Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap: June 2-3, 2018

It was another important weekend of play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s East Conference. With sides wrapping up play across the U-15, U-16/U-17, and U-18/U-19 age divisions tensions were high as teams try to secure coveted playoff spots.

Meanwhile for those on the outside looking in it was a chance to end the season on a high note and to perhaps enjoy playing the role of spoiler.

+Full Schedule / Results

U-15

In the Atlantic, Sky Blue-PDA (24-3-4, 76 points) wrapped up their 2017-2018 regular season with a pair of wins on the weekend. On Saturday they defeated Virginia Development Academy (10-16-5, 35 points) 4-0. Forward Lauren Wrigley’s two early goals (3’ and 33’) Sky Blue a bit of breathing room. Midfielder Emerson Elgin (36’) made it a three goal lead just before halftime, her ninth of the season. In the second half,  Wrigley made it a hat trick in the 56th minute, giving her side a four-goal advantage and solidifying the three points in their favor.

They followed Saturday’s result with a 5-1 win over PA Classics (10-18-1, 31 points). PDA’s goals were scored by midfielders Kirti Craig (17′) and Katherine Sy (75′) and defender Peyton Nichols (26′, 30′, and 38′). Classics’ goal was scored by Maggie Groh in the 58th minute.

One of the major upsets on the weekend happened in the Northeast Division as Sky Blue-NYSC (13-15-3, 42 points) defeated first-place New York City FC (22-7-2, 38 points) 3-1. NYSC went on the attack early, looking to score an early goal and force NYCFC to scramble. It worked as midfielder Erica Petrie put NYSC up early with her goal in the third minute. That result held until the second half when NYCFC’s Bella Sember notched the equalizer in the 45th minute. But things remained level only temporarily as NYSC were awarded a penalty kick opportunity in the 49th minute. Petrie took the chance for her side and buried it into the back of the net, giving her second goal of the match and 15th of the season. While NYCFC did try and get a second, goalkeeper Hannah Wright made several key saves to stop them in their tracks. Forward Joanna Denion gave NYSC an insurance goal in the 80th minute to seal things up for the NWSL affiliate.

+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap | May 26-27, 2018

NYCFC did get a bit of retribution on Sunday though defeating, NYSC 1-0. Isabella Gomez gave NYCFC the lead and the eventual game-winner with her goal in the 27th minute. She finishes the 2017-2018 regular season with 10 goals, the third most on the team.

The Boston Breakers Academy (17-11-3, 54 points) ended their regular season on a high note, defeating Empire United (3-27-1, 10 points) 9-2. Francesca Yanchuk’s (3’, 25’, 32’, 60’, 62’, 64’, 75’ and 77’) scored an impressive eight goals in the match. Her total on the season stands at 35, which is not only the most in the U-15 age division but also the second most among the three divisions that U.S. Soccer keeps track of (Penelope Hocking of SoCal Blues Soccer Club at the U-18/U-19 level has the most with 36). Boston’s other goal came from Elizabeth Rappole in the 55th minute, her fifth of the season.

FC Fury NY (16-13-2, 50 points) earned a 3-2 win over Long Island SC (2-25-3, 9 points) on Saturday. Long Island took the lead with a goal from Ashley Borriello in the 34th minute. In the second half, the Fury got two quick goals early to give them the 2-1 lead. Goals were scored by Danielle Davis (41’) and Rachel Eisert (53’). While Borriello (60’) did score a second to make it 2-2, Abigail Solomon (67’) put the Fury on top for good. 

The Fury weren’t as fortunate in the second match, losing to Oakwood Soccer Club (16-12-3, 51 points) 2-0. Forwards Jaci Budaj (50′) and Delaney Farinha (50′) supplied the goals for Oakwood, pushing their season total to 79 goals on the season. Goalkeeper Kaelen Fabry and defenders Kate Minoudis (80 minutes), Molly Monzeglio (80 minutes) and Kendall Prince (80 minutes) worked together to hold back a dangerous Fury side and earn their ninth shutout. Moreover with the win, Oakwood overtook the Fury for the third and final automatic playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

In the Southeast, Weston FC (16-11-3, 51 points) got the three points that they needed on Saturday to secure their Wild Card spot with a 2-0 win over Boca United Football Club (9-21-1, 28 points). Sophia Goetz (41’) and Jessica Gonzalez (75’) provided the goals for Weston. With the win, they stretch their unbeaten run to three matches. 

Charlotte Soccer Academy (19-6-5, 62 points) enters the playoffs on a high note, having defeated first place NTH Tophat (20-3-7, 67 points) 3-1. Tophat took the lead early thanks to a goal from Alexis Wright in the 15th minute, her 26th of the season. But their hold on the lead was tenuous as Emma Sexton (20′) and a Tophat own goal (24′) gave CSA the 2-1 advantage. In the second half, CSA put the match away with Sexton hitting her second goal of the match in the 78th minute. She ends the regular season with 23 goals, sixth most among all players in the U-15 East Conference.

