Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap: March 17-18, 2018
It was big weekend in the U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy Eastern Conference with all three divisions having matches in the U-15, U-16/U-17, and U-18/U-19 age groups. This weekend saw sides in the Atlantic gain ground on first place, some close battles in the Northeast, and sides earning their first win and big matches in the Southeast.
U-15
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (11-5-1, 34 points) inched closer to the top spot in the Atlantic division with a 4-0 win over PA Classics (4-10-1, 13 points) on Saturday. Defender Alexandra Lewis gave PFA their first goal of the match in the ninth minute. In the second half Margaret Thornton’s brace gave them the insurance goals necessary to take away the three points. Their defense, led by Lewis and fellow defenders Juliann Muntz, Raine Korpics, Lindsay Aiken, and Lauren Stewart and goalkeeper Audrey Brown recorded their eighth shutout of the season.
Saturday’s other Atlantic Division fixture saw FC Virginia (11-6-1, 34 points) get past Washington Spirit Academy: Baltimore Armour (4-13-0, 12 points) in a wild 4-2 win. When a side has a winning they often also have luck on their side. Virginia seemed to have that on St. Patrick’s Day getting a pair of goals in just the first minute from midfielder Audrey Cowen and an own goal via the Armour. They take the 3-0 advantage in the 41st minute with a goal from forward Isabella Kalaris. Armour cut the lead back to thanks to a goal of their in the 41st minute from Mara Buto. But midfielder Erika Maliska made it three once again with her strike in the 48th minute. A late tally from Armour’s Reily Folch (71st) made it a game once again, but it would be too little, too late for the home side.
In a battle for the top spot in the Northeast Division on Saturday, FC Fury NY (12-4-1, 37 points) got past NYCFC (13-4-0, 39 points) 2-1. Things looked promising early on for NYCFC after Bella Sember scored her 15th goal of the season in the 19th minute. But an own goal by NYCFC (19’) made things level again. Fury’s Jillian Shimkin that found the match-winner in the 46th minute. It was her 14th on the season, which puts her in fourth place for most goals in the division.
+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap | March 10-11, 2018
FC Stars made their return to Northeast Division play by earning six points on the weekend. On Saturday, the club defeated Oakwood Soccer Club 2-0 thanks to goals from forward Megan Putvinski (34’) and midfielder Ariana Bezanson (64’). Goalkeeper MaryKate Ward and defenders Samantha Mulder (40 minutes), Juliana Chiarella (80 minutes), and Emily Bubonovich (40 minutes) helped their side earn their seventh shutout of the year.
On Sunday, FC Stars followed that effort up with an equally impressive match, defeating Sky Blue NYSC (3-7-4, 13 points) 3-1. Putvinski (8’) and Bezanson (68’) each netted their second goals on the weekend. Rory Clare got things started for the Stars, this time with her goal in the seventh minute. Sky Blue’s lone goal came from Teresa Deda in the 30th minute.
In the Southeast Division, IMG Academy (1-18-1, 4 points) earned their first win on the season, 2-0 over United Soccer Alliance (1-16-2, 5 points). Molly Dennison gave her side the lead in the 22nd minute. In the second half, they received an insurance goal from Madison Shaffery in the 71st minute.
Weston FC (12-6-2, 38 points) strengthened their hold on the second Wild Card spot on Saturday with a 1-0 win over the West Florida Flames (5-11-2, 17 points). Kaitlyn Pensabene provided the lone goal for Weston in the 27th minute. The shutout was their first since a 3-0 win over Boca United Football Club back on March 3rd.
Results
Atlantic
PA Classics 0-Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 3 (03/17)
Washington Spirit Academy: Baltimore Armour 2- FC Virginia 4 (3/17)
Northeast
Long Island SC 0-Empire United 1 (3/17)
New York City FC 1-FC Fury NY 2 (3/17)
FC Stars 2 -Oakwood Soccer Club 0 (3/17)
Boston Breakers Academy 3 -Sky Blue NYSC 0 (3/17)
FC Stars 3-Sky Blue NYSC 1 (3/18)
Southeast
United Soccer Alliance 0- IMG Academy 2 (3/17)
Weston FC 1- West Florida Flames 0 (3/17)
Concorde Fire – NC Courage (3/18)
Orlando Pride 1-United Futbol Academy 1 (3/18)
U-16/U-17
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (14-3-1, 43 points) held on to their lead at the top of the Atlantic standings with a 3-1 win over Cedar Stars Academy: Monmouth (4-13-1, 13 points). Monmouth took the lead in the first half with a goal from Jordyn Ferraro in the 8th minute. But in the second half, PFA came back thanks to a pair of goals from midfielder Catherine DeRosa (52’ and 55’) and defender Emma Misal’s strike in the 78th minute. PFA followed up Saturday’s win with a 1-0 win over PA Classics (3-10-2, 11 points). Midfielder Haley Seabolt provided the goal for PFA over their in-state rivals with her goal in the 66th minute.
