USSDA Girls East Conference Recap: November 18-19, 2017

U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy teams throughout the East Conference capped their fall season this weekend with regional competition across the Northeast, Atlantic and Southeast Divisions. Continue reading for a recap of the U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups.

+Girls’ Development Academy Standings

U-15

Meanwhile on Saturday Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (8-2-1, 25 points) did their best to keep up with Sky Blue ahead of the winter break, earning a 4-1 win over Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (4-7-2, 14 points). Olivia Carney gave Cedar Stars the early 1-0 advantage with her goal in the 20th minute. But PFA came roaring back with four unanswered goals courtesy of midfielder Susanna Soderman (34’ and 60’) and forwards Emma Pelkowski (51’) and Elizabeth Rising (61’). Saturday’s result was Penn’s second come-from-behind victory on the season, with the first coming in their 2-1 win over FC Virginia back in early September.

FC Virginia (8-4-1, 25 points) ended the fall portion of their season with a 5-0 win over Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia (1-9-3, 6 points). Isabella Thissell gave her side the 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, before midfielder Erika Maliska (75’) and forwards Riley Flanagan (62’ and 80’) and Reese Borden (64’) added to the lead in the second half. After a difficult 1-0 loss to Sky Blue a month ago Virginia have turned things back on, winning their last three matches and not conceding a single goal.

+READ: USSDA Girls East Conference Recap – November 11-12, 2017

In a battle between Atlantic and Northeast Division sides, Sky Blue-PDA (10-0-3, 33 points) drew 2-2 with Oakwood Soccer Club (7-3-2, 23 points). It looked like Oakwood might give Sky Blue their first loss on the season after forward Samantha Forrest’s (58’ and 70’) brace gave them a 2-0 lead late. But Sky Blue would come storming back in the final third of the match with goals from midfielders Riena Parente (72’) and Katherine Sy (78’).

The United Soccer Alliance (1-7-0, 3 points) earned their first win on the season in grand fashion pulling off a 7-0 win over IMG Academy (0-9-0, 0 points). Coming into the match USA had scored just one goal in seven matches. However, against IMG found their attacking stroke with Kylie Overstreet (8’), Katherine Johnson (20’ and 54’), Hannah Burandt (30’ and 64’), and Kira Goodwin (32’) each finding the back of the net. In addition to Saturday’s result being their first win on the season, it was also their first shutout as well.

Boca United Football Club (4-6-0, 12 points) notched their fourth win on the season with a close 1-0 result against West Florida Flames (2-8-0, 6 points). Naomi Bejarano’s goal in the 50th minute gave Boca the lead and inevitably the victory. It evened the series on the season to 1-1-0 with West Florida having earned a 3-0 win back in October.

Atlantic
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth 1 : Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 4 (11/19)
Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour 0 : PA Classics 1 (11/19)
Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 0 : FC Virginia 5 (11/19)
Oakwood Soccer Club 2 : Sky Blue-PDA 2 (11/20)

Northeast
Empire United : FC Stars (11/19)
FC Fury NY 5 : Long Island SC 0 (11/19)
New York City FC 1 : Boston Breakers Academy 0 (11/19)

Southeast
IMG Academy 0 :United Soccer Alliance 7 (11/19)
Orlando Pride : Weston FC (11/19)
West Florida Flames 0 : Boca United Football Club 1 (11/19)

U-16/U-17

Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (10-0-1, 31 points) solidified their hold on first place in the Atlantic Division Standings on Saturday with an 8-0 win over Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (2-10-1, 7 points). Forward Gianna Dragoni set the tone early for PFA with her goal in the second minute of play. PFA continued to press the Cedar Stars defense with forward Elle Kershner (19’, 30’, and 42’) recording a hat trick.

Goals from Julia Burnell (41’), Catherine DeRosa (69’ and 80’), and Chloe Adler (85’) capped a dominant performance for PFA on the day and for the fall half of the season. Entering the winter break, they are just one of three sides in the U-16/U-17 age group to go undefeated during league play, along with FC Dallas and NTH Tophat.

In a battle for third place in the Atlantic, FC Virginia (8-3-2, 26 points) came out on top, earning the 1-0 win over Washington Spirit Academy – Virginia (8-3-2, 26 points). Both defenses put on an excellent showing in the first half, but FCV found the match-winner in the 72nd minute, with Olivia Migli hitting the back of the net. It was her sixth goal on the season.

+NCAA Women’s Soccer Commitment Announcements: November 2017

In the Northeast Division, New York City FC held off Boston Breakers Academy with the 1-0 victory. Remi White would give NYCFC the lead early thanks to her strike in the 20th minute, her eighth on the season.  NYCFC goalkeeper Julia Dohle had her hands full against a Breakers side that had scored nine goals in their last four matches. But Dohle, who has featured for the U.S. Youth National Team at the under-15 level, made several key stops to earn the shutout.

