Bowlen Lee's Summit, MO Judith Navarro Kansas City, MO Ryan Ertmann Allendale, NJ Hannah Roberts Milford, OH Brian Runyon Jr. Leesburg, VA Bailey Wysocki Plainfield, IL

Boys 10-11 Division Girls 10-11 Division Bradlee Baladez Dallas, TX Lindsay Dickerson Los Gatos, CA Kyle Critchfield Broomfield, CO Christina Lee Sterling, VA Matthew Howard Temecula, CA Jessica Morrow Andover, MA Marcus Svensson Plant City, FL Liberty Tilman Culver City, CA

Boys 12-14 Division Girls 12-14 Division Kyle Duncan Columbus, OH Lauren Archibeque Greeley, CO Chad Nahoolewa McKinney, TX Lindsay Hemingway Kingwood, TX Jobani Santana Bishop, CA Lily Meyer Peninsula, OH Matt Wilson Morris, IL Carrie Seller Arcadia, CA

Following is a closer look at the 2002 Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score National Finals participants. Divisions are determined by participants' birth dates as of December 31, 2002. Please contact MLS Communications for more information.

Boys 8-9 Division

Mike Agombar, 9, Glenview, IL - Although he is new to the DPS Finals scene, Mike can be considered an accomplished international veteran at tests of soccer skills, having finished third in a similar competition sponsored by the Football Association in his native England. The nine-year-old player for the Trevians of the YSL, moved to the U.S. with his family two years ago and immediately became a fan of Chicago Fire forward Hristo Stoitchkov, who knows a thing or two about dribbling, passing and scoring himself.

Shane Bowlen, 9, Lee's Summit, MO - It's a wonder how Shane even had the time to make the run from the local DPS competition all the way to the finals in Foxboro. With some of the most diverse interests of anyone who has reached the finals, the nine-year-old plays golf, he is a member of an Ecology Club and he rides a dirt bike. That's only when he's not playing baseball, basketball, watching football or playing with his Renegades Soccer Club. Win or lose at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, nine-year-old Shane will have plenty to keep him busy back home.

Ryan Ertmann, 9, Allendale, NJ - Having first played competitive soccer in a pre-kindergarten league at the age of four, Ryan has been on the fast track of soccer development, catapulting him to the finals in his first year of DPS participation. Although Foxboro may not cultivate fond memories for Ryan's idol, MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard (the MetroStars were eliminated from the playoffs with a 3-0 defeat on the last day of the regular season), the nine-year-old has already been to the area before for the inaugural WUSA championship.

Brian Runyon Jr., 8, Leesburg, VA - A member of the Loudoun Attack (Loudoun Youth Soccer Association), Brian is a Bobby Convey fan and D.C. United supporter, who will be making his first trip up to Providence. A team MVP in 2001 and 2002, he actively plays three other sports and also takes the time out to go BMX and ATV riding and hunting and fishing with other family members.

Girls 8-9 Division

Brittney Blanchette, 9, Scituate, RI - MLS Cup weekend will be a special time from Brittney, whose New England Revolution will vie for the MLS Cup title on Sunday, a day after she competes for the DPS championships. Although not part of the competition, the nine-year-old has a special soccer skill that her teammates on the Scituate Soccer team see every day: the flip throw-in as made popular in MLS by MetroStars defender Steve Jolley but rarely tried by anyone else. Her background in gymnastics comes in handy to pull off the move.

Judith Navarro, 9, Kansas City, MO - As a player who just began playing soccer two years ago, Judith was an unlikely candidate to advance all the way to the final round. A gymnast and figure skater, she has been making rapid improvement in her game since earning second place at the sectional competition in 2001. By paying close attention to her favorite soccer star, veteran Wizards midfielder Preki, Bailey is sure to continue to make strides forward, possibly beginning with a championship on Saturday. She can also learn from her 11-year-old brother, Felipe, who won the boys 10-11 division in last year's competition.

Hannah Roberts, 8, Milford, OH - The youngest member among the 2002 finalists at the age of eight, Hannah is actually participating in her third DPS event, competing at the local level in 2000 and 2001. The native of Milford plays club soccer with her seven-year-old sister, Megan, on the Poison Ivy team (Milford Youth Soccer Association) which took first place in the Grothaus Tournament.

Bailey Wysocki, 9, Plainfield, IL - In her first DPS appearance Bailey will be competing for the girls 8-9 championship on Saturday at Foxboro Stadium. In her leisure time, the Plainfield Lady Cougars player is active in song, theater and piano playing, participating in high school productions of the Wizards of Oz (2001) and the Music Man (2002).

Boys 10-11 Division

Bradlee Baladez, 11, Dallas, TX - Perseverance pays off after all. While in past years Bradlee's DPS run has stopped at the local level, this year he has made it all the way to the finals in Foxboro. The second youngest among four other siblings, the 11-year-old Xcelex S.C. player (Mesquite Soccer Club) will arguably be one of the best all-around athletes at Gillette Stadium. An MVP in soccer, baseball and basketball, Bradlee also plays the violin.

Kyle Critchfield, 11, Broomfield, CO - A first-time participant in the DPS competition, Kyle had a true MLS experience in his run to the finals. The 11-year-old, who fosters a true passion for the sport, had the opportunity to qualify by competing at Invesco Field at Mile High (local) and the Colorado Rapids training facility at the Westminster Rec Park (sectional). Kyle also plays his club soccer with the Westminster Football Club.

Matthew Howard, 11, Temecula, CA - Matthew will be looking to make as big a splash in his first year of DPS participation as his favorite MLS player, Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz, did with the Los Angeles Galaxy. On the road to Foxboro, the 11-year-old Southwest Soccer Club player (California Youth Soccer Association - South) had the opportunity to step on the same field, the Rose Bowl, on which Ruiz made his name with two goals in his MLS debut. Matthew, who enjoys gardening, fishing and riding his go-kart, will be sitting in the Gillette Stadium stands on Sunday hoping his team can win its first MLS Cup championship.