Atlantic

• Sky Blue -PDA 4 | Virginia Development Academy 0 (06/02)
• Sky Blue -PDA 5 | PA Classics 1 (06/03)

Northeast

• Empire United 2 | Boston Breakers Academy 9 (06/02)
• Long Island SC 2 | FC Fury NY 3 (06/02)
• New York City FC 1 | Sky Blue – NYSC 3 (06/02)
• Oakwood Soccer Club 2 | FC Fury NY 0 (06/03)
• Sky Blue-NYSC | New York City FC (06/03)
• FC Stars | Long Island SC (06/03)

Southeast 

• Boca United Football Club 0 | Weston FC 2 (06/02)
• Charlotte Soccer Academy 3| NTH Tophat 1 (06/03)
• Concorde Fire 7 |United Soccer Alliance 0 (06/03)
• West Florida Flames | Weston FC (06/03)

U-16/U-17

Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia (19-8-4, 61 points) took the top Wild Card seed with their 6-2 win over Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour (5-23-2, 17 points). The two sides traded goals in the first half with Lauren Teuschl scoring twice for Virginia (9′ and 38′) and Armour receiving goals from Niya Hayes (20′) and Sara Wanyana-Tyaba (41′). While the first half provided a see-saw battle between the two sides, the second half was all Virginia. Maddy Oliver (60′, 65′, and 79′) netted a hat trick for Virginia while Cameron Johnstone scored in the 61st minute. With the win, Virginia capped an impressive run to end their season, earning points in nine of their last ten matches (8-1-1, 25 points).

Sky Blue-PDA (24-3-4, 76 points) had a big weekend in the Atlantic Division, getting two massive wins to secure their playoff positioning. On Saturday they dispatched Virginia Development Academy (10-16-5, 35 points) 10-1. Midfielder Kylie Daigle (27′, 33′ and 36′) and forward Ranya Senhaji (40′, 62′, and 83′ each had a hat trick for PDA. Forwards Madisyn Pilla (11′) and Corrina Zullo (80′), and midfielders Rebecca Fluchel (58′) and Grace Karagjozi (73′) supplied the remaining goals for Sky Blue. VDA’s lone goal came from midfielder Alexandra Parra in the 44th minute.

+READ: Seacoast United selected to join U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy

In their second match, PDA defeated PA Classics (8-16-5, 29 points) 6-1. Senhaji (7′, 19′, and 36′) set the tone in the first half, scoring three goals in under half an hour. With her six goals on the weekend she pushed her total on the season to 23.  In addition to her hat trick, PDA received goals from midfielders Julianne Leskauskas (2′) and Kylie Daigle (15′ and 58′). Classics lone goal came from forward Rachel Ludwick in the 54th minute.

The Boston Breakers Academy (22-8-1, 67 points) end their 2017-2018 regular season campaign in first place in the Northeast Division, having defeated Empire United (4-25-2, 15 points) 11-1 on Saturday. Boston’s goals were scored by Jaydah Bedoya (33′, 60′, and 60′), Isabelle Aviza (11′ and 16′), Claire Grover (3′ and 45′), Eleanor Fisher (49′ and 81′), Sophie McCarthy (37′) and Lily Matthews (45′). Empire’s goal came from Camryn Pettit in the 29th minute.

FC Fury NY (22-8-1, 67 points) very nearly overtook the Breakers though getting the 8-0 win over Long Island SC (2-24-3, 9 points). It was a big day for the Fury’s Devon Olive who scored three times (18′, 66′, and 89′) to lead her club on the day. Samantha DuMont (5′), Aanchal Jain (42′), Kayleigh Goodrich (44′) and Victoria Minda (75′ and 82′) also scored for the Fury giving them 107 on the season.

While the Fury did get the job done on Saturday, they fell just short on Sunday losing to Oakwood Soccer Club (17-12-2, 53 points) 3-0. Maddie Kiely (30′ and 62′) and Lumi Kostmayer (46′) each scored for Oakwood pushing their season goal totals to 13 (3 in the U-16/U-17 and 10 in the U-18/U19) and 26, respectively. The real key to the match though was Oakwood’s defense. Goalkeepers Jessica Kasacek (65 minutes) and Molly McLaughlin (25 minutes) and defenders Jessica Hinton (90 minutes), Lexie Soteriou (90 minutes) and Nyla Urso-Serrano (90 minutes) combined to limit one of the most potent attacking sides in the Northeast Division and earn the shutout.

The Charlotte Soccer Academy (13-9-8, 47 points) earned a big win on Sunday in the Southeast Division, defeating NTH Tophat (21-5-3, 66 points) 2-1. Asha Means gave CSA the lead very early with a goal in the third minute of the match. Means leads her side with 22 goals on the season. Tophat did tie things up briefly in the 38th minute when Julia Schukle scored her fifth goal of the season. But CSA got the lead right back with Madelyn Baucom netting the match-winner in the 40th minute. Although CSA will not be going to the playoffs their form at the end of the season is certainly something that the club can build off of going into next season, winning seven of their last ten matches (7-2-1, 22 points).

