Vega, Moreland, Updegrove on ODP teams

Carson City's Blake Moreland, Adam Updegrove and Brandi Vega has all been named to the Nevada State Olympic Development Program soccer teams.

The three will compete for Nevada in the Far West Regional Championships to be held Jan. 19-21 in Las Vegas. Moreland and Updegrove will play for the boys team for players born in 1991. Both are Carson High sophomores.

Even though Vega is just a CHS sophomore she's been moved up to play for the girls team for players born in 1989. Vega is the two-time Sierra League Offensive Player of the Year.

ODP develops youth players through the country to represent their state, region and the nation in soccer competition. The top players in the state combine to form one team to compete against other state ODP teams from across the nation. There will be a number of college coaches scouting the Far West Regional event.

This is the third straight year that Moreland and Updegrove have been chosen for the '91 team. They are only two of four Northern Nevada players to be chosen for this year's team.

The '91 team has been the most successful ODP team in state history. The team advanced to last year's finals in the Far West Regional Championships and are expected to compete for the title this year. The team will be coached by UNLV men's soccer coach Mario Sanchez.

"Last year was unbelievable," Updegrove said. "We were the underdog, the unknown. We just came out and played great soccer to advance to the finals."

"This will be an exciting year," Moreland said. "Nevada ODP teams change coaches every two years. Our new head coach is the UNLV men's soccer head coach.

"It's a great opportunity for us. The exposure we'll get to college coaches is awesome. The timing couldn't be better because he'll be our coach for the next two years."

Moreland, Updegrove and Vega had to go through several tryouts in Reno and Las Vegas to make the ODP teams. Moreland and Updegrove will also play for Kevin Updegrove's under-16 Capital Soccer team this spring.