Development Academy East Conference Recap: USSDA Winter Showcase
Over 50 U.S. Soccer Development Academy East Conference teams in the U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups competed against teams from all over the country in the USSDA Winter Showcase from December 1-5 at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
Continue reading for a recap of some of the East Conference’s most notable performances from the event.
U-15/16
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth swept its three opponents in Florida, downing Texas side Solar Chelsea SC 2-1, California’s Arsenal FC 1-0 and Ohio’s Internationals SC 4-2. Six different players scored Cedar Stars’ seven goals at the Winter Showcase, showing off the team’s balanced attack.
D.C. United posted an unbeaten 2-0-1 record, defeating Portland Timbers 2-0, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 3-0 and playing Colorado Rapids to a 1-1 draw. Forward Kyle Davis scored a goal in each win for United to lead the attack, while, goalkeepers Ryan Bilichuk and Hayden Evans earned clean sheets playing behind United’s strong back line.
Chargers SC also went undefeated at 2-0-1, with a weekend highlighted by wins over fellow East Conference sides Everton FC Westchester and Beachside SC. Juan Soto scored a goal in all three games for Chargers, while Nathan Harriel netted two on the weekend and three other players scored one each.
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Bethesda SC earned a pair of hard-fought wins on the weekend, edging out FC United 1-0 and Texas Rush 2-1 in the team’s first two matches. U.S. Youth National Team player Gabe Segal led Bethesda scoring all four of the team’s goals at the event, as the defense held the team’s opponents to three total goals. Goalkeeper Erich Kindermann earned the clean sheet against FC United, as defenders Ahmed Allen, Jack Hwang and Joseph King Jr each played full time. Kindermann also earned the win in net against Texas Rush, with defenders Jherson Machado, Dylan Reid and Hwang playing full time in front of him.
Richmond United won two of its three matches, opening the weekend with back-to-back victories over Nomads SC and Minnesota Thunder Academy. Key White led the attack with three goals on the weekend, while Jaron Berry and Jacob Thomas netted two each, and Ben Grant added one.
Weston FC secured impressive clean sheet victories against the New York Red Bulls and Oakwood SC on a winning weekend during the Winter Showcase in their home state. Kimani Simons paced the offense with three goals at the event, as Jose Rivas and Jahaziel Varela each netted one.
Empire United bounced back from an opening day loss with a 2-0 shutout of Florida side Kendall SC before closing out the event with a 2-1 win against Southern California squad Pateadores. Overall, six different players scored Empire’s six goals at the showcase, demonstrating the team’s well-rounded attack. Goalkeeper Braden Melveney recorded the clean sheet against Kendall and played full time in the win over Pateadores, playing behind Empire’s tough back line. Defenders Jameson Railey, Ryan Schmidle, Jacob Schaffer and Ethan Thomas each played the full 80 minutes during Saturday’s shutout.
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Friday, December 2
BW Gottschee Academy 2, Kendall SC 0
Charlotte Soccer Academy 1, Dallas Texans 1
NC Fusion 2, San Diego Surf 0
D.C. United 2, Portland Timbers 0
Atlanta United FC 1, LA Galaxy 1
Boca United FC 0, Strikers FC 0
Colorado Rapids 2, New England Revolution 1
Real So Cal 1, Continental FC DELCO 0
Richmond United 4, Nomads SC 1
Philadelphia Union 5, Sacramento Republic FC 1
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 2, Solar Chelsea SC 1
Sporting KC Academy 3, Empire United 2
Bethesda SC 1, FC United 0
Chargers SC 4, Everton FC Westchester 2
Crew SC Academy Wolves 2, Baltimore Armour 1
FC Dallas 2, New York City FC 0
IMG Academy 0, Santa Cruz Breakers Academy 0
Pateadores 6, PDA 1
Arsenal FC 1, Capital Area Railhawks – CASL 1
Minnesota Thunder Academy 3, Seacoast United 0
Oakwood SC 1, Orlando City SC 1
Texans SC Houston 2, PA Classics 1
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 4, Concorde Fire 3
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro 0, Beachside SC 0
Texas Rush 3, Carolina Rapids 3
Weston FC 2, New York Red Bulls 0
Vardar 4, Montreal Impact FC 3
Saturday, December 3
Baltimore Armour 0, Sockers FC 0
New England Revolution 2, Dallas Texans 2
Nomads SC 0, IMG Academy 0
PA Classics 1, Boca United FC 1
PDA 3, Seattle Sounders FC 1
Portland Timbers 1, Everton FC Westchester 0
FC Boston Bolts 4, Charlotte SA 2
Indiana Fire 5, Concorde Fire 1
Montreal Impact FC 2, Orlando City SC 0
NC Fusion 2, Shattuck Saint Mary’s 2
Pateadores 1, BW Gottschee Academy 0
Vardar 6, Weston 0
Juventus Sport Club 4, Beachside SC 2
FC Golden State 3, Continental FC DELCO 0
Crew SC Academy Wolves 2, Oakwood SC 1
Empire United 2, Kendall SC 0
