Video: Allstate All-America Cup High school soccer's elite on display Wednesday in Orlando.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The inaugural Allstate All-America Cup put the spotlight on 40 of the top boys high school soccer players in the country Wednesday.
The group of soon-to-be seniors didn't disappoint.
Team Twellman – led by ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman – emerged with the victory after a penalty kick shootout over Team McBride. The match was locked at 1-1 following 80 grueling minutes in the sun at the University of Central Florida.
The ESPNU-televised contest was the culmination of two days of practice and activities in Orlando, bringing together 40 top talents in high school soccer's Class of 2020.
"It's been an impressive two days for me," former USMNT forward Brian McBride said of the Cup experience. "The talent level is there. The kids really understand the game and execute it."
Yaya Bakayoko of Team Twellman dribbles the ball in the inaugural Allstate All-America Cup boys soccer game Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. Bakayoko's team beat Team McBride 5-4 in penalty kicks.
Photo by Annette Wilkerson
The Cup didn't lack for excitement as each goalkeeper came up with clutch saves in the first six minutes of action. The stellar play in goal continued through the remainder of the first half as both Khamari Culcleasure (seven first-half saves) and Jamis Fite (six first-half saves) more than justified their selection with masterful first-half performances that led to a 0-0 intermission score.
Fite, a 6-foot-1 product of Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut, was named Allstate Cup Man of the Match for his efforts.
Team McBride broke the scoreless tie in the 55th minute off a deflection from Noah Madrigal — the assist coming off a shot by Kalani Takamura.
Fourteen minutes later, California standout Ebube Ekpemogu produced a 69th-minute equalizer after slotting the ball into the right side netting just past the outstretched arms of Brendan Graves.
Team Twellman emerged victorious 5-4 after seven rounds of penalty kicks. Graves came up huge in net with three saves.
Jose Ortiz, Harvey Castro, Jony Munoz and Uriel Sanchez all made penalty kicks for Team McBride. Taylor Calheira, Logan Longo, Leo Perez, Ekpemogu and Duke Jeannestin scored for Team Twellman.
Jeannestin, who attends nearby Auburndale High School, notched the winner in the seventh round to become the hometown hero.
"It feels amazing. That PK, my whole team was counting on me and my coaches. But I'm used to the pressure," Jeannestin said of the winning penalty kick.
All of the Cup participants were scheduled to be introduced at halftime of Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game in Orlando.
Team Twellman celebrates its 5-4, penalty kick win over Team McBride in the inaugural Allstate All-America Cup boys soccer game in Florida.
Photo by Annette Wilkerson
Sammed Bawa, Taft (Watertown, Conn.); Harvey Castro, Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas); Oswualdo Cruz, South Lakes (Reston, Va.); Aidan Davock, Rivers (Weston, Mass.); Hassane Diakho, South Kent School (South Kent, Conn.); Andrew Erickson, Lee (San Antonio, Texas); Jamis Fite, Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor, Conn.); Lucas Gobea, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.); Noah Madrigal, Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria, Ill.); Spencer Mallion, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.); Matthew McLaughlin, St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio); Case Montanile, Brophy College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.); Jony Munoz, Olathe West (Olathe, Kan.); Jose Ortiz, Sam Houston (Arlington, Texas); Mateo Rodriguez, Northwood (Lake Placid, N.Y.); Uriel Sanchez, Servite (Anaheim, Calif.); Hunter Simpson, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.); Dylan Studer, Simi Valley (Calif.); Kalani Takamura, School Without Walls (Washington, D.C.); Peter Van Euwen (St. Ignatius, Cleveland, Ohio)
TEAM TWELLMAN
Diego Anaya, Santa Ana (Calif.);
Yaya Bakayoko, Martin Luther King (New York, N.Y.);
Creighton Braun, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.);
Taylor Calheira, Concordia Prep (Towson, Md.);
Cao Chaves, St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.);
Akeim Clarke, Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor, Conn.);
Blake Collins, Olentangy Liberty (Powell, Ohio);
Khamari Culcleasure, Northfield Mount Hermon (Mount Hermon, Mass.);
Grayson Doody, Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.);
Will Edwards, Jenks (Okla.);
Ebube Ekpemogu, Garces Memorial (Bakersfield, Calif);
Kyle Folds, St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio);
Jose Gallegos, Central Catholic (San Antonio, Texas);
Brendan Graves, Perrysburg (Ohio);
Duke Jeannestin, Auburndale (Fla.);
Ty Konrad, Naperville North (Naperville, Ill.);
Mayno Linares, Alief Elsik (Houston, Texas);
Logan Longo, Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.);
Leo Perez, Mariner (Cape Coral, Fla.);
Myles Sophanavong, Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria, Ill.)
Brian McBride poses with Allstate Cup Man of the Match Jamis Fite.
Photo by Annette Wilkerson