Empire United (1-8-1, 4 points) would continue their push towards better fortunes on Saturday pulling off a 1-1 draw with FC Stars (4-7-1, 13 points). It looked as if Empire might not end up with anything on the weekend after Stars forward Celia Debrocke put her side ahead in the 27th minute. But they continued to pressure the Stars defense and would find the equalizer in the 87th minute from Grace Kitterman (87’). The New York-based side has now earned points in two of their last three matches.

In the Southeast, the United Soccer Alliance (5-2-1, 16 points) capped a successful fall campaign with a 2-0 against IMG Academy (6-2-0, 18 points). Kendal Johnson (13’) and Mackenzee Vance (61’) supplied the goals for USA, while their defense posted their fourth shutout on the season. As for IMG, the loss snapped a two-game unbeaten run.

Atlantic
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth 0 : Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 8 (11/19)
Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour 1  : PA Classics 2 (11/19)
Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 0 : FC Virginia 1 (11/19)
Oakwood Soccer Club : Sky Blue-PDA (11/20)

Northeast
Empire United 1 :FC Stars 1 (11/19)
FC Fury NY : Long Island SC (11/19)
New York City FC 1 : Boston Breakers Academy 0 (11/19)

Southeast
IMG Academy 0 : United Soccer Alliance 2 (11/19)
Orlando Pride : Weston FC (11/19)
West Florida Flames : Boca United Football Club  (11/19)

U-18/U-19

FC Virginia (10-3-0, 30 points) created further space between themselves and Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia (5-5-2, 17 points) with a 2-0 win over the NWSL affiliate. Midfielder Nicole Foley got the high-powered FCV attack started early with her goal in the second minute, and forward Lauren Sproat’s added an insurance strike in the 49th minute.

Spirit Academy – Baltimore Armour earned a dominant 3-0 win over PA Classics (1-8-1, 4 points) on Saturday, moving within four points of fellow Washington Spirit affiliate for fourth place in the Atlantic standings. Leyah Hall-Robinson (22’, 58’, and 57’) was on fire for the Armour, earning her side’s first hat trick on the season.

+READ: Croix Bethune leads U.S. U-17 WNT to 4-0 rout over Mexico

In the Northeast, NYCFC (8-3-2, 26 points) narrowly beat Boston Breakers (8-3-0, 24 points)  in a 4-3 classic at the WCFC Complex. NYCFC jumped out to a 1-0 thanks to a goal in the fifth minute from Audrey Lee. But the Breakers scored three goals of their own from Gabriella Delpicco (20’), Zoie Allen (29’), and Mia Otero (35’), giving them what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. Their New York rivals were not done though, with Lee netting the second of her two goals in the 38th minute, and Katrina Kurtz providing the equalizer in the 57th minute. After dropping their two-goal lead, the Breakers would suffer further bad luck when an own goal in the 82nd minute would give their opponents the win and the three points.   

Finally in the Southeast Division, the Orlando Pride (6-3-1, 19 points) gave themselves some breathing room with a 2-0 win over Weston FC (1-8-1, 4 points). Forward Kristen Scott (13’) spotted the Pride an early lead with her goal in the 13th minute, while midfielder Brin Wexler (51’) provided an insurance goal in the second half. While Orlando’s attacking prowess was on full display, their defensive effort helped contain a potent Weston attack. Goalkeeper Hensley Hancuff and defender Jordan Michaels‘ work at limiting Weston’s influence inside their eighteen led to Orlando’s fifth shutout on the season. With the win, Orlando expanded their lead to four points for third place over Charlotte Soccer Academy (5-4-2, 17 points), who were idle.

One side that is starting to move their way up the Southeast standings is the United Soccer Alliance The Florida-based side (1-5-2, 5 points) moved into seventh place on the weekend with their 2-0 win over the United Soccer Alliance (2-7-0, 6 points). Elizabeth Fogaty (43’) and Gabrielle Daly (70’) provided the goals for USA, their third multiple goal game on the season. 

Atlantic
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth 1 : Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 6 (11/19)
Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour 3 : PA Classics 0(11/19)
Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 0 : FC Virginia 2 (11/19)
Oakwood Soccer Club 1 : Sky Blue-PDA 5 (11/20)

Northeast
Empire United : FC Stars  (11/19)
FC Fury NY : Long Island SC (11/19)
New York City FC 3 : Boston Breakers Academy 4 (11/19)

Southeast
IMG Academy 0 :United Soccer Alliance 2 (11/19)
Orlando Pride 2 : Weston FC 0 (11/19)
West Florida Flames : Boca United Football Club (11/19)