Marcus Svensson, 9 (turns 10 by Dec. 31), Plant City, FL - Nine-year-old Marcus is the only player who will have a chance to defend the title he captured in 2001. An avid soccer player whose favorite player is the MetroStars' Clint Mathis, he was the national champion among 8-9 year old boys last year. The lone representative from Florida this year, Marcus is a defender/midfielder with the Plant City Lancers.

Girls 10-11 Division

Lindsay Dickerson, 11, Los Gatos, CA - One of the intriguing stories of the 2002 DPS finals is Lindsay's quest to win her second national championship in her third year of participation. The 11-year-old, like her idol Landon Donovan, is a natural when it comes to soccer. Although she mostly uses her hands as a goalkeeper with the North Valley Dazzle (California Youth Soccer Association - North), her foot skills are as good as any field player. In fact, her personal best when it comes to juggling constituted 3,265 touches. A piano player, golfer and avid reader, Lindsay captured the 2000 championship at RFK Stadium, site of MLS Cup 2000.

Christina Lee, 10, Sterling, VA - The DPS finals at Foxboro represent just another step in Christina's dream of playing for the U.S. at the Olympics and becoming a professional soccer player. If her persistence is any indication, she'll reach those goals. The 10-year-old finished third in the DPS team championship at RFK Stadium in 2001 and has succeeded in going one step further in her next attempt. Her competitive drive may be rooted in the fact that she is active in most every sport, including archery and ice-skating.

Jessica Morrow, 11, Andover, MA - Along with nine-year-old Rhode Island native Brittney Blanchette, Jessica will be hoping she can bring home a championship on Saturday and then watch her New England Revolution do the same the following day at MLS Cup 2002. A member of MAPLE's Aztec S.C., Morrow is participating in her third DPS competition and is making her second finals appearance (2000). Success at DPS seems to be a trait of the Morrow family. Jess, who lists the clarinet, math and lacrosse as some of her hobbies and interests, saw her nine-year-old brother, Patrick, finish in first place at the 2002 regional.

Liberty Tilman, 10, Culver City, CA - Another Galaxy fan in the stadium on Sunday afternoon will be Liberty, who one day earlier will compete for the national championship in the girls' age 10-11 group. She plays for the West Side Breakers of the Coast Soccer League that finished second in the entire state among AYSO teams, receiving a commendation from the mayor of Culver City. A collector of glass cats, who plays the keyboard in her leisure time, Liberty is in her first year of DPS competition.

Boys 12-14 Division

Kyle Duncan, 12, Columbus, OH - Some may say that Kyle has an unfair disadvantage when it comes to other kids competing at the DPS finals in Foxboro. The 12-year-old's club coach with the NCAA Blast is none other than Columbus Crew sharpshooter himself, Robert Warzycha, who is a player/coach for the Black-and-Gold. An MVP and leading scorer on the soccer field, Kyle has also been an honor roll student in every grade.

Chad Nahoolewa, 12, McKinney, TX - In his first outing in the DPS competition Chad made it all the way to the finals in Foxboro. An avid outdoorsman, who is a cross-country runner and motorcyclist, plays for the Black Watch club team (NTSA). Chad began his playing soccer when he was five-years-old.

Jobani Santana, 12, Bishop, CA - After capturing eight league championships in a row at the club level with Flaming Boys (AYSO), Jobani sought the challenges offered by DPS competition and advanced all the way to the finals. An aspiring dentist and professional soccer player, Jobani will get to see soccer idol Cobi Jones and the Los Angeles Galaxy battle for the team's first title.

Matt Wilson, 14, Morris, IL - The elder statesman of the 2002 group of finalists, Matt is appearing in his first final after participating in the 2000 event and winning second place in the sectional competition. A Landon Donovan fan and Chicago Fire supporter, Matt also officiates soccer matches when he's not busy with school work at Morris Community High School.

Girls 12-14 Division

Lauren Archibeque, 13, Greeley, CO - Having started playing soccer since she was four, Lauren will have 18 seasons under her belt (spring/fall) when she takes the Gillette Stadium Field on Oct. 19 in the finals. A member of the Bootleggers (Colorado State Youth Soccer Association), she is not expected to be intimidated by the stakes at hand either. Her club teams have captured two state championships (1999, 2000) and through it all she has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA at Maplewood Middle School.

Lindsay Hemingway, 13, Kingwood, TX - Although Houston does not host an MLS team as of yet, the Texas city still has its share of MLS fans like Hemingway, whose favorite player is D.C. United's Eddie Pope. The 13-year-old member of the Texas Genesis (South Texas Youth Soccer Association) club soccer team is a five-sport athlete at Riverwood Middle School. The violin player also has a twin sister, Sara.

Lily Meyer, 13, Peninsula, OH - Lily is the most experienced participant in the DPS finals this year, as she looks to crown her fourth year of competition with a championship which has eluded her in past years. In her best showing to date, the 13-year-old member of the Cleveland Futbol advanced to the national finals and finished third in 2000. Last year she fell just one stage short, securing a third-place spot in the team championship. Lily's talents are undisputed. An Olympic Development Program (ODP) player since 1999, she has captured juggling champion honors at several soccer camps.

Carrie Seller, 13, Arcadia, CA - A late bloomer compared to other kids at the DPS finals, Carrie began playing soccer in fifth grade and has advanced to the finals at the first try. A two-year AYSO All-Star with Crown City United of the Coast Soccer League, Carrie is also co-captain of the cheerleading squad at Arcadia Christian School and is a member of the student council.

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