After opening the tournament with impressive results but disappointing the next two nights, the three U.S. youth national teams — the U-18 Boys, U-17 Boys and U-16 Girls — finished strong with a 2-0-1 record on the final day of competition at the fourth annual U.S. Amateur Soccer Festival, played at the Tualatin Hills Recreation Center in Portland, Ore. The U.S. U-18 national team overcame its scoring hex and unleashed four goals on the Oregon State Select team, while the U-17s came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Canada, 3-1. In other action, the U-16 girls held their own, but were defeated 2-0 by the California Storm of the WPSL. Following are summaries of the three U.S. games: U.S. U-18 National Team 4 Oregon State Select Team 0 Just one night after sending almost 30 shots towards goal without finding the back of the net, the U.S. U-18s made their chances count in this contest, scoring four goals on 15 shots to down the Oregon State Select team. Forward Carlos Espinosa led the way offensively, scoring twice and adding an assist. The match did more than close out the tournament on a good note, it also had special significance with regard to the program, as it was the last for the current members of the U-18 program before they graduate to the next age level. Espinosa, a native of East Islip, N.Y., started the scoring in the 33rd minute, when he received a pass from defender Leonard Griffin in front of the goal, quickly turned towards the goal and tapped a shot past goalkeeper Ben Matson. Just six minutes later, Espinosa’s corner kick from the left side found the head of a leaping Cory Hagler to put the U.S. up 2-0 going into halftime. Things picked up where they left off in the second half, with the U.S. dominating play all over the field. The scoring would continue in the 70th minute, when midfielder Kyle Martino converted a penalty kick after he was dropped in the box by an Oregon defender. The final tally came when Espinosa jumped up to expertly volley home a cross from substitute Brad Davis with one minute remaining. “It was a great way to end for this group,” said U.S. coach Mitch Murray, who guided the U-18s to a 2-1-1 festival record and a 12-4-5 mark overall. “Between our team and the Under-17s, we have the potential for a really strong Under-20 team. I’ve had a really enjoyable two years with these guys.” Aug. 7 in Portland, Ore. U.S. U-18s 4 Oregon State Select 0. Goals: Espinosa 34, 89, Hagler 40, Martino (pen.) 74. USA — Warren, Griffin (Morales, 66), Oliver, Tallman, Pause, Abrahamson, Joy (Weimer, 85), Kelly, Hagler (Davis, 66), Gibbs (Martino, 66), Espinosa. Oregon — Matson (Pierce, 46), Alexander, McNeil, Smith, Vanderburg (Leinbach, 75), Leedy, Domingo (Lund, 65), Barber, Marcum (Jacqua, 46), Falcone, Luna. Att.: 50. U.S. U-17 National Team 3 Canada U-18 National Team 1 The U-17s had no problem extending their international unbeaten streak to a whopping 15 games, as they crushed Canada, 3-1, behind a penalty kick goal and an assist by midfielder Kyle Beckerman. The match also marked the return of midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and defender Nelson Akwari, who won bronze medals with the U-23 national team at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. Entering the game at halftime alongside Akwari, Beasley energized the U.S. by running loose up and down the left flank. Beasley was an immediate and constant threat to the Canadians, setting up Beckerman’s penalty kick goal in the 60th minute after being taken down in the box and sealing the win with a nifty bit of dribbling in the box in the 76th minute. Canada had a short-lived 1-0 lead after defender Adam Braz curved a free kick around the U.S. wall in the 22nd minute, following a U.S. foul outside the box. The Americans would strike back in the 34th minute when forward Abe Thompson headed home a perfect Seth Trembly cross. “When you come into a tournament like this and play bigger, stronger and more physical teams, you hope it pays off when you play teams in your own age group, which it did today,” said U.S. coach John Ellinger, who guided the U-17s to a 2-1-1 festival record. “Having Nelson and ‘Beas’ back was a big lift for us.” Aug. 7 in Portland, Ore. U.S. U-17s 3 Canada U-18s 1. Goals: Thompson 34, Beckerman (pen.) 60, Beasley 76; Braz 22. USA — Countess, Trembly, Onyewu (Kalso, 80), Yi, Martin (Akwari, 46), Jackson, Withers (Beasley, 46), Beckerman, Cutler, Thompson, Cila (Gregorio, 80; Detter, 85). Canada — Straub, Braz, Morgan, Oppong, Fronimadis (Marquez, 87), Matthews (Smith, 87), Dutra, Williams, Sukru (Wallace, 46), Dasteridis, Bourassa (Hume, 46; Gallo, 88). Att.: 150. California Storm 2 U.S. U-16 National Team 0 The U-16 girls put up a tough fight, but eventually succumbed to the undefeated California Storm, which finished the week with a 3-1-0 record. The Storm would rely on a 22nd-minute goal from former University of Portland all-America Tara Koleski for much of the match, before Kim Smith put the game out of reach with a blast in the 81st minute. “While we’re disappointed with our record, we can’t forget how important it is at the youth level to get experience like this,” said U.S. coach April Heinrichs, whose team struggled to an 0-1-3 mark. “It was clear at this competition that we were girls and our opponents were women. One of the reasons I’m proud of this group is that they’re small and young, but they played with zest.” Aug. 7 in Portland, Ore. California Storm 2 U.S. U-16s 0. Goals: Koleski 22, Smith 81. Calif. Storm — Zavala, E.Barr (Noshiroyo, 83), Rea, O’Hanley, Nanez, Hadfield, Bell, B.Barr, McAlpin (Mallison, 60), Koleski, Smith. USA — Rivera (Lombardo, 46), Ballweg, Bunch, Fabrizio, Moore, Burke, Osborne, Bognanno, Flamini (Beal, 46), McDonald (Tarpley, 39), Gusick (Sanderson, 46; Colvin, 79). Att.: 100. In the men’s championship game, the USASA East scored three goals in six minutes to defeat the West. 3-2. After a goal by West defender Ben Hoecher with three minutes to play in the first half, the East got successive goals from Peter Luzak (56th minute), Chris Gbondi (58th) and Kevin Jones (62nd) to build a 3-1 lead. The West scored again shortly after Gbondi was ejected in the 65th minute, but couldn’t complete the comeback despite the man advantage. In the women’s championship, the South region team edged the West, 3-2, in overtime. West midfielder Justi Baumgardt, another Portland alum, scored a pair of first-half goals, but the South rallied through Vanessa Woodward and Nicole Roberts to force extra time. Former North Carolina forward Roberts hit the winner in the 100th minute. In the third-place matches, the Midwest men snuck by the South, 6-5, in an offensive showdown, while the Midwest women earned a 4-2 win over the East.