Three local high school soccer stars put their skills on the map through an international showcase. Middlebury’s Solstice Binder, Beekmantown’s Grace McCasland, and Plattsburgh’s Amaya Abellard were invited to compete in the 2025 United States Olympic Development Program (ODP) Interregional. “Coming down to this event is amazing,” McCasland said. “Just this week alone has made me an even better player and a better person. Binder, McCasland and Abellard were selected for the showcase based on their performance at a ODP tournament in New Jersey during the summer. Their tournament play warranted them an invite to an ID camp in Connecticut, before they were selected as a part of 18 players in their age group to represent the East Region team in the three-day showcase in Orlando, Florida. The competition featured a variety of talented players from across the world. “I had people coming from the United Kingdom who were on my team, to Hawaii, so it’s just everybody,” McCasland said. “There’s people on other teams that come from far and wide too,” Abellard said. “We play the South, the Midwest and the West. You get to meet so many new people, play with them, against them, and it’s so much fun.”The coaching was also at a high level for the local talent. McCasland shared that she got to work with the University of Florida’s women’s soccer head coach, Samantha Bohon, on the U19 East team. Abellard, who competed on the U16 East team, also had multiple coaches who are a part of NCAA Division I soccer programs. The biggest thing McCasland took away from the instruction throughout the weekend was improving their mental game and confidence through each and every play on the pitch. “I feel the ODP program has helped me so much with my mental wellbeing on and off the field,” McCasland said. “They are not just a ‘how you can get better making runs,’ it’s ‘how you can mentally prepare for a game, or mentally prepare on how to get better.”Abellard, who normally plays striker for Plattsburgh High School, was challenged to play multiple different positions throughout the weekend, which opened her eyes to how she can see the game at a higher level when she returns to high school as a senior next fall. “I’m learning new things,” Abellard said. “Knowing that you can play at a higher level and need to keep that intensity up and keep that level up throughout.”McCasland and Abellard hope to use this opportunity as an avenue to show other local high school soccer athletes that they could also try to earn a ODP roster spot if they put in the work. “For any younger players, I think it’s a big step, but I think you should take it,” Abellard said. “I know I was really nervous about it, but it turned out well, and I’m in Florida, and I’m having fun.””A lot of what the coaches have been saying is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable,” McCasland said. “Going out on a limb, doing what you need to do, being able to step out with what you are comfortable with is the best advice that I can give.” With the Interregionals wrapping up on Sunday, Jan. 19, Binder, McCasland and Abellard will return to their hometowns on Monday, Jan. 20.
Three local high school soccer stars put their skills on the map through an international showcase.
Middlebury’s Solstice Binder, Beekmantown’s Grace McCasland, and Plattsburgh’s Amaya Abellard were invited to compete in the 2025 United States Olympic Development Program (ODP) Interregional.
Advertisement
“Coming down to this event is amazing,” McCasland said. “Just this week alone has made me an even better player and a better person.
Binder, McCasland and Abellard were selected for the showcase based on their performance at a ODP tournament in New Jersey during the summer. Their tournament play warranted them an invite to an ID camp in Connecticut, before they were selected as a part of 18 players in their age group to represent the East Region team in the three-day showcase in Orlando, Florida.
The competition featured a variety of talented players from across the world.
“I had people coming from the United Kingdom who were on my team, to Hawaii, so it’s just everybody,” McCasland said.
“There’s people on other teams that come from far and wide too,” Abellard said. “We play the South, the Midwest and the West. You get to meet so many new people, play with them, against them, and it’s so much fun.”
The coaching was also at a high level for the local talent. McCasland shared that she got to work with the University of Florida’s women’s soccer head coach, Samantha Bohon, on the U19 East team. Abellard, who competed on the U16 East team, also had multiple coaches who are a part of NCAA Division I soccer programs.
The biggest thing McCasland took away from the instruction throughout the weekend was improving their mental game and confidence through each and every play on the pitch.
“I feel the ODP program has helped me so much with my mental wellbeing on and off the field,” McCasland said. “They are not just a ‘how you can get better making runs,’ it’s ‘how you can mentally prepare for a game, or mentally prepare on how to get better.”
Abellard, who normally plays striker for Plattsburgh High School, was challenged to play multiple different positions throughout the weekend, which opened her eyes to how she can see the game at a higher level when she returns to high school as a senior next fall.
“I’m learning new things,” Abellard said. “Knowing that you can play at a higher level and need to keep that intensity up and keep that level up throughout.”
McCasland and Abellard hope to use this opportunity as an avenue to show other local high school soccer athletes that they could also try to earn a ODP roster spot if they put in the work.
“For any younger players, I think it’s a big step, but I think you should take it,” Abellard said. “I know I was really nervous about it, but it turned out well, and I’m in Florida, and I’m having fun.”
“A lot of what the coaches have been saying is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable,” McCasland said. “Going out on a limb, doing what you need to do, being able to step out with what you are comfortable with is the best advice that I can give.”
With the Interregionals wrapping up on Sunday, Jan. 19, Binder, McCasland and Abellard will return to their hometowns on Monday, Jan. 20.