Concorde Fire (19-9-2, 49 points) stayed in second in the Southeast, defeating the United Soccer Alliance (19-9-2, 59 points) 6-1. Concorde took the lead early with a goal from Renee Lyles in just the fourth minute of the match. Although USA did get a goal right back from Mackenzee Vance in the 14th minute the Fire’s attack was too much for their defense. Lucy Mitchell (37′), Madison Haugen (64′ and 71′) and Amber Nguyen (81′ and 88′) all scored for Concorde to give their side the win and seal up a playoff spot.

Atlantic

• Sky Blue -PDA 10 | Virginia Development Academy 1 (06/02)
• Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 6 | Washington Spirit Academy- Baltimore Armour 2 (06/02)
• Sky Blue -PDA 6 | PA Classics 1 (06/03)

Northeast

• Empire United 1 | Boston Breakers Academy 11 (06/02)
• Long Island SC 0 | FC Fury NY 8 (06/02)
• New York City FC 6 | Sky Blue – NYSC 2 (06/02)
• Oakwood Soccer Club 3 | FC Fury NY 0 (06/03)
• FC Stars | Long Island SC (06/03)

Southeast 

• Charlotte Soccer Academy 2 |NTH Tophat 1 (06/03)
• Concorde Fire 6 | United Soccer Alliance 1 (06/03)
• West Florida Flames | Weston FC (06/03)

U-18/U-19

Sky Blue PDA (23-3-2, 71 points) earned two wins on the weekend to finish up first place in the Atlantic Division. On Saturday they defeated Virginia Development Academy (6-19-3, 21 points) 3-0. On Sunday they faced a bit more of a difficult encounter, narrowly defeating PA Classics (6-18-2, 20 points) 2-1. Classics actually took the lead in the second half with a goal from Makenna Copley in the 67th minute. But PDA came marching right back with goals from midfielders Mackenzie Pluck (75′) and Jillian Wachira (79′). With the two wins, PDA extended their unbeaten run in league play to 14 matches (12-0-2, 38 points).

In the Northeast, New York City FC (16-8-3, 51 points) made it three wins in a row in league play, defeating Sky Blue-NYSC (6-19-2, 20 points) 5-2. Molly Feighan (three goals), Jaclyn Kemly (one goal), and Katrina Kurtz provided the goals for NYCFC giving them 74 on the season. NYSC’s goals came courtesy of an NYCFC own goal and a strike from defender Rebecca Putnam.

+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap | May 20-21, 2018

Gabriella Panagakos had a big weekend for FC Stars (12-14-0, 36 points) scoring three times in their 3-0 win over Long Island SC (4-19-1, 13 points). Her goals came in the 14th, 51st, and 65th minutes, respectively. She now has four goals on the season. In addition to her tremendous effort on the attacking front, the Stars received yet another quality performance from their defense with Jordyn Morey logging a full 90 minutes and goalkeeper Samantha Brody making several quality stops to earn the shutout.

In the Southeast, NTH Tophat (23-2-2, 71 points) knocked off Charlotte Soccer Academy (13-10-4, 43 points) with a 1-0 win on Sunday. Rachel Jones provided the lone goal of the match with her strike in the 24th minute. She finishes off the regular season as the team’s leading goal scorer with 24. Meanwhile the Tophat defense once again stood firm, earning their 15th shutout of the season.

West Florida Flames (6-18-3, 21 points) continued their resurgence at the tail end of this season on Sunday, earning the 3-1 win over Weston FC (4-22-2, 14 points). Samantha Simpson got the West Florida attack started early with her goal in the eighth minute.

Although the Flames conceded an own goal in the 18th minute that tied things up at one, they did not allow one mistake to bring down their confidence. Tristen King gave her side the advantage in the 61st minute while Julianne Hester added an insurance goal in the 88th minute to wrap things up for West Florida. King’s goal was her second of the season while Hester’s was her third. With the win, West Florida extended their unbeaten run to three matches (2-0-1, 7 points), a positive sign for the club entering next season.

Atlantic

• Sky Blue -PDA 3 | Virginia Development Academy 0 (06/02)
• Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia | Washington Spirit Academy- Baltimore Armour (06/02)
• Sky Blue -PDA 2 | PA Classics 1 (06/03)

Northeast

• Empire United 0 | Boston Breakers Academy 3 (06/02)
• Long Island SC 1 | FC Fury NY 3 (06/02)
• New York City FC 5 | Sky Blue – NYSC 2 (06/02)
• Oakwood Soccer Club 2 | FC Fury NY 0 (06/03)
• FC Stars 3 | Long Island SC 1 (06/03)

Southeast 

• Charlotte Soccer Academy 0 |NTH Tophat 1 (06/03)
• West Florida Flames 3 | Weston FC 1 (06/03)