'89/'90 SYL ODP: Day 3
Players compete in four matches/a highlight of Reading's Corey Hertzog
 Saturday, January 12
COCOA, FL – The third day of United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League ODP National Camps at the Cocoa Expo Center in Cocoa, Florida was the first day committed entirely to live action. The serene winters of Eastern Florida cooperated, dishing out a 75 degree day to fill with soccer. Both the ’89/’90 and ’91 boys competed in four, 35 minute games in their penultimate chance to prove their value to the attending college scouts and Super Y-League ODP Staff Coaches.
The coaches were also busy, narrowing down the list of elite-level players since the players arrived on Thursday. A SYL ODP Select Team will be named and posted online for both the ‘89/’90 and ’91 groups following the matches tomorrow.
Among the top players in the ‘89/’90 age group is forward Corey Hertzog of the Reading Rage. Now in his third year with the SYL ODP program, Hertzog has lived through the ongoing upgrades of the system.
“The first year or so I was here, the regional teams played together as one, against the other regions,” said Hertzog. “One region would end up dominating the rest and the play was not very equal, but now the teams are picked at random and all the teams have similar levels of play. It makes for better matches.”
Although Hertzog committed to Penn State University prior to this weekend, he decided to attend his final SYL ODP camp.
“These camps always make me want to work harder when I go home,” said Hertzog. “The competition level is so high that it makes me raise my level of play. I love to play against great players and there are some high-level athletes here this week. The coaching staff is also very strong. Everyone here this week has a nice background, most of them with well-known colleges.”
His school well represented on the SYL ODP Coaching Staff the past two seasons [Mike Parsons in 2007 and Jimmy Walker this season], Hertzog upped his stock by performing well here the past two seasons. Last year Hertzog was one of the players chosen to the SYL Select Teams who visited Germany and the Czech Republic.
 “The game in Germany was slower and more calculated,” said Hertzog. “They looked to hold the ball for long periods of time. They were also very big and very skilled in the air, a totally different style of soccer. They didn’t like the high level of pressure our American team played. It seemed to disrupt their tactics when we would press them in the back.”
“Playing against the professional youth academies in Europe taught me to play at 100% every time I step onto the field,” added Hertzog. “Just like these camps, it made me want to go out and work harder because, over there, if you are not at your best each day, there is someone waiting to take your spot from you.”
An incoming freshman at Penn State, Hertzog will be on the other side of that equation this fall as he will be fighting to break into the starting lineup amongst Penn State’s top returning players.
“Penn State was always my first choice,” said Hertzog. “I didn’t want to play somewhere too far from home. Penn State allows me to go back and forth every once in a while.”
In the summer Hertzog plans to remain with the ever-developing amateur system of the Reading Rage.
“Playing in the Premier Development League with the Rage is something I am looking forward to,” said Hertzog. “I have already discussed that with coach [Barry] Gorman (PSU). He said it would be fine as long as I begin to focus on college ball about a month before the start of the season.”
Hertzog got a taste of training with the PDL side this past summer as part of the Rage’s USL Super-20 League team.
“I started playing with the Rage about three years ago,” said Hertzog. “The entire experience has been very rewarding. They developed me into the player I am today and I owe a lot of credit to my coach Sean Murphy. My aim is still to play at the professional level and Reading has helped me get there.”
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