USSDA Girls East Conference Recap: November 4-5, 2017

U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy teams throughout the East Conference started the final stretch run of the 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.

U-15

In the Atlantic Division, Sky Blue Academy PDA (9-0-2, 29 points) extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches with a 4-0 win at home over Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth (4-5-2, 14 points). Forward Lauren Wrigley’s brace in the first half (15’ and 21’) set the tone for Sky Blue. She was joined by midfielder Brigitte Busierre (23’) and forward Victoria Sarf (71’) on the scoresheet for the National Women’s Soccer League affiliate, which has scored 26 of its 43 goals on the season at the PDA Sports Complex.

Cedar Stars’ loss was welcome news for Virginia Development Academy. On Saturday, VDA (4-4-3, 15 points) jumped over Cedar Stars for fourth place in the Atlantic Division standings with a 5-0 win over PA Classics (3-5-0, 9 points). Anne Darling continued her torrid run through league play with a four-goal performance (3’, 13’, 43’, and 56’) to put things out of reach for Classics. Darling has now scored seven goals on the season. Their fifth goal came from forward Sophia Parada in the 26th minute, her first of the season.

FC Virginia (6-4-1, 19 points) rebounded after a tough loss last week to Sky Blue with a 3-0 win over Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour (2-8-0, 16 points). As was the case last week, goals were tough to come by in the first half. But in the second half, Virginia found their scoring stroke with Reese Borden (48’), Audrey Crowden (50’) and Anna Tekampe (52’) each finding the back of the net.

In the Northeast, a Gabriella Terranova hat trick helped seal a 7-1 win for FC Fury NY over Empire United SC. Terranova’s goal, her first three on the season, would came in the 42nd, 46th, and 80th minute. Additional goals were scored by Laine DiNatale (13’), Belle Golden (39’ and 70’), and Piper McGraw (11’). Empire’s lone goal came courtesy of Ashley Jacobs in the 32nd minute. Their seven goals from the weekend push the Fury’s total on the season to 41, third highest in the Girls U-15 age bracket.

+READ: U.S. U-15 Girls National Team completes two-game sweep of Germany

Boca United Football Club (2-5-0, 6 points) earned their second win on the season with by soundly defeating IMG Academy (0-7-0, 0 points) 6-3 at home. Despite allowing a hat trick from IMG’s Enasia Colon (10’, 57’, and 80’) Boca pulled away from their Florida rivals thanks to a multi-layered attack strategy. Naomi Bejarano (7’), Sloane Young (26’ and 61’), Iris Young (54’), and Daniella Chung (49’) all found the back of the net for the home side.

Atlantic
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy : Washington Spirit Academy (11/4)
Sky Blue PDA 4: Cedar Stars Academy : Monmouth 0 (11/4)
Virginia Development Academy 5 : PA Classics 0 (11/4)
Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour 0 : FC Virginia 3 (11/4)

Northeast
FC Fury NY 7 : Empire United 1 (11/4)
Sky Blue-NYSC : FC Stars (11/4)
Long Island SC : Boston Breakers Academy (11/4)
New York City SC : Oakwood Soccer Club (11/4)

Southeast
Boca United Football Club 6 : IMG Academy 3 (11/4)
Weston FC : United Soccer Alliance (11/5)
NTH Tophat : Orlando Pride (11/5)

U-16/U-17

FC Virginia (6-3-2, 20 points) solidified their hold on fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 5-2 win over Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour (3-7-0, 9 points). Virginia’s attack, whose 33 goals is the most among all sides in the division, was on point during the match with Carrie McIntire (29’ and 35’), Ellis Wheeler (58’ and 90’), and Allison Embroski (87’) all scoring for the visitors. Spirit Academy cut their lead twice thanks to goals from Cate Shepherd (47’) and Ellie Stokes (83’), but it wasn’t enough to prevent Virginia from extending their unbeaten run to five matches.  

Sky Blue – PDA (8-3-0, 24 points) held onto second place with a 2-0 win over Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (2-7-1, 7 points). Forward Natalia Ramirez put Sky Blue ahead early with her strike in the third minute. Cedar Stars pressed the Sky Blue defense all through the second half looking for an equalizer. However, super-sub Olivia Gouldsbury put the match away with her goal in the 76th minute for Sky Blue. Goalkeeper Arden Lembryk earned her sixth shutout on the season for Sky Blue and helped her club win their third match in five games (3-2-0, 9 points).

FC Fury (9-1-0, 27 points) continued their dominant run of form in the Northeast on Saturday with a 7-0 win over Empire United SC (0-7-0, 0 points). Julia Hannon (3’, 33’, and 78’) hit a hat trick off of three penalty kick goals for the Fury, a first in USSDA play. The Fury received additional goals from Kayleigh Goodrich (4’ and 75’), Julia Aronov (11’) and Sierra Brophy (17’).

