Around the U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Week 19
See below for a look at some of the top headlines from around the U.S. Soccer Development Academy this week, along with an update on the league leaders and top match-ups coming up this weekend.
+U.S. Soccer Development Academy East Conference Recap: Week 18
Headlines
Former New York Red Bulls Academy star Miazga makes history
Defender Matt Miazga became the first American player to play with Chelsea FC for a Premiere League game when he suited up Saturday against AVFC. The 20-year-old joined the Red Bulls U14 team in 2009 and won a national championship with the U16 team in 2012. Instead of playing collegiately at the University of Michigan, Miazga decided to sign a professional contract with the Red Bulls. He joined Chelsea this January.
Development Academy clubs set to compete in Cayman Airways U-15 Invitational
Teams representing D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, Seattle Sounders FC, IMG, LA Galaxy and Orlando City Academy will compete in the Cayman Airways U-15 Invitational from May 10-15 in the Cayman Islands. The international event will also include teams from Manchester United, Club Deportivo, Cuba Federation, Swindon Town FC, Cavalier Soccer and the Cayman Islands.
Members of Colorado Rush travel to Italy for Montecatini Cup
Thirty-one players from the U13 age group traveled to Italy with Rush Select. There were two teams — Select-CO and Select-VA — comprised of players from 12 different Rush clubs, including the Colorado Rush. The two Select teams finished in a tie for first, while the Italian clubs finished behind them.
Whitecaps FC Residency sweep weekend matches in Portland
It was a clean sweep for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Portland this past weekend. In addition to WFC2 winning 3-1 over Timbers 2 in USL action, both the U-18 and U-16 Residency teams also won against the Timbers in USSDA action.
+Read: U.S. U-15 Boys National Team defeats Club Atletico Talleres 5-1
New York SC U-17s win Dallas Cup
The New York SC 98 Boys were crowned champions at the Dallas Cup U17 Boys Tournament. After a grueling week of 5 games and undefeated, the boys took the championship game vs Solar Chelsea (Texas), with a 2-0 win.
Chicago Fire Academy: Generation Adidas Cup, Dallas Cup round-up
The Chicago Fire Academy U-16 and U-12 sides concluded play in the 2016 Generation adidas Cup tournament held in Frisco, Texas. Meanwhile, Fire Academy midfielder Cameron Lindley recently took part in the 2016 edition of the highly competitive Dallas Cup with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.
New York Red Bulls U-12s kick off spring season on winning note
The New York Red Bulls U-12 Blue and White teams were the lone academy sides in action last weekend and kicked off the spring portion of the 2015-16 Northeast Pre-Academy League season.
Most Goals scored (Individual)
U15/16
Lucas Cini (Boca United Football) – 22 goals
Lucas Cini of Boca United has been as dominant a scorer as any so far this season. He’s scored half of his team’s 44 goals and has started all 27 games. While Boca United (9-15-3) remains outside the playoff picture, this squad has one of the best goal scorers in the Development Academy and has scored the second-most goals of any team in the Southeast Division.
Top Five
1) Lucas Cini (Boca United Football) – 22
2) Arda Bulut (San Jose Earthquakes) – 21
3) Kyle Holcomb (Pateadores) – 20
T4) Rhys De Sota (Real Colorado) – 19
T4) Alan Camacho Soto (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) – 19
U17/18
Elijah Rice (Real Salt Lake AZ) – 22 goals
Real Salt Lake AZ leads the Southwest Division with 58 goals scored, and forward Elijah Rice is a significant reason why. The University of Washington commit has found the back of the net 22 times in 21 starts, while Alec Felix is Real Salt Lake AZ’s next highest scorer with eight goals. Real Salt Lake AZ (15-5-6) sits in third place in the Southwest Division and currently holds the 18th seed in the playoffs, so its likely Rice will have the opportunity to bring his monstrous scoring numbers into the postseason.
Top Five
1) Elijah Rice (Real Salt Lake AZ) – 22
2) Nathaniel Adamolekun (Orlando City SC) – 17
T3) Alex Rose (Capital Area Railhawks) – 16
T3) Noe Meza (Crossfire Premier) – 16
T3) Patrick Okonkwo (Georgia United) – 16
Top Match-Ups This Weekend (U15/16)
Crossfire Premier (10-6-5) @ Real Salt Lake AZ (14-8-4) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri (9-5-2) @ Sockers FC (9-0-6) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC (12-6-4) @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC (17-4-3) – Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
IMG Academy (11-7-5) @ Weston FC (17-2-4) – Saturday at 5 p.m.
Top Match-Ups This Weekend (U17/18)
Nomads SC (15-3-8) @ LA Galaxy (16-3-6) – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Crossfire Premier (9-5-7) @ Real Salt Lake AZ (15-5-6) – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Indiana Fire Academy (5-2-7 @ Crew SC Academy Wolves (11-4-0) – Saturday at 1 p.m.
Houston Dynamo (13-1-4) @ FC Dallas (12-3-3) – Saturday at 1 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC (11-5-6) @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC (13-1-10) – Saturday at 1 p.m.
Chargers Soccer Club (12-7-5) @ Kendall SC (13-6-5) – Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
U-15/16 Playoff Pool (As of April 7)
