Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap: Oct. 20-21, 2018

It was another action-packed weekend in the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy East Conference. With top-of-table battles across the U-15, U-16/U-17 and U-18/U-19 age groups, results were tight across the divisions.

Results / Standings | Schedule

U-15

FC Virginia (6-0-2, 20 points) stayed at the top of the Atlantic Division with a 2-1 win over PA Classics (3-5-0, 9 points). Classics took the lead early in the second half with a goal from Maggie Groh in the 50th minute. But Virginia remained composed and played their way back into the match with goals from Ella Carter (65’) and Taylor Price (78’). With their two goals, FCV adds to their already impressive haul on the season with 26, tied for fifth most in the U-15 age bracket.

The weekend started on a high note for Classics as they defeated Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia (0-6-1, 1 point) 2-1. Groh (16’) and Molly Butcher (31’) provided the goals for Classics while the Spirit’s lone goal came courtesy of Grace Carter in the 24th minute. Groh has been on quite a tear this season, scoring a team-best seven goals in eight matches. She currently ranks seventh among all U-15 players in the East Conference in goals scored.

In the Northeast Division, NEFC (6-2-0, 18 points) stayed in first after defeating top-four side Oakwood Soccer Club (4-2-1, 13 points) 4-1. NEFC’s 1-2 scoring punch of Lacey Mbugua (4’ and 16’) and Isabella Garces (28’ and 37’) was on full display as the dynamic duo each scored twice in the first half. The two are tied for the team scoring lead with four apiece. Oakwood did get one back in the final minute of the match with Amanda Castaldi netting her second of the season.

+NCAA Women’s Soccer Commitment Announcements: October 2018

Seacoast United (5-3-0, 15 points) moved into third place, earning a 5-2 road win over FC Albertson Fury (0-6-1, 1 point). It was a team effort from Seacoast with five different players scoring to push their side over the top. Goals were scored by Jane Maguire (23’), Kendall Toth (33’), Ashlee Brehio (40’), Zarina Pinto (72’) and Alayna Carey (77’). Maddy Calandro (34’) and Brenna Haufler (79’) each scored for Albertson. Getting goals from multiple sides is nothing new for Seacoast, as over nine different players have already hit the back of the net this season.

Tophat (5-1-0, 15 points) had a tough opponent on Saturday when they faced off against the NC Courage (2-3-1, 7 points), but they managed to pull off the 1-0 win. Rhonda Ojongboh’s goal in the 40th minute proved to be the difference-maker for Tophat on the attacking end. 

The United Soccer Alliance (3-2-0, 9 points) got their third win of the season in convincing fashion, defeating the South Florida Football Academy (0-6-0, 0 points)  7-1. Isabella Pontieri (44’, 48’, 53’, and 56’) led all scorers with four goals on the day, pushing her season total to nine. Madeline Dahlman (19’), Hannah Lemieux (43’) and Thai Quallich (68’) also scored for USA tying their season best for goals scored in a single match. South Florida’s goal came from Madison Gatto in the 58th minute.

Atlantic
Arlington Soccer Association 2: Washington Spirit Academy-Maryland 2 (10/20)
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth :Long Island SC (10/20)
Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 1 : PA Classics 2 (10/20)
FC Virginia 2 :PA Classics 1 (10/21)

Northeast
FC Fury NY : New York City FC (10/20)
Empire United : Sky Blue -NYSC (10/20)
NEFC 4 :Oakwood Soccer Club 1 (10/20)
FC Albertson Fury 2 :Seacoast United 5 (10/20)

Southeast
NC Courage 0-Tophat 1 (10/20)
South Florida Football Academy 1 : United Soccer Alliance 7 (10/20)

U-16/U-17

In the Atlantic Division, Penn Fusion Academy (6-1-0, 18 points) expanded their hold of first place with a 3-1 win over FC Virginia (5-4-0, 15 points). Kelly Hutton put Penn up early with a strike in the eighth minute. Although FCV were able to equalize with a goal from Brooke Potter in the 52nd minute, Penn came marching right back. Emma Pelkowski put Penn back up in the 65th minute, her fourth goal of the season. Hutton added an insurance goal in the 77th minute to seal the victory for her side.

In the other Atlantic Division match, PA Classics (3-2-2, 11 points) defeated Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia (0-7-1, 1 point) 7-1. Rachel Ludwick’s (50’, 57’, 85’) led the way for Classics, giving her four on the season. Sydney Adkins (14’ and 43’) still leads the team in goals, adding two in the match to give her five in 2018-2019. Jacqueline Bruno (24’) and Abigail Doyle (75’) each added a solo goal for Classics while the Spirit’s goal came from Avery Nassetta in the 20th minute.

