Columbus Crew youth roundup: Juniors U-20s set sights on national championship
COLUMBUS – Crew Youth hosted the Crew Cup and Showcase at Thompson, Harvest Prep and Spangler parks over the weekend. Eighty-three different teams registered for the event from over 30 different clubs. The tournament included U-13 through U-19 boys and girls teams from across the Midwest.
As summer approaches, the Crew Juniors U-20 team begins play this weekend when it travels to Pacesetter Soccer Club in Toledo on Saturday before heading to Detroit to face WAZA FC on Sunday. Led by Crew Technical Director Brian Bliss, the U-20s have their sights set on winning another national championship in 2013.
With a few injuries on the Crew First Team, CSA U-18 player Tyler Kidwell and U-16 representative Noah Hutchins traveled to Toronto with the Crew Reserves on Saturday to provide depth in the team’s MLS Reserve League Match.
CREW YOUTH ROUNDUP
U-16
The Crew Soccer Academy U-16 squad lost to FC Milwaukee 3-2 on Saturday at the Crew’s Obetz training facility. Silankonet Bayo scored both goals in the match, but it was not enough to come out on top. On Sunday, CSA took on Sockers FC and suffered another loss, 2-1. Upon returning from Toronto, Noah Hutchins tallied with 11 minutes remaining, but Sockers FC was able to withstand a late push from the Black & Gold to hold on to victory. The CSA U-16s finish their season on June 1 against the Cleveland Internationals at the Pinnacle Sports Complex at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The first-place CSA Wolves U-16 squad remains on top of the Central Conference after a 1-0 victory against the Indiana Fire. The Wolves close their season on June 1 against Vardar SC Freiburg at 4:30 p.m. at Jaycee Park in Livonia, Mich.
U-18
The CSA U-18s beat FC Milwaukee 4-1 on Saturday at Obetz. Charlie Reymann, Alex Bumpus, Willie Bayemi and John Schuman supplied the goals for the Black & Gold in the win. The game was 1-1 at halftime, but CSA combined for three goals in the final 25 minutes. On Sunday, CSA took on Sockers FC and tied 2-2 with goals from Bayemi and Andrew McKelvey. The U-18s are currently in fourth place in the division and hold the fourth wildcard spot for the playoffs as the season winds down. The U-18s’ season comes to a close on June 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET against the Cleveland Internationals at Pinnacle Sports Complex.
The CSA Wolves U-18 team fell 4-0 in Indianapolis against the Indiana Fire over the weekend. The Wolves’ next match is June 1 at 2:00 p.m. against Vardar SC Freiburg at Jaycee Park in Livonia, Mich.