New York City FC 1, San Jose Earthquakes 1
New York Red Bulls 1, LA Galaxy 1
Richmond United 3, Minnesota Thunder Academy 2
Bethesda SC 2, Texas Rush 1
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 1, Arsenal FC 0
Chargers SC 1, FC United 1
Capital Area Railhawks – CASL 4, Houston Dynamo 2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4, Philadelphia Union 0
Colorado Rush 1, Seacoast United 0
Solar Chelsea SC 2, Carolina Rapids 0
D.C. United 3, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 0
Real Salt Lake AZ 4, Atlanta United FC 2
Monday, December 5
FC Boston Bolts 4, Arsenal FC 1
Chargers SC 4, Beachside SC 3
Capital Area Railhawks – CASL 1, Real So Cal 1
Colorado Rush 2, Richmond United 1
Continental FC DELCO 6, Solar Chelsea SC 0
D.C. United 1, Colorado Rapids 1
Empire United 2, Pateadores 1
Everton FC Westchester 4, Boca United FC 1
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 4, Internationals SC 2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4, Kendall SC 0
Houston Dynamo 4, New England Revolution 1
New York City FC 1, Crew SC Academy Wolves 0
Orlando City SC 1, San Jose Earthquakes 1
Sporting Kansas City 6, Philadelphia Union 3
Crossfire Premier 1, PDA 0
Sacramento Republic FC 3, BW Gottschee Academy 2
Atlanta United FC 1, Baltimore Armour 0
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 3, Carolina Rapids 1
Indiana Fire 2, Bethesda SC 1
PA Classics 4, Juventus Sport Club 2
New York Red Bulls 3, Real Salt Lake AZ 3
Weston FC 5, Oakwood SC 0
Santa Cruz Breakers Academy 1, NC Fusion 0
Shattuck-Saint Mary’s 4, IMG Academy 0
FC Dallas 4, Montreal Impact FC 0
U-17/18
PDA posted an unblemished 3-0-0 record against three California sides in Florida, shutting out FC Golden State 2-0, defeating Nomads SC 3-2 and routing De Anza Force 5-0. U.S. Youth National Team forward Isaiah Young was simply unstoppable, racking up five goals over the course of the showcase. Mason Toye netted two for PDA as well, and three other players scored one each. Goalkeeper Hunter Pinho recorded both clean sheets in net. Defenders Thomas DeVizio and Mark Forbes played the full 90 minutes in both wins.
Atlanta United FC continued its remarkable season, sweeping its three opponents at the showcase. United edged Crew SC Academy Wolves 3-2 on Thursday, before going on to defeat FC Dallas 2-1 and Philadelphia Union 2-0. Patrick Okonkwo scored a goal in all three games, and Lagos Kunga found the net in both of the first two games. Goalkeeper Russell Shealy recorded the shutout against Philadelphia, as defenders Bryce Washington and Edwin Figueroa played the full 90 minutes.
Weston FC reeled off three straight victories each by multiple goals at the Winter Showcase, opening with a 4-2 win over Beachside SC before going on defeat Juventus Sport Club 2-0 and Sporting KC Academy 4-1. Jesus Alberto Luna scored four of the team’s 10 goals at the event, highlighted by a hat trick against Sporting KC.
Bethesda SC had a strong 2-0-1 showing, highlighted by a 3-2 win over Bay Area club De Anza Force and a 2-1 win over Michigan side Vardar. Jordan Saint-Louis netted three total goals, including both scores in the victory against Vardar.
Baltimore Armour went unbeaten with a 2-0-1 run at the event, highlighted by a 2-1 result against Dallas Texans and a 3-1 win against New England Revolution. Five players scored for Baltimore’s well-rounded offense, led by Stephen Nichols who had a brace against New England.
The New England Revolution had a strong weekend as well despite the loss to Baltimore, winning both of its other two games, 4-2 against Real Salt Lake AZ and 3-0 against Chicago Fire. U.S. Youth National Team forward Justin Rennicks paced the offense with three goals at the event, and Joseph Brito scored a goal in each of the team’s two wins. Another U.S. Youth National Team player, goalkeeper Trey Miller, earned both wins in net including the shutout of Chicago.
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Seacoast United’s outstanding team defense was on full display at the Winter Showcase, as the New Hampshire side won two games in shutout fashion, while only giving up one total goal at the event. Goalkeeper Georges Elkhoury played every minute in net, earning the pair of clean sheets. Defenders Eli Cronin, Garrett Lillie and Jason Meuth all played the full 90 minutes in both of Seacoast’s wins.
IMG Academy racked up 10 goals over the course of two wins at the Winter Showcase, storming past Oakwood SC 6-1 and Colorado Rush 4-1. Wilmer Cabrera had a massive performance with four goals, three of which came in the first 16 minutes of the match against Oakwood SC. U.S. Youth National Team players Tonny Temple and Akil Watts netted a goal apiece in both of IMG’s wins as well.
Carolina Rapids won two out of three games on a weekend highlighted by a 2-1 win over Texas Rush and a 3-1 win over Santa Cruz Breakers Academy. William Kern found the net in each of the Rapids’ wins, while also aiding in the team-wide defensive effort.
