Around the U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Week 22
See below for a look at some of the top headlines from around the U.S. Soccer Development Academy this week, along a look at the league leaders and top match-ups coming up this weekend.
+Read: U.S. Soccer Development Academy East Conference Recap: Week 21
Headlines
U.S. U-16 BNT loses and draws in 2016 Tournament Dell Nazioni
The U.S. U-16 Boys National Team picked up a loss and a draw in its first two matches at the 2016 Tournament Dell Nazioni in Slovenia. In its opening game, Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy) netted a goal on a pass from Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo), but it wasn’t enough in a 2-1 loss to Croatia on April 25. A day later, the U.S. conceded the first goal but ended up in a 2-2 draw with the host country. Luis Arriaga (Real Salt Lake) and Jose Rivas (Weston FC) put home goals for the U.S.
U.S. Soccer releases FAQs list, timeline for Girls DA
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy Staff has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions to better assist clubs, coaches, players and parents interested in the Girls’ Development Academy program. The program will feature three combined age groups in the Girls’ Development Academy: Under-14/15, Under-16/17 and Under-18/19.
AS Roma Coaches evaluate FC Boston Bolts
Two coaches from AS Roma, Francesco Graziani and Gabrielle Pollone, made the trip to Boston to train teams from the FC Boston Bolts club. They also worked with the coaches on setting up curriculums for each team. The experience from AS Roma coaches was a valuable experience for the program.
FC Dallas’ Weston McKinnie propels U.S. U-19 MNT to Slovakia Cup Final
Weston McKinnie scored the first goal for the U.S. in a 2-1 win over Ukraine, but his production around the net began in the team’s first match against Georgia. He scored the fourth of five goals for the U.S. in a 5-1 win against Georgia. With these two victories, U.S. will play for the Slovakia Cup championship against Russia on April 29. First, it will play its final group match against the home country April 28.
San Jose Earthquakes to have new youth fields complex
The city of San Jose and the Earthquakes made an agreement Friday for a new fields project. The complex, which is expected to cover 44 acres and cost around $37 million, will include three grass fields constructed specifically for the Earthquakes’ Academy teams. The Earthquakes use of these field, however, will be limited to 12 hours per day. Throughout this season, the academy squads have been playing at a variety of different fields.
San Jose Earthquakes to add U-12, U-13 USSDA teams
The San Jose Earthquakes will add Under-12 and Under-13 Academy teams to its player development system, which competes in the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA), and will now feature teams at the U12, U13, U14, U16 and U18 levels. The club also has pre-Academy teams ranging from U8 to U18 and a U23 Premier Development League squad.
Ken Krieger named director of Arlington Soccer Association
Ken Krieger joined D.C. United prior to this season to coach the U-15/16 squad. Now, he’ll be the club director for Arlington Soccer Association, which signed a USSDA partnership with his former club in early March. Players will represent Arlington in the USSDA’s U-12, U-13 and U-14 age groups, and will have a pathway to continue their Academy career’s with D.C. United after that. Krieger has plenty of soccer experience in the Washington D.C. area, working previously with Prince William Courage and McLean Youth Soccer.
Sporting KC Academy splits doubleheader with Lonestar SC
The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s and U-16s continued their respective playoff pushes in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy on Saturday, facing Lonestar SC at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas.
League Leaders (Goals)
U-15/16
| Rank | Goals | GP | GPG | Player Name | Jer | Pos | Yr | Team | Conference | Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | 25 | 0.96 | Arda Bulut | 29 | 99 | San Jose Earthquakes | West | Northwest | |
| 2 | 24 | 30 | 0.8 | Lucas Cini | 55 | F | 99 | Boca United Football | East | Southeast |
| 3 | 23 | 26 | 0.8846 | Alan Soto | 41 | F | 99 | Vancouver Whitecaps | West | Northwest |
| 4 | 22 | 20 | 1.1 | Rhys De Sota | 40 | 99 | Real Colorado | Central | Frontier | |
| 5 | 20 | 27 | 0.7407 | Kyle Holcomb | 3 | F | 00 | Pateadores | West | Southwest |
| 6 | 17 | 27 | 0.6296 | Tyler Bagley | 30 | M | 99 | Strikers FC | West | Southwest |
| 7 | 16 | 19 | 0.8421 | Jesus Ferreira | 45 | F | 00 | FC Dallas | Central | Frontier |
| 8 | 16 | 22 | 0.7273 | Kevin Flores | 57 | F | 99 | Texas Rush | Central | Frontier |
| 9 | 16 | 24 | 0.6667 | Cheik Fofana | 14 | 99 | Georgia United | East | Southeast | |
| 10 | 16 | 25 | 0.64 | Kevin Negrete | 23 | 00 | LA Galaxy | West | Southwest |
U-17/18
| Rank | Goals | GP | GPG | Player Name | Jer | Pos | Yr | Team | Conference | Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | 25 | 0.92 | Elijah Rice | 11 | 98 | Real Salt Lake AZ | West | Southwest | |
| 2 | 21 | 23 | 0.913 | Alex Rose | 17 | 98 | Capital Area Railhawks – CASL | East | Southeast | |
| 3 | 21 | 25 | 0.84 | Patrick Okonkwo | 9 | F | 98 | Georgia United | East | Southeast |
| 4 | 18 | 25 | 0.72 | Nathaniel Adamolekun | 65 | 98 | Orlando City SC | East | Southeast | |
| 5 | 17 | 21 | 0.8095 | Noe Meza | 23 | M | 98 | Crossfire Premier | West | Northwest |
| 6 | 16 | 28 | 0.5714 | Davis Moreno-Jaime | 10 | 98 | Arsenal FC | West | Southwest | |
| 16 | 28 | 0.5714 | Eder Oliva | 42 | M | 97 | Pateadores | West | Southwest | |
| 8 | 15 | 13 | 1.1538 | Juan Flores | F | 97 | Houston Dynamo | Central | Frontier | |
| 9 | 15 | 22 | 0.6818 | Brandon Guhl | 51 | F | 97 | Texas Rush | Central | Frontier |
| 10 | 15 | 31 | 0.4839 | Gustavo Chavez | 9 | F | 97 | Strikers FC | West | Southwest |
Schedule
Top Match-Ups This Weekend (U15/16)
Chicago Fire (10-5-1) @ Chicago Magic PSG (9-4-5) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Strikers FC (16-9-6) @ FC Golden State (20-4-6) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
FC Dallas (18-2) @ Real Colorado (12-2-6) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC (12-8-4) @ San Jose Earthquakes (14-8-4) – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Orlando City SC (14-8-4) @ Kendall SC (11-7-6) – Saturday at 4 p.m.
New York Red Bulls (14-1-4) @ NJCSA (8-6-8) – Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Kendall SC (11-7-6) @ IMG Academy (12-10-5) – Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Top Match-Ups This Weekend (U17/18)
Chicago Fire (9-3-4) @ Chicago Magic PSG (14-3-1) – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Sacramento Republic FC (15-6-6) @ LA Galaxy (17-5-7) – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Arsenal FC (13-10-6) @ Real Salt Lake AZ (18-5-7) – Saturday at 10 a.m.
North Carolina Fusion (16-8-3) @ Capital Area Railhawks (21-6-2) – Saturday at 12 p.m.
Philadelphia Union (14-3-4) @ Players Development Academy (13-3-5) – Saturday at 12 p.m.
Indiana Fire Academy (6-3-7) @ Sockers FC (11-5-3) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Orlando City SC (17-2-7) @ Kendall SC (14-6-5) – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Real So Cal (12-10-7) @ Nomads SC (15-3-10) – Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
