Baltimore Bays Chelsea U-18s clinch Development Academy playoff spot, D.C. United, McLean in contention for spots
By Jimmy LaRoue
While Baltimore Bays Chelsea’s U-18s 20-game unbeaten streak has clinched itself a Development Academy playoff berth, its U-16s are working to join them in the playoffs, as are academy teams from D.C. United and McLean Youth Soccer.
Here’s the possible scenarios for local teams to clinch a top two division place .
U-18
East Conference
The Mid-Atlantic Division’s Baltimore Bays Chelsea, on a 20-game unbeaten string, clinched a playoff spot last weekend, but one spot in the division is still open, and FC Delco controls its own fate to secure the spot.
FC Delco needs a win or draw against Bays Chelsea to clinch the spot. If it falters, however, third-place PA Classics, which trail by three points, or DC United, trailing by six points, could sneak into the final division spot, as it has two games remaining this weekend. United, if the season ended today, would be among the top 12 wild card teams, as it holds down the 11th place spot.
South Conference
No one has clinched a division spot, with four teams still in contention for two spots. That includes Charlotte Soccer Academy, which holds first place by two points over McLean Youth Soccer and CASL Chelsea FC Academy, who won 5-0 over the Richmond Kickers Wednesday to slide into that spot.
McLean and CASL will settle matters Saturday when they face off at noon at Spring Hill Park–U.S. Soccer Foundation Field. With 12 additional teams outside the top two in each division qualifying for the playoffs, McLean currently sits ninth.
Fourth place North Carolina Fusion, meanwhile, is still in contention for a wild card spot.
U-16
East Conference
Do the math in the Mid-Atlantic Division. It’ll be a challenge.
Four teams still have a chance to clinch the two division spots. FC Delco is in front with one game to play, three points ahead of PA Classics and four points ahead of Baltimore Bays Chelsea. Bays Chelsea has two games remaining. Even fifth-place D.C. United has an outside chance at one of the top two division spots with two games remaining, as it is five points behind FC Delco. United are on the edge of a wild card berth, holding down the 12th spot, though its points-per-game average puts it tied with two other teams.
While fourth place NJSA 04 cannot clinch one of the top two spots, it still has a chance for a wild card berth.
[ + Development Academy U-16 Standings ]
