It happens all the time - a team flounders one season only to put the pieces together in the offseason to charge into the playoffs the next. For these five U18 Development Academy teams, a losing 2012-13 season was only prelude to a 2013-14 season in which the playoffs are a distinct possibility.

Colorado Rush

2012-13 finish: 11-12-4; 8th place (Central Conference, Frontier Division)

Currently: 14-6-2; 2nd place (Central Conference, Frontier Division)

Notes: The Rush finished last season with a losing record primarily because of a porous defense. They gave up 48 goals in 27 games and struggled to play from winning positions. That’s flipped on its head this year. While the attack is hardly the most robust in the conference, the Rush cut down their goals allowed number to a paltry 23 so far this season, the second-best total in the 13-team division. Keeper Jonathan Finucane has been a beast, and the Rush have rocketed up to second place and into what looks to be a pole position for a playoff spot after missing the postseason last year.

Nomads SC

2012-13 finish: 2-23-3; 9th place (West Conference, Southwest Division)

Currently: 13-9-2; 4th place (West Conference, Southwest Division)

Notes: This has to rank as the Development Academy’s most impressive turnaround so far this season. Sure, Nomads aren’t leading their division, but the fact that they’re firmly entrenched in a playoff position on the homestretch is incredible in itself. Nomads finished in the divisional cellar last year, and if the Development Academy was combined into a single large table, their nine points would’ve put them in the cellar of the entire academy. Guided by Saul Aquino’s academy-leading 22 goals, Nomads are currently in fourth in the Southwest Division and staring down the barrel at a playoff spot. Hard to fathom. They’re 21 points clear of the cutoff, meaning the rest of the academy will be privy to the turnaround when Nomads travels to the playoffs in June. 

Carolina Rapids

2012-13 finish: 8-14-3; 11th place (East Conference, Southeast Division)

Currently: 21-4-3; 1st place (East Conference, Southeast Division)

Notes: The Rapids caught lightning in a bottle this year with twin goal machines Tanner Roberts and David Lozano, who’ve combined for 40 goals so far to lead the Rapids to the top of their division. That’s impressive when you consider they finished second from bottom last season. The primary difference? Goals. Lots of them. The Rapids mustered just 40 goals last year, worse than all but two teams in the division. This year, the Rapids have a whopping 72, the best team total in the entire academy. Suddenly everyone’s looking to the Rapids and their furious attacking duo as a legit contender to make it into Finals Week. 

St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro

2012-13 finish: 2-17-8; 13th place (Central Conference, Mid-America Division)

Currently: 8-8-5; 9th place (Central Conference, Mid-America Division)

Notes: The position on the league table may belie Metro’s true improvement over last year, but the wins/loss record certainly does not. Metro finished last in their division last year thanks in part to an anemic attack that couldn’t capitalize on a back line that kept them in a lot of games. In the end, 22 goals across 27 games isn’t going to cut it. Sensing that, Metro has beefed up its forward momentum to climb out of the cellar and into the mix for a wild card spot this season. Twenty one games into the season, Metro is just six points off the division’s postseason pace for the final wild card spot. Anthony Brown has done work for Metro by putting in a team-leading eight goals, and a 1-0 win earlier this year over the currently postseason-bound Indiana Fire bodes well for their chances.

MORE: 2015 Boys IMG Academy Top 150 | Dev. Academy Standouts | Dev. Academy Scoreboard

Oakwood SC

2012-13 finish: 4-18-3; 11th place (East Conference, Northeast Division)

Currently: 9-4-6; 4th place (East Conference, Northeast Division)

Notes: Oakwood plays in arguably the most top-heavy division in the country with New York Red Bulls, Albertson SC and the New England Revolution. So despite a decent defense last year, Oakwood’s on-and-off attack mean they bowed to the top and finished on 15 points, tied for the worst total in the conference. So what’s different this year? For one, it isn’t the stout defense, which has surrendered just 24 goals in 19 games, the second-best total in the division behind only RBNY. The change has come in the attack, which has done enough to fend off just about anyone. The fact that Logan Gdula and Matthew Vasquenza are both on nine goals - in addition to a 2-0 win over the Revs earlier this year - bodes well for Oakwood’s swelling postseason chances.