Coach Paul Holohan's Nomads BU14 Champions at the Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament

San Diego Youth Soccer News: Nomads U14 Academy Strikes Gold again. 

The Nomads U14 boys took first place at the Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament in San Diego, California.  For over twenty years, the tournament has been held over the Thanksgiving weekend and is widely regarded as one of the top soccer events in the country.

The U14 boys ran off 6 straight wins to take first place, winning the tournament finals 3:1 against the Pateadores Soccer Club, who hail from Mission Viejo, and beating nationally ranked #10 team and Cal North State Cup champion Santa Clara Sporting in the semi-finals 2-0. 

The game was competitive throughout, but an early goal paced the Nomads as they played with the lead for the balance of the game.  Throughout the tourney, the Nomads U14 boys scored, in the aggregate, 18 goals while holding their opponents to 1 goal. 


The Nomads' defensive line was anchored by team captain Arturo Fernandez and fellow center back Geovel Vargas, who both turned in standout performances.  

Sebastian Gonzales, Roman Martin and Elan Lotzof weighed in with great performances in the midfield.  

Going forward, there was a standout contribution from Branden Sanchez, who scored two goals in the semi-final game, and an electrifying overall performance and player of the tournament and man of the match in the final, Rey Ortiz, who led the team's effort throughout the tournament.

"Every so often, you get the honor of coaching a special team.  It doesn't happen often, and I have had a few through the years, this is one of those teams," said Paul Holohan, the Nomads U14 coach.”

When asked to comment on his players, Holohan said “Yes, they are Champions but I know that a Champion is someone who is bent over, dead on their feet in training, working hard on their game when no one else is watching and that is what these kids do day in and day out.”

“This team is filled with quality players.  They're also a highly competitive bunch and give you a 110 percent effort every time they step on the pitch," said Holohan.

The Nomads U14 team is recognized as one of the top teams in the U.S and it shows in the caliber of wins they've notched in 2010 -- winning the Arsenal Winter Showcase, Nomads College Showcase, Albion Cup (playing up one age group at U15) and now the Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament. 

Team Picture Above: 

Coach Holohan, Lloyd Alexander, David Loya, Arturo Fernandez, Geovel Vargas, Issac Arenas, Branden Sanchez, Sebastian Gonzales, and Leonel Olmedo Bottom Row (left to right): Elan Lotzof, Jordi Lozada, Rey Ortiz, Edgar Hernandez, Esai Agula, and Roman Martin