+READ: USA roster announced for 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

NEFC (5-3-2, 17 points) moved closer to a top four spot in the Northeast Division with a 4-3 win over Oakwood Soccer Club (6-2-0, 18 points). It was a back-and-forth match which saw them trade leads throughout the first half. Hayley Houston gave NEFC the lead in the sixth minute, but Oakwood equalized a minute  later with a goal from Lumi Kostmayer. Kostmayer got her second in the 19th minute giving Oakwood the lead. It looked like Oakwood might leave the half with the lead but a goal from Elizabeth Rappole in the 44th minute levelled the score at two. In the second half, the two sides would trade goals again with Sofie Morris scoring for NEFC in the 76th minute and Imani Jenkins scoring for Oakwood in the 87th minute. But a second goal from Houston in the 90th minute gave the three points to NEFC.

In the Southeast Division, South Florida Football Academy (2-2-2, 8 points) earned their first win in five matches with a 6-2 win over the United Soccer Alliance (0-2-2, 2 points). South Florida’s goals were scored by Hanna Himes (7’), Sloane Young (14’), Blaire Pressly (45’) and Naomi Bejarano (78’ and 90’). USA’s two goals came from Madison Waltz (32’) and Katherine Johnson (41’).

With the win, South Florida moved closer to fourth place Tophat (3-2-1, 10 points), who lost 2-0 to the NC Courage (4-2-0, 12 points) on Saturday. Elaine Rouse’s brace  helped spur the Courage attack, her first two of the season. The club’s shutout was the second of the season.

Atlantic
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 3 : FC Virginia 1 (10/20)
Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 1 :PA Classics 7 (10/20)

Northeast
Empire United : Sky Blue-NYSC (10/20)
NEFC 4 : Oakwood Soccer Club 3 (10/20)
FC Fury NY 1 :New York City FC 1 (10/20)
FC Alberston Fury 0 :Seacoast United 2 (10/20)

Southeast
South Florida Football Academy 6 :United Soccer Alliance 2 (10/20)
NC Courage 2 : Tophat 0 (10/20)

U-18/U-19

Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (4-1-1, 13 points) nearly upset 1st place FC Virginia (7-0-1, 22 points), but would have to settle for a 2-2 draw in the Atlantic Division match. Virginia  took the lead early with a goal from forward Victoria Powell in just the third minute. But Penn scored two unanswered goals to pull ahead with forwards Elle Kershner (43’) and Sydney Amparo (84’) each finding the back of the net. But a Brooke Jones strike in the 90th helped rescue a point for Virginia.

With Penn drawing, that gave Washington Spirit Academy – Virginia (4-3-0, 12 points) the chance to gain some ground in the Atlantic Division standings. They made the most of their chance, defeating PA Classics (0-4-0, 0 points) 7-2 on Saturday. Jasmine Hamid (31’, 67’, and 87’) led the charge with a hat trick for the Spirit, pushing her season total up to five. Gabrielle Robinson (28’), Caitlin Sutton (50’), Maddy Oliver (56’) and Anna Viscovich (77’) also found the net for Washington. Classics’ goals were scored by Jordyn Dupes (74’) and Kaitlyn Laird (82’).

In the Northeast Division, NEFC (8-0-0, 24 points) retained their undefeated record by knocking off Oakwood Soccer Club by the score of 5-2. Isabelle Aviza (14’ and 27’) and Lily Matthews (65’ and 89’) each had a brace, pushing their season totals up to 11 and 10, respectively. The two have scored 21 of NEFC’s 24 goals this season. Gabriella DelPico added a goal of her own for NEFC in the 26th minute. Forward Leah Barbieri (45’) and midfielder Emma Zaccagnini supplied the goals for Oakwood. With the win, NEFC are only one of three sides in the U-18/U-19 age division to not have a draw or a loss (the only other is SC del Sol and the United Soccer Alliance).

FC Fury NY (1-2-2, 5 points) earned their first win of the season in fine fashion, defeating NYCFC (1-5-2, 5 points) 1-0. Lucy Patton gave the Fury the game-winning goal in the 80th minute, her first of the season. Goalkeeper Sydney Silverman earned her first clean sheet of the season behind Fury’s strong back line.

Finally in the Southeast Division, United Soccer Alliance (5-0-0, 15 points) retained their perfect record by dispatching South Florida Football Academy (2-4-0, 6 points) by the score of 6-0.  Olufolasade Adamolekun (15’, 30’, 40’) added three more goals to push her season total to nine, which is the fourth most among all players in the U-18/U-19 age bracket. Lia Godfrey (17’), Kai Hayes (58’) and Lucy Worthy (80’) each added goals of their own to USA’s cause. Meanwhile their defense continued to stifle their opponents, earning their third consecutive clean sheet.

Atlantic
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 2 : FC Virginia (10/20)
Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 7 : PA Classics 2 (10/20)

Northeast
NEFC 5: Oakwood Soccer Club 2 (10/20)
FC Fury 1: NYCFC 0 (10/20)

Southeast
NC Courage 1 : Tophat 0 (10/20)
South Florida Football Academy 0 : United Soccer Alliance 6 (10/20)