Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap: February 17-18, 2018

It was a weekend of upsets and close calls in U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy East Conference, as play continued in the Southeast Division.

U-15

The NC Courage (9-4-2, 29 points) earned a double on the weekend pulling off successive results over the Orlando Pride (9-8-0, 27 points) and United Soccer Alliance (1-11-2, 8 points). On Saturday the Courage dispatched the Pride with a 4-1 win, receiving goals from Julia Hellenkamp (39’), Isabela Lusardi (40’), Shea O’Malley (51’), and Sarah Arnold (75’). The Pride’s lone goal in the match came from Madison Jones in the 59th minute.

As for Sunday it was another offensive outburst that propelled the Courage to victory, this time a 5-1 win over USA. USA did take the lead early on with Kaylee Mullen hitting the back of the net in just the second minute. But the Courage would come alive midway through the second half finding goals from Mackenzie Geigle (36’ and 70’), Braelynn Francher (58’), Macey Bader (61’), and Isabela Lusardi (66’).

While Orlando were unsuccessful in Saturday’s fixture against the Courage they did end the weekend on a high note with a 2-1 win over the Charlotte Soccer Academy (11-4-1, 34 points). Ava Rice put the Pride up early against Charlotte with her eighth goal on the season. Charlotte made things level just before halftime with a goal from Savanna Riggs in the 43rd minute. The second half would see with both sides coming close to gaining the lead. In the end a goal by Isabella Recinos in the 71st minute and some sterling defensive work from goalkeepers Leila Soto and defenders Ana Solojov, Natalie Ramirez, Mai Jensen and Mackenzie Anuska making the difference.

+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap | February 10-11, 2018

As with the Pride the weekend wasn’t a complete was for CSA who did get three points in a 4-2 win against USA in their Saturday encounter. USA went up 1-0 early with a goal from Kylie Overstreet in the 5th minute. CSA though took the lead midway through first forty-five with goals from Emma Sexton (26’) and Kelly Poole (38’). Poole made it a brace in the brace in the 47th minute to put CSA up by two. USA responded just three minutes with a goal of their own from Ruby Watson. But CSA put the match away for good with Maria Manousos scoring in the 55th minute. While Sunday’s result was obviously not desirable it did cap off an impressive run from CSA. Their last loss in division play was a 3-2 loss to the Concorde Fire back in October 21st.

Speaking of the Fire while they put up a real fight against NTH Tophat (14-1-2, 44 points) on Saturday they came up just short in a 3-0 loss. Alexis Wright (3’ and 40’) scored twice for Tophat, with their third coming from Hannah McLaughlin in the 39th minute

Results
NC Courage 4-Orlando Pride 1 (2/17)
NTH Tophat 3-Concorde Fire 0 (2/17)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 4-United Soccer Alliance 2 (2/17)
IMG Academy-Boca United Football Club (2/17)
NC Courage 5 – United Soccer Alliance 1 (2/18)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 1 -Orlando Pride 2 (2/18)

U-16/U-17

The Concorde Fire (7-6-3, 24 points) kept NTH Tophat (13-2-1, 40 points)from further extending their hold on first place with a 2-1 win on Saturday. The Fire gained the advantage thanks to goals from midfielders Jessica Wheeler (40’) and Amber Nguyen (50’). Tophat cut the lead to one with Sofia Black’s shot in the 70th minute. But it would not be enough as the Fire defense led by defenders Sydney Hennessey, Morgan Thomas, Alex Wagner, and goalkeeper Taylor Stalheim held off one of the top attacking sides in the U-16/U-17 age group.

Second place United Soccer Alliance made up some ground on Tophat (11-3-1, 34 points), getting a 2-1 win over the NC Courage (6-5-4, 22 points) on Sunday. The Courage looked primed to take a 1-0 lead into halftime after a goal from Elaine Rouse in the 43rd minute. But USA tied things up just before the second forty-five with a goal from Mackenzee Vance (44’). In the second half USA would take the lead and never look back. Olufolasade Adamolekun’s goal in the 58th minute would give USA three points on the day and move USA to within six points of Tophat.

