Dev. Academy: Va. Rush U-16s look to reclaim Atlantic Division’s top spot

By Jimmy LaRoue

For the four Virginia teams in the Development Academy, this weekend will being their first games in about three months, and many of them are pivotal matches.

McLean Youth Soccer and the Richmond Kickers haven’t played since the end of February, while Virginia Rush and the Richmond Strikers haven’t played since mid-March. All four return to action this weekend.

CASL Chelsea FC Academy Under-16s moved into first place in the South Conference’s Atlantic Division with a 2-1 win over North Carolina Fusion last week, and will look to hold onto the top spot when it hosts Rush Sunday at the WRAL Soccer Center.

Rush (7-3-2), who held onto the top spot for several weeks while the North Carolina teams played catch up with the schedule, finally slipped out of the top spot when Charlotte Soccer Academy held the spot until this past Thursday. Before that matchup, Rush will face North Carolina Fusion Saturday at Bryan Park Soccer Complex’s Stadium Field.

Rush will have a chance to reclaim at least a share of first place with a wins over Fusion and CASL (8-0-2), who have allowed just seven goals in 10 division games. Rush has scored 21 goals in 12 division games. The two clubs’ U-18 teams will also face off Sunday.

Richmond Kickers will also make the trek south, with its U-16s and U-18s facing CASL Chelsea FC Academy Saturday and North Carolina Fusion Sunday, while the Richmond Strikers academy teams host Charlotte Soccer Academy and North Meck SC at West Creek.

Those two Carolina teams will also face McLean Youth Soccer over the weekend in what will most certainly prove to be key division games over the weekend, as McLean’s U-18s (8-0-2) are just one point ahead of Charlotte (7-1-4) in the Atlantic Division.

In the East Conference Mid-Atlantic Division, D.C. United and Baltimore Bays Chelsea will both face Potomac on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Division leaders Baltimore Bays Chelsea U-18s (6-0-1) will look to maintain or extend its first place lead this weekend with a single game against last place Potomac (0-4-2) Sunday.  It’s a much tighter race for the U-16s, as five teams are separated by just two points, including D.C. United and Bays Chelsea. United hosts Potomac Saturday.

For complete Development Academy results and standings, see below:

[ +Development Academy schedule/results ]

[ +U-16 Standings ]

[ +U-18 Standings ]