Around the U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Week 26

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.

+Read: U.S. Soccer Development Academy East Conference Recap: Week 25

Headlines

U.S. U-17 men’s national team falls to South Korea in AIFF Youth Cup final
The U-17 men’s national team was the top squad entering the championship match Wednesday but fell, 2-1, to South Korea after the two teams played to a scoreless draw earlier in the tournament. South Korea opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Andrew Carlton (Georgia United) put home the equalizer with about 15 minutes to go in the first half. The score remained the same until the end of regulation despite the U.S. playing with 10 men for much of the second half. In the 56th minute, the referee gave George Acosta (Weston FC) a red card and sent him off. With the U.S. playing shorthanded, the two teams remained deadlocked until the 115 minute when South Korea scored the championship-clinching goal.

Three Red Bulls Academy products named to PDL’s Top Prospects list
Arun Basuljevic (New York Red Bulls U-23), Christopher Lema (New York Red Bulls U-23) and Adam Najem (Michigan Bucks) were all named to the PDL Top 20 Prospect list that was released Wednesday afternoon. All three players are Red Bulls Academy products.

New England Revolution Academy Update: May 25
The New England Revolution’s Under-18, Under-16, and Under-14 teams were all back in action this weekend, with each Academy team hosting Everton FC Westchester. The U-18s, U-16s and U-14s all claimed victories on Sunday, May 22. The U-23 team was also in action this weekend, taking on the Revolution first team reserves in a scrimmage match.

Dynamo Academy U14s Return from Cayman Islands
The Houston Dynamo Academy U14 team returned this week from their trip to the Cayman Islands, where they competed in the Cayman Airways U15 Invitational Cup. The boys were one of twelve teams selected to compete in the prestigious tournament, which included other MLS Academies, as well as the development teams from Manchester City and the Cuban National Team, among others. The Dynamo were placed in Group A, along with DC United, Manchester City and Cuba.

Portland Timbers add Idaho-based adidas Timbers Alliance Club in Coeur D’Alene
The Portland Timbers have announced the addition of Sting Premier Soccer Club (SPSC) – based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – as the ninth club in the adidas Timbers Alliance, a strategic partnership with elite local youth clubs in the Timbers’ development territory. Started in 2012, the adidas Timbers Alliance is designed to build unique working relationships and development opportunities to help channel the top youth players towards the Timbers’ development programs and the Timbers Academy.

LA Galaxy II sign Ethan Zubak
18-year-old forward Ethan Zubak scored a team-high 13 goals in 21 appearances for LA Galaxy U-17/18 (19-5-9). He signed his first professional contract after playing eight matches with LA Galaxy II. The Corona, California, native is the second youngest player on LA Galaxy II’s roster behind 17-year-old goalkeeper Eric Lopez, who signed with the team when he was 15. He’s played four games with LA Galaxy U-17/18 this season but has spent most of his time competing with LA Galaxy II.

Graysen Garber called up to Guam’s national team
The Guam U-14 Boys National Team called up Graysen Garber, a midfielder who plays for the Sacramento Republic FC U-13/14 squad. Garber has made 18 appearances and nine starts this season with Sacramento Republic FC. He’s currently one of seven Republic FC players to be called up onto international teams.

Top five teams (U-15/16)

1. FC Dallas (22-2-0)

Aside from back-to-back losses to Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Real Salt Lake in early December, no Development Academy team has been able to pick up a point against coach Luchi Gonzalez’s bunch. With a goal differential of +58, the second-best mark in the Academy, FC Dallas has been dominant in both scoring goals and preventing them. Jesus Ferreira (20 goals) does a lot of the work on offense, as Jommar Reyes (11 goals) is the only other player with double-digit scores. In net, Carlos Avilez and David Abonce have combined to anchor a defense that’s allowed 16 goals in 24 games.

2. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (22-4-3)
3. Weston FC (21-2-6)
4. New York Red Bulls (16-1-6)
5. LA Galaxy (23-7-3)

Top five teams (U-17/18)

1. BW Gottschee Academy (22-1-1)

Montreal Impact handed this club its second winless result Saturday by playing to a 2-2 draw, but that doesn’t take away from the dominance BW Gottschee has displayed this season. It’s the best defense team in terms of goals allowed in the Development Academy and boasts several players who can score around the net. Sean McGowan leads the squad with 13 goals, but four other players have netted six scores or more. BW Gottschee finishes the season against Seacoast United (11-12-1) and Everton FC Westchester (7-8-9), so it appears this club will have a good chance to enter the Development Academy playoffs as the top seed.

2. FC Dallas (18-3-3)
3. Chicago Magic PSG (17-4-1)
4. Philadelphia Union (17-3-5)
5. Capital Area Railhawks (23-7-2)

Top Match-Ups This Weekend (U-15/16)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (22-4-3) @ FC Golden State (21-6-7) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Crossfire Premier (14-8-6) @ LA Galaxy (23-7-3) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Montreal Impact FC (13-4-6) @ New England Revolution (12-5-7) – Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Chicago Fire (14-5-3) @ Sockers FC (14-1-8) – Saturday at 1 p.m.
Orlando City SC (15-11-5) @ IMG Academy (14-12-5) – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC (14-9-5) @ Real So Cal (17-12-4) – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
New York Red Bulls (16-1-6) @ PA Classics (11-9-4) – Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Kendall SC (13-10-7) @ Georgia United (17-11-3) – Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Weston FC (21-2-6) @ Georgia United (17-11-3) – Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Crossfire Premier (14-8-6) @ FC Golden State (21-6-7) – Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (22-4-3) @ LA Galaxy (23-7-3) – Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Top Match-Ups This Weekend (U17/18)

Vardar (14-7-2) @ Crew SC Academy Wolves (15-6-1) – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Crossfire Premier (12-8-8) @ LA Galaxy (19-5-9) – Saturday at 10 a.m.
Chicago Fire (12-5-5-) @ Sockers FC (15-5-3) – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Kendall SC (19-6-5) @ Georgia United (16-11-4) – Saturday at 2 p.m.
Arsenal FC (15-11-7) @ Seattle Sounders FC (15-6-7) – Sunday at 10 a.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (17-1-11) @ LA Galaxy (19-5-9) – Sunday at 10 a.m.
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro (10-8-4) @ Chicago Fire (12-5-5) – Monday at 10 a.m.
Players Development Academy (15-4-5)@ New York Red Bulls (15-4-4) – Monday at 12 p.m.