Sky Blue PDA (13-4-1, 40 points) kept up with PFA with an impressive win of their own, defeating PA Classics 5-0. Midfielder Kylie Daigle got the Sky Blue attacked started with two goals in the 35th and 42nd minutes respectively. The goals were her first two of the season. In the second half, Sky Blue continued to find openings in the PA defense to exploit, with goals coming from midfielder Olivia Gouldsbury (46’) and forwards Ranya Senhaji (58’) and Gianna Villoresi (74’). Senhaji now has six goals on the season, while Gouldsbury has four.
Washington Spirit Academy – Virginia (10-6-3, 33 points) kept up with the top two sides in the Atlantic with a 5-0 result over Virginia Development Academy (3-13-2, 11 points). As they have done all season, the Spirit attack set the tone in the first half with Jada Konte leading the charge. Her goals in the eighth and 35th minutes respectively, coupled Hailey McGregor‘s in the 14th and Lauren Teuschl’s in the 30th, gaveWashington the 4-0 advantage heading into halftime. In the second half, an early goal from Emily Robinson (47’) and the Spirit defense locked down their 10th win on the season.
FC Fury NY (12-3-1, 37 Points, 2.3125 PTS/GP) held on to their top spot in the Northeast Division with a decisive 3-0 result over second place NYCFC (12-5-1, 37 Points, 2.0556 PTS/GP). The Fury hit NYCFC in the first half with goals from Brianna Jablonowski (2’), Victoria Minda (17’), and Sierra Brophy (20’). In the second half, their defense fended off a potent NYCFC attack.
FC Stars (5-10-2, 17 points) made up some points on fourth-place Oakwood Soccer Club (6-10-1, 19 points) with a 4-2 victory. Oakwood took the lead early with a goal from forward Lumi Kostmayer in the 12th minute. But the Stars bounced back with a series of goals from forward Hayley Long (49’), Frances Lodge (70’) and Bo Rubenstein (72’). Kostmayer put Oakwood back within one with a strike in the 73rd minute. The Stars put it out of reach though with a second from Rubenstein in the 85th minute.
+READ: U.S. Soccer Development Academy adds 16 new clubs for 2018-2019 season
The Stars followed Saturday’s win with a 1-1 draw against Sky Blue -NYSC (4-9-1, 13 points). It looked like they might walk away with three more points on Sunday after Lodge’s goal in the 15th minute and some solid defensive work. But Sky Blue found the equalizer in the second half from Gianna DeRose in the 53rd minute.
In a top three battle in the Southeast Division, IMG Academy (13-7-0, 39 points) edged closer towards the United Soccer Alliance (13-5-1, 40 points) with a 1-0 win on Saturday. A Riley Thompson goal in the 88th minute that separated the two sides and gave IMG the three points on the day. The goal was Thompson’s 16th on the season, which puts her in the top ten for most goals scored in the U-16/U-17 age bracket.
Meanwhile, Concorde Fire (10-6-3, 33 points) held on to fourth with a 3-2 victory over NC Courage (8-6-5, 29 points). Fire defender Alex Wagner netted the game’s first goal in the 13th minute. The two sides then swapped goals for the remainder of the match, with Alexandra Kerr (19’) and Emily Sapienza (80’) scoring for the Courage, and Lucy Mitchell (45’) scoring for the Fire. But a Sydney Hennessey goal for the Fire in stoppage time proved to be the difference and gave Concorde their fourth consecutive win.
Atlantic
PA Classics 0-Sky Blue PDA 5 (03/17)
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 3- Cedar Stars Academy: Monmouth 1 (3/17)
Washington Spirit Academy: Virginia 5-Virginia Development Academy 0 (3/17)
PA Classics 0 -Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 1 (3/18)
Washington Spirit Academy : Baltimore Armour 0-FC Virginia 5 (3/18)
Northeast
Boston Breakers Academy 8-Sky Blue :NYSC 1 (3/17)
Long Island SC 1-Empire United 1 (3/17)
New York City FC 0-FC Fury NY 3 (3/17)
FC Stars 4-Oakwood Soccer Club 2 (3/17)
FC Stars 1-Sky Blue: NYSC 1 (3/18)
Southeast
United Soccer Alliance 0- IMG Academy 1 (3/17)
Weston FC 2- West Florida Flames 0 (3/17)
Concorde Fire 3- NC Courage 2(3/18)
Orlando Pride 1-United Futbol Academy 0 (3/18)
U-18/U-19
Sky Blue-PDA (13-3-2, 41 points) retained their top spot in the Atlantic Division with a 7-0 win over PA Classics (1-13-1, 4 points). Midfielders Mackenzie Pluck (8’ and 65’) and Jillian Wachira (50’) and forwards Kayla Lee (16’), Laura Jackson (83’), and Amerila Paternoster (68’) supplied the goals for Sky Blue. Meanwhile, their defense held on for their 10th shutout of the 2017-2018 campaign. Goalkeeper Megan McClelland and defenders Kaitlyn Madden, Shea Holland and Abby Jonathan have allowed just 14 goals, which is tied for fifth-lowest in the U-18/U-19 age group.