Things would be better for the Courage though on Saturday, as they earned a 4-2 win against the Orlando Pride (4-9-4, 16 points). Early on it looked as if the Pride might run away with the match after jumping out to an early two goal lead. Pride goals were scored by midfielders Serena Ahmed (32’) and Krystal Torres (48’). But the Courage came roaring back with a quartet of goals from Cille Hassell (48’), Addison May (45’), Alexandra Kerr (77’), and Keyera Wynn (89’).

+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap | February 3-4, 2018

USA might have edged closer to the top spot had they earned a result against the Charlotte Soccer Academy (5-5-6, 21 points). But Charlotte played the role of spoiler on Saturday earning the 4-2 win at home. CSA stormed out a 4-0 lead against USA with goals from Asha Means (1’ and 16’), Isabelle Wood (60’), and Madelyn Baucom (61’). USA made things interesting late, receiving goals from Adamolekun (67’) and Jissette Baquet (79’). But it would not be enough to upend Charlotte, who would also receive a 0-0 result on Sunday against the Pride giving them four points on the weekend.

In other action from the Southeast Division, IMG Academy (11-6-0, 33 points) nipped Boca United Football Club (5-11-1, 16 points) 4-3. Boca took the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from midfielder Gabriela Santora. IMG responded later in the first half, taking the lead off of a pair goals from midfielders Riley Thompson (20’) and Kennedy Hart (30’). In the second half, Boca took the lead again with midfielders Jessica Camken (58’) and Jaden Roberts (75’) finding the back of the net. But IMG would come back once again, with Thompson finding the equalizer in the 77th minute and forward Enzi Broussard earning the match-winner in the 89th minute. Broussard’s goal gives her 23 on the season, most among all players in the U-16/U-17 age bracket.

Results
NC Courage 4 -Orlando Pride 2 (2/17)
NTH Tophat 1-Concorde Fire 2 (2/17)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 4 -United Soccer Alliance 2 (2/17)
IMG Academy 4-Boca United Football Club 3 (2/17)
NC Courage 1- United Soccer Alliance 2 (2/18)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 0 -Orlando Pride 0 (2/18)

U-18/U-19

Division leaders NC Courage (12-0-2, 38 points) made short work of the the United Soccer Alliance (2-9-3, 9 points) with a 6-0 win on Sunday. Grace Wagner (11’), Alexis Strickland (18’ and 63’), Emily Duerr (37’), Isabella Brown (65’), and Maggie Pierce (76’) would provide the goals for the Courage (12-0-2, 38 points). The shutout was their ninth in as many matches and their eleventh on the season.

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NTH Tophat (13-0-4, 43 points) extended their unbeaten run in league play with a close 1-0 win on Saturday over the Concorde Fire (11-4-1, 34 points). Rachel Jones gave Tophat the 1-0 lead late in the first half with her shot in the 42nd minute. NTH’s defense would be tasked with preserving the lead for the final 45 and despite a couple of close chances from Concorde they would be successful in their efforts. Saturday’s result was their eleventh shutout on the season.

+READ: U.S. U-20 WNT roster announced for training camp, friendlies in France

Charlotte Soccer Academy earned six points on the weekend after a pair of encouraging wins over the United Soccer Alliance and the Orlando Pride. On Saturday CSA bested USA with a 3-0 result behind goals from Laughlin Ryan (16’ and 60’) and Claire Broderop (64’). Goalkeeper Ruthie Jones would earn the shutout for CSA, their eighth on the season.

Sunday provided a similar set of good fortune for CSA in their 4-1 win over the Orlando Pride (8-7-1, 25 points). Broderop (37’ and 87’) earned the brace for CSA with Ryan (8’) and Maggie Lloyd (84’) also adding their names to the scoresheet. Kristen Scott provided the Pride’s lone goal in the match, moving her into third place among all players in the U-18/U-19 age division (17). The two wins on the weekend stretches CSA’s unbeaten run in Southeast Division play to six matches.

Results
NC Courage -Orlando Pride (2/17)
NTH Tophat 1-Concorde Fire 0 (2/17)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 3 -United Soccer Alliance 0 (2/17)
IMG Academy 2 -Boca United Football Club 4 (2/17)
NC Courage 6 – United Soccer Alliance 0 (2/18)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 4-Orlando Pride 1(2/18)