U.S. Soccer Development Academy East Conference Recap: Week 5
After a slew of games a week ago in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, there was a lighter schedule this weekend. Still, there were high-profile match-ups in each age group, making it more clear which squads in the East Conference could be on their way to capturing division crowns.
+Read: ECNL Northeast Conference Recap – Sept. 26-27, 2015
Match Recaps
U-13/14
D.C. United 3, Lehigh Valley United 2
In a battle of the undefeated, D.C. United used a two-goal first half and eventually held off Lehigh Valley, 3-2, to earn its second victory of the year. Kyle Davis opened the scoring in the 11th minute and Nelson Martinez added a goal five minutes later, putting D.C. United up 2-0 at the break. And while the lead grew even further after Iker Bustamante’s 53rd minute strike, Lehigh Valley United began to find some offensive production in the second half. Nick Cari and Justin Solano scored in the 65th and 71st minute, respectively, to cut D.C. United’s lead to one. Lehigh couldn’t net the equalizer over the next 20 minutes though, and suffered its first loss in three games.
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Charlotte Soccer Academy 3, North Carolina Fusion 2
After back-to-back wins over Triangle Futbol Club Alliance and Carolina Rapids to start the year, North Carolina Fushion dropped both games this weekend, starting with a one-goal loss to Charlotte Soccer Academy on Saturday. The win moved Charlotte Soccer Academy to 2-0-0. A day later, Fusion was shut out for the first time this year as Georgia United claimed a 1-0 win, its first of the season.
U-15/16
New York Red Bulls 0, Continental FC Delco 0
Despite entering this match-up having outscored its opponents, 22-3, the Red Bulls were held scoreless for the first time this year in a scoreless draw with Continental FC Delco on Saturday afternoon.
“We made sure we played with a compact midfield,” Continental FC coach Sean McCafferty said. “When we didn’t have the ball, our formation was really kind of a 4-5-1. We made it very difficult for them to get to the wide areas, and just kept the game in front of us.”
With this type of formation, McCafferty said his team didn’t create many scoring opportunities in the first half.
Continental FC did create some chances, however, after the break, as the team nearly scored on a header from six yards out. While McCafferty’s squad did its best to prevent the Red Bulls from scoring, it also moved numbers forward when given the option.
Four games into this season, Continental FC sits in the middle of the Atlantic Standings at 1-2-1. McCafferty is pleased with his club’s performance so far but would like to see improvement near the goal as it prepares to play Bethesda-Olney on Oct. 10.
“In the final third, that final ball is still lacking,” McCafferty said. “We need to be a little more clinical when opportunities come our way.
U-17/18
D.C. United 1, Players Development Academy 1
The premier game of the weekend in the Atlantic Division lived up to its billing, as D.C United and PDA played to a 1-1 draw Saturday afternoon. D.C. United, which entered the match winners of three of its first four games, struck first on a goal from Donovan Pines in the sixth minute. The game went to intermission with D.C. United up by a score, but Josh Burnett netted the equalizer for PDA in the 55th minute. Neither team scored after Burnett’s strike, extending PDA’s unbeaten streak to five games to start the year.
Bethesda-Olney 3, NJCSA 0
While D.C. United and Players Development Academy battled for Atlantic Division supremacy, Bethesda-Olney took care of business against NJCSA to move into second place behind New York Red Bulls. Bethesda-Olney entered the game having just lost its first game of the year against Beachside SC last weekend, but tough defense and a potent offense led Olney defiantly back into the win column. Jordan Dove had a brace and David Mason found the net as well, while Daniel Kuzemka and Matthew Mighty combined for a clean sheet in goal. Olney improved to 4-1-0 heading into its bout with D.C. United next Saturday night.
Other Match-ups
U-13/14
Metro Division
New York Soccer Club 7, Players Development Academy 3
Albertson SC 2, Met Oval 1
New York Red Bulls 6, Continental FC Delco 1
World Class FC 2, Cedar Stars Academy 1
Philadelphia Union 0, Richmond United 0
Bethesda-Olney 4, NJCSA 1
North Atlantic Division
Philadelphia Union 0, Richmond United 0
Baltimore Armour @ PA Classics
Bethesda-Olney 4, NJCSA 1
Northeast Division
New York Soccer Club 7, Players Development Academy 3
Albertson SC 2, Met Oval 1
NYCFC 0, BW Gottschee Academy 0
New York Red Bulls 6, Continentla FC Delco 1
New England Revolution @ Everton FC Westchester
Seacoast United @ Beachside SC
South Atlantic
Capital Area Railhawks 1, Georgia United 0
Georgia United 1, North Carolina Fusion 0
South Carolina Battery Academy 4, Carolina Rapids 0
Sunshine Division
Kendall SC 5, Boca United Football 0
IMG Academy 3, Chargers Soccer Club 2
Weston FC 0, Orlando City SC 0
U-15/16
Atlantic Division
Philadelphia Union 4, Richmond United 2
PA Classics 2, Baltimore Armour 0
D.C. United 5, Players Development Academy 1
NJCSA 2, Bethesda-Olney 0
Northeast Division
Beachside SC 2, Seacoast United 1
New England Revolution 4, Everton FC Westchester 0
Albertson SC 3, Empire United 2
Montréal Impact FC @ BW Gottschee Academy
Southeast Division
Kendall SC @ Boca United Football
IMG Academy 2, Chargers Soccer Club 0
Orlando City @ Weston FC
South Carolina Battery Academy 5, Carolina Rapids 1
U-17/18
Atlantic Division
Philadelphia Union 1, Richmond United 1
Baltimore Armour @ PA Classics
New York Red Bulls 0, Continental FC Delco 0
D.C. United 1, Players Development Academy 0
Northeast Division
Beachside SC 2, Seacoast United 0
Everton FC Westchester 3, New England Revolution 1
Albertson SC 3, Empire United 2
BW Gottschee Academy, Montreal Impact FC
Southeast Division
Kendall SC 3, Boca United Football 1
Chargers Soccer Club 3, IMG Academy 1
Orlando City 0, Weston FC 0
Carolina Rapids @ South Carolina Battery Academy