Hot on their heels in second place is Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (13-4-1, 40 points), whose two wins on the weekend allowed them to keep up with Sky Blue at the top. On Saturday, they defeated Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (5-13-0, 15 points) 3-1. Defender Relly Ladner gave PFA the 1-0 advantage early with her goal in the 14th minute. Cedar Stars tied things up just three minutes later via a Emilia Leturgez strike. But PFA pulled away thanks to goals from midfielders Samantha Agnew (27’) and Emily Gray (89’).
PFA followed up their victory on Saturday with another impressive result, this time defeating PA Classics 5-0. A pair of braces from midfielder Brice McInroy (19’ and 79’) and forward Emma Steigerwald (16’ and 55’) set the tone for the PFA attack. PFA also received a goal from Sara Oswald in the 44th minute. Goalkeeper Morgan Messner earned PFA’s sixth shutout on the season.
Renee Kohler rescued a point for FC Virginia (13-4-1, 40 points) in their 2-2 draw with Washington Spirit Academy: Baltimore Armour (6-7-4, 22 points). The Spirit took the lead twice thanks to goals from Talia Gabarra (25’) and Leyah Hall-Robinson (50’). But Kohler and the Virginia attack would not let their side down with the forward scoring goals in the 29th and the 79th minute. With the draw, Virginia stayed level on points and points per game with PFA (40, 2.222).
Boston Breakers Academy (14-3-0, 32 points) held on to their lead in the Northeast Division with a 7-1 win over Sky Blue: NYSC (3-11-1, 10 points). The Breakers prolific scoring stretch continued during this match with goals from Catherine Barry (7’), Jenna Tivnan (26’), Taylor Kofton (27’ and 31’), Gabriella delpico (68’), and Marykate McGuire (62’ and 85’). The side has scored over 86 goals this season, most among all sides in the USSDA U-18/U-19 age bracket. Sky Blue’s lone goal came from Natasha Fowler in the 66th minute.
NYCFC (10-6-2, 32 points) stayed in second and kept didn’t lose on any ground on the Breakers thanks to their 4-0 win over FC Fury NY (5-10-0, 55 points). NYCFC took an early 3-0 lead with goals from Rebecca Jarrett (20’), Isabella Gonsiewski (30’), and Audrey Lee (40’). In the second half a goal from Katrina Kurtz (65’) and some impressive defensive work by their back four gave their side the three points.
The NC Courage (17-0-2, 53 points expanded on their hold on first place in the Southeast Division standings with a 3-1 win over the Concorde Fire (14-5-1, 43 points). Alexis Strickland and Grace Wagner gave the Courage the lead early with their goals in the 14th and 16th minutes respectively. A goal from Brandi Peterson in the 45th minute put the Fire within one. But Mattie Murphy shut the door on the match with her strike in the 64th minute, giving the Courage the win and keeping their undefeated run alive.
The Orlando Pride (10-9-2, 32 points) held on to fifth place and their Wild Card spot by defeating sixth place United Futbol Academy (8-10-1, 25 points) 7-2 on Sunday at the Seminole Sports Complex. UFA actually held the lead early on after forward Jenna Volrath’s strike in the sixth minute found the back of the net. But Orlando’s potent attack came alive, receiving five unanswered goals from forwards Madison Lemery (16’) and Kristen Scott (43’) and midfielders Shelby Brim (26’), Ellie Moreno (29’), and Brin Wexler (60’). Kyndal Anderson cut the gap to three with her goal in the 75th minute. But Orlando would slam the door shut on the match with two more goals courtesy of defender Jordan Michaels (78’) and forward Darya Rajaee (90’).
Atlantic
PA Classics 0-Sky Blue PDA 7 (03/17)
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 3- Cedar Stars Academy: Monmouth 1 (3/17)
Washington Spirit Academy: Virginia 1-Virginia Development Academy 0 (3/17)
PA Classics 0 -Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 5 (3/18)
Washington Spirit Academy : Baltimore Armour 2-FC Virginia 2 (3/18)
Northeast
Boston Breakers Academy 7 -Sky Blue :NYSC 1 (3/17)
Long Island SC 3-Empire United 0 (3/17)
New York City FC 4-FC Fury NY 0 (3/17)
FC Stars 0-Oakwood Soccer Club 1 (3/17)
FC Stars 5-Sky Blue: NYSC 0 (3/18)
Southeast
United Soccer Alliance 2- IMG Academy 0 (3/17)
Weston FC 1- West Florida Flames 0 (3/17)
Concorde Fire 1- NC Courage 3 (3/18)
Orlando Pride 7-United Futbol Academy 2 (3/18)
