Unbeatens clash as D.C. United takes on PA Classics in Development Academy matchup
By Jimmy LaRoue
It’s going to be an early battle of unbeaten Development Academy clubs as Atlantic Division rivals PA Classics comes to the metro-D.C. area to take on D.C. United Saturday.
The matches take place at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, Va. (U-18s at 11 a.m., U-16s at 1:30 p.m. on Field 1). United’s U-16s are coming off a 3-0 win over Virginia Rush, while the U-18s picked up a 5-1 win over Rush. (Catch up on last week’s Mid-Atlantic action here).
United’s U-16s have gotten their six goals from five different players–two from Bruno Zambrana as well as goals from Justin Roberts, Michael Monohan, Graydon Hester and Gerson Umanna. PA Classics’ U-16s have scored eight goals in two wins over Match Fit Chelsea and NJSA 04, getting three from Christian Pulisic, and two each from Austin Maloney and McKinley Curran, along with a goal from Austin Kuhn. Both teams have played NJSA 04 in the early going, with PA Classics winning 4-1, and D.C. United winning 3-1.
United’s U-18s have been dominant offensively, posting 10 goals in two matches, including three from Kennedy O’Shea and two each from Denis Najar and Jorge Calix, while PA Classics’ U-18s have been low scoring by comparison, scoring five goals in their two wins–two each from Drew Mahoney and Joseph Julius.
In other area Atlantic Division matchups this weekend:
• Virginia Rush’s academy teams, both 0-2-0, will be looking for their first wins of the season when they host Richmond Kickers in Virginia Beach tomorrow (U-18s at 1 p.m., U-16s at 3:30 p.m., Hampton Roads Soccer Complex Field 6 – Turf). Mason Duke has scored Rush U-18s two goals this season in the two losses. The Kickers U-18s are coming off a 4-0 win over crosstown rivals Richmond Strikers, with Finnlay Wyatt scoring twice. The Kickers’ U-16s are coming off a 2-0 loss to the Strikers in the season opener.
• McLean Youth Soccer hosts Richmond Strikers Saturday at Spring Hill Park Field 5–Turf (U-18s at 12 p.m., U-16s at 2:30 p.m.). McLean’s U-18s have won both of their matches in the early going, while the Strikers are coming off a loss to the Kickers. Matthew Ledder leads McLean with two goals. For McLean’s U-16s, who have split its opening two matches, William Metzler leads with two goals. The Strikers are coming off an opening day win over the Kickers.
• Potomac’s academy squads travel to face NJSA 04 Sunday at St. John Vianney High School (U-18s at , U-16s at 2:30 p.m.). Potomac’s U-16s have started the season with two ties, while its U-18 squad has started 0-2-0. Potomac is in the second game of an eight-game road string, and will see one home game between now and February.
Baltimore Bays Chelsea, whose U-16s and U-18s are both 2-0-0, are off this weekend.
