Development Academy finals week kicks off
WHITECAPS FC, SOLAR CHELSEA SC TAKE LEAD IN U-17/18 GROUPS: The U-17/18 age division kicked off the 2012 Development Academy Finals Week on Monday at the Houston Amateur Sports Park as Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Solar Chelsea SC both put in impressive performances to take the lead in their respective groups. Whitecaps FC benefitted from a hat trick by midfielder Ben Fisk in a 4-1 win against North Carolina Fusion in Group 1, while Colorado Rapids and De Anza Force tied 2-2 in the other group game.
In Group 2, Solar Chelsea SC scored two first-half goals in a five-minute span for a 2-0 win against Baltimore Bays Chelsea and the group lead, as FC Dallas and Chivas USA dueled to a 1-1 tie. The U-17/18 age group is off until Wednesday.
U-15/16 DIVISION SET TO KICK OFF: The U-15/16 age group is scheduled to kick off competition Tuesday with four matches at HASP. In Group 1, the New York Red Bulls take on Pateadores and Charlotte Soccer Academy squares off against the Chicago Fire. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. CT. In Group 2, the Crew Soccer Academy Wolves play D.C. United and PA Classics tangles with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri. The Group 2 matches are set for 9 p.m. CT.
FINALS WEEK SCHEDULE (home team listed first; times CT)
All games at Houston Amateur Sports Park
MONDAY’S RESULTS
U-17/18 age group:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4, North Carolina Fusion 1 – Match Report
De Anza Force 2, Colorado Rapids 2 – Match Report
FC Dallas 1, Chivas USA 1 – Match Report
Solar Chelsea SC 2, Baltimore Bays Chelsea 0 – Match Report
TUESDAY’S GAMES:
U-15/16 age group:
New York Red Bulls vs. Pateadores, 8 p.m.
Charlotte Soccer Academy vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m.
Crew Soccer Academy Wolves vs. D.C. United, 9 p.m.
PA Classics vs. St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri, 9 p.m.
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
U-17/18 age group:
Chivas USA vs. Solar Chelsea SC, 8 p.m.
Baltimore Bays Chelsea vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. De Anza Force, 9 p.m.
Colorado Rapids vs. North Carolina Fusion, 9 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAMES:
U-15/16 age group:
D.C. United vs. PA Classics, 8 p.m.
St. Louis Scott Gallagher vs. Crew Soccer Academy Wolves, 8 p.m.
Pateadores vs. Charlotte Soccer Academy, 9 p.m.
Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls, 9 p.m.
U-17/18 Academy Finals Week Field:
Group 1: North Carolina Fusion | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | De Anza Force | Colorado Rapids
Group 2: FC Dallas | Chivas USA | Solar Chelsea SC | Baltimore Bays Chelsea
U-15/16 Academy Finals Week Field:
Group 1: New York Red Bulls | Pateadores | Charlotte Soccer Academy | Chicago Fire
Group 2: Crew Soccer Academy Wolves | D.C. United | PA Classics | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri
FINALS WEEK HISTORY: Entering the fifth edition of Finals Week, relive the previous championship matches with a rundown of Finals Week history and a primer on the tournament’s format.
ACADEMY PLAYOFFS RECAP: The 2011-12 Development Academy Playoffs at the FC Dallas Stadium Complex in Frisco, Texas, featured some exciting matches and down-to-the-wire finishes deciding the 16 teams that qualified for Finals Week. Here’s a refresher on what went down a couple weeks ago at the Academy Playoffs as well as links to the background and history of the Academy Playoffs:
- Academy Playoffs Results | YNT Blog
- U-17/18 Group Standings (final) | U-15/16 Group Standings (final)
- U-17/18 Group Winners | U-15/16 Group Winners
- History of Academy Playoffs and Finals Week | Academy Playoffs Process and Background
SOCIAL CONNECTION: Follow the U.S. Soccer Development Academy on the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Facebook page, Twitter @ussoccer_ynt and The YNT Blog.
