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Six Youth Soccer Players Crowned Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score Champions

October 22, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


PROVIDENCE, RI (Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002) - The national finals of the Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score(tm) competition, the largest national grassroots soccer skills competition in the country, were staged during the 2002 MLS Cup Weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Six youth soccer players were honored by San Jose Earthquakes and U.S. World Cup star Landon Donovan, who presented them with their National Championship trophy during halftime of the League's championship game on Sunday between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New England Revolution.

The six age-group winners, including two L.A. Galaxy fans and a New England Revolution supporter, represented five different MLS teams. Judith Navarro followed in the footsteps of 11-year-old brother, Felipe, who won the boys 10-11 division in last year's competition while a local girl, Jessica Morrow of Andover, Massachusetts, captured the Girls 10-11 crown in her second DPS finals appearance. The following are the names of the six winners:

Mike Agombar Glenview, IL 8-9 Boys
Judith Navarro Kansas City, MO 8-9 Girls
Matthew Howard Temecula, CA 10-11 Boys
Jessica Morrow Andover, MA 10-11 Girls
Jobani Santana Bishop, CA 12-14 Boys
Lindsay Hemingway Kingwood, TX 12-14 Girls

The Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score(tm) program provides young players ages 6-14 the opportunity to test their skills in three basic areas: dribbling, passing and scoring. In all, the 24 finalists from around the country earned an all-expense paid trip to Foxboro for the National Finals after advancing past three previous levels of competition within their local markets. Upon 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.

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

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. 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(tm) 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 the winners are available by calling or e-mailing Simon Borg at (646) 831-1698 or sborg@MLSnet.com. The following are brief bios of the winners:

Boys 8-9 Division

Mike Agombar, 9, Glenview, IL - Although he was 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.

Girls 8-9 Division

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, let alone winning it all. 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, she is sure to continue to make strides forward. Judith, known as "Bailey" by those who are close to her, can also learn from her 11-year-old brother, Felipe, who won the boys 10-11 division in last year's competition.

Boys 10-11 Division

Matthew Howard, 11, Temecula, CA - Matthew made 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, was in the Gillette Stadium stands on Sunday watching his team win its first MLS Cup championship.

Girls 10-11 Division

Jessica Morrow, 11, Andover, MA - Jessica was hoping to bring home a championship on Saturday and then watch her New England Revolution do the same the following day at MLS Cup 2002. However, only the first of those scenarios took shape, as the Revolution dropped a 1-0 decision to the Galaxy on Sunday. A member of MAPLE's Aztec S.C., Morrow participated in her third DPS competition and made 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.

Boys 12-14 Division

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.

Girls 12-14 Division

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.

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