Kendall SC picked up two victories as well, netting a combined seven goals in wins against Empire United and Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth. Gabriel Paniagua and Teo Papazian led the offense with three goals each on the weekend, and Jean Paul Rafols recorded a brace during Sunday’s win over Cedar Stars.
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Philadelphia Union Academy opened the weekend with a 2-1 win over Real So Cal and a 3-1 win against Sporting KC Academy, before ending with its only loss of the weekend, a 2-0 decision against Atlanta United FC. Four players found the net for the Union, as forward Tiger Graham led the way with two goals.
Chargers SC opened and closed the showcase on high notes, securing 2-1 wins over Richmond United and Internationals SC. Julian Hall found the net in each of the team’s victories, as three other Chargers players scored a goal each over the course of the event.
Everton FC Westchester rallied from an opening day loss by going on to defeat FC United 3-1 and Solar Chelsea SC 1-0. Goalkeeper Fiachra McDonagh played the full 90 minutes during the win over FC United, and split time between the posts with Jared Mazzola to combine for the shutout against Solar Chelsea SC. Five players scored for Everton’s balanced offense at the showcase.
Thursday, December 1
Weston FC 4, Beachside SC 2
Seattle Sounders FC 3, Montreal Impact FC 1
Oakwood SC 2, Colorado Rush 2
BW Gottschee Academy 1, Solar Chelsea SC 1
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 3, Vardar 1
Baltimore Armour 2, Dallas Texans 1
New England Revolution 4, Real Salt Lake AZ 2
Seacoast United 1, FC United 0
NC Fusion 0, Sockers FC 0
Carolina Rapids 2, Texas Rush 1
Atlanta United FC 3, Crew SC Academy Wolves 2
Bethesda SC 3, De Anza Force 2
Real Colorado 3, Everton FC Westchester 1
Indiana Fire 3, IMG Academy 0
Kendall SC 3, Empire United 1
PDA 2, FC Golden State 0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, D.C. United 1
Crossfire Premier 4, Continental FC DELCO 0
Orlando City SC 4, Sporting KC 2
Texans SC Houston 2, PA Classics 0
Philadelphia Union 2, Real So Cal 1
Chargers SC 2, Richmond United 1
Boca United FC 1, Santa Cruz Breakers Academy 1
Charlotte Soccer Academy 3, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro 0
New York Red Bulls 1, FC Dallas 1
Friday, December 2
Boca United FC 2, Internationals SC 0
Solar Chelsea SC 3, Continental FC DELCO 1
BW Gottschee Academy 0, De Anza Force 0
Empire United 1, Crossfire Premier 1
FC Golden State 6, Kendall SC 1
PDA 3, Nomads SC 2
San Diego Surf 3, Richmond United 0
Strikers FC 1, Bethesda SC 1
Indiana Fire 2, Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 0
Charlotte SA 1, FC Boston Bolts 1
Everton FC Westchester 3, FC United 1
Houston Dynamo 3, NC Fusion 0
Pateadores 5, D.C. United 0
Real Colorado 2, Chargers SC 1
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro 4, Beachside SC 2
PA Classics 3, Arsenal FC 3
Shattuck-Saint Mary’s 4, Capital Area Railhawks – CASL 2
Seacoast United 2, Carolina Rapids 0
Dallas Texans 2, New York Red Bulls 1
IMG Academy 6, Oakwood SC 1
Lonestar SC Academy 3, Orlando City SC 2
Texans SC Houston 2, Concorde Fire 0
Weston FC 2, Juventus Sport Club 0
Atlanta United FC 2, FC Dallas 1
Baltimore Armour 3, New England Revolution 1
Philadelphia Union 3, Sporting KC 1
Real Salt Lake AZ 2, Montreal Impact FC 0
Sunday, December 4
Bethesda SC 2, Vardar 1
Indiana Fire 3, BW Gottschee 1
Crossfire Premier 1, Seacoast United 0
Everton FC Westchester 1, Solar Chelsea SC 0
FC Boston Bolts 2, Arsenal FC 2
Capital Area Railhawks – CASL 2, FC Dallas 1
IMG Academy 4, Colorado Rush 1
PA Classics 2, Minnesota Thunder Academy 1
Montreal Impact FC 3, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro 0
New York Red Bulls 1, Orlando City SC 0
Oakwood SC 4, Nomads SC 2
FC United 1, Richmond United 0
San Diego Surf 3, Continental FC DELCO 1
Weston FC 4, Sporting KC 1
Beachside SC 1, Vancouver Whitecapts FC 0
Atlanta United FC 2, Philadelphia Union 0
Baltimore Armour 1, Real So Cal 1
Texas Rush 1, Boca United FC 0
Carolina Rapids 3, Santa Cruz Breakers Academy 1
Chargers SC 2, Internationals SC 1
Real Salt Lake AZ 3, Charlotte SA 1
D.C. United 3, Portland Timbers 2
Real Colorado 3, Empire United 1
FC Golden State 5, Concorde Fire 0
Kendall SC 4, Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 3
New England Revolution 3, Chicago Fire 0
PDA 5, De Anza Force 0
Strikers FC 2, NC Fusion 2