+NCAA Women’s Soccer Commitment Announcements: October 2017

Sky Blue-NYSC snapped a three game losing streak over the weekend with a close 3-2 win over FC Stars. Gianna DeRose gave Sky Blue the early advantage with her goal in the 35th minute. But the Stars would find the equalizer just before halftime, with forward Elle Scott (42’) notching her eighth goal on the season. In the second half though, NYSC pulled away thanks to goals from Devon Schmitt (55’) and Ally DeJana (74’). The Stars made things interesting late with Madison Mulkigian’s goal narrowing the lead to one with her goal in stoppage time. But Sky Blue (4-5-0, 12 points) held on, and with the win, moved past the Stars (4-6-0, 12 points) for fourth place in the Northeast.

IMG Academy (5-2-0, 15 points) moved into second place in the Southeastern Division after defeating Boca United Football Club (3-4-0, 9 points) 3-0. Sara Tolliver set the tone early for IMG with her goal in the 29th minute, her first on the season. In the second half, Enzi Broussard (45’ and 76’) added a brace to give her 13 goals on the season and give the three points to the Florida-based side.

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

Northeast
FC Fury NY 7 : Empire United 0 (11/4)
Sky Blue-NYSC 3 :FC Stars 2 (11/4)
Long Island SC : Boston Breakers Academy (11/4)
New York City SC : Oakwood Soccer Club (11/4)

Southeast
Boca United Football Club 0: IMG Academy 3 (11/4)
Weston FC : United Soccer Alliance (11/5)
NTH Tophat : Orlando Pride (11/5)

U-18/U-19

Penn Fusion Academy (8-1-0, 24 points) survived a late run from the Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia in the second half to earn a 3-2 win. Brice McInroy (2’) and Sydney Amparo (30’) gave Penn the lead in the first half with two early goals. In the second half, the Spirit would cut their lead in half with Margaret Beckman scoring in the 62nd minute. Penn pulled the lead back to two with Emma Roesing’s goal in the 70th minute. Beckman added a second in the 89th minute, but Penn’s defense held on for their second consecutive win.

Boston Breakers Academy (6-3-0, 18 points) kept pace with the rest of their Northeast Division foes on Saturday with a 5-0 win over Long Island SC (2-7-0, 6 points). Mia Otera (45’, 77’, and 86’) netted a hat trick for the Breakers while individual goals from Michaela Joyce (78’) and Sophie McCarthy (84’) helped solidify the Breakers’ third consecutive win in league play. Credit also to their defense for earning their first shutout on the season.

+READ: U.S. U-17 WNT to hold split training camp in Florida and Mexico City

FC Stars (5-5-0, 15 points) broke their two game losing streak on Saturday in dramatic fashion, pulling off the 1-0 win against Sky Blue-NYSC (2-7-0, 6 points). Midfielder Jennifer Bartlett’s goal in the 18th minute gave the Stars an early advantage.  Goalkeepers Bianca Resca and Samantha Brody combined for the New York-based sides second shutout on the season.

In a top four battle in the Southeast, NTH Tophat squeaked out a narrow 1-0 win over Orlando Pride at Metro North Park. Tophat’s goal came via an Alison Berk strike in the 17th minute. Using their stout defense, the Georgia-side held on against considerable pressure. Tophat have shutout each of their last four opponents and have conceded just three goals on the season. The win allows them to stay at the top of the Southeast (7-0-1, 22 points) with Orlando (5-3-1, 16 points) still holding on to fourth.

Finally Boca United Football Club (1-5-1, 4 points) earned their first win on the season with a tight 2-1 effort over IMG Academy (2-5-0, 6 points). Boca jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first half with Stephanie Dodson’s goal in the 7th minute. They doubled their lead in the 70th minute with a penalty kick goal from Samantha Tobar. IMG got a goal back late from Renee Berak in injury time, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Boca from earning the three points on the day.

+READ: Thirty-six players called to U.S. U-16 Girls National Team camp

Atlantic
Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 3 : Washington Spirit Academy-Virginia 2 (11/4)
Sky Blue PDA 3: Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 0 (11/4)
Virginia Development Academy 1 : PA Classics 0 (11/4)
Washington Spirit Academy-Baltimore Armour  : FC Virginia  (11/4)
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth : Washington Spirit Academy- Virginia (11/5)

Northeast
FC Fury NY 3 : Empire United 0 (11/4)
Sky Blue-NYSC 0 : FC Stars 1 (11/4)
Long Island SC 0 : Boston Breakers Academy 5 (11/4)
New York City SC 0:Oakwood Soccer Club 1 (11/4)

Southeast
Boca United Football Club 2 : IMG Academy 1 (11/4)
Weston FC : United Soccer Alliance (11/5)
NTH Tophat 1 : Orlando Pride 0 (11/5)