The second Girls Academy Event of the 2020/2021 inaugural season kicks off on Friday from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. This is going to be one of the largest events in the youth club soccer world since the COVID shutdown. The event features teams from the U15 age group up to the U19 age group. In total, there are 220 teams attending the event, which will be spread out from Friday, April 16 until Tuesday, April 20. The U16 (2005s) and U17 (2004s) kick off on the event on Friday. The U15 (2006s) and U19 (2003/2002) wrap up the event on Tuesday. 

TopDrawerSoccer will have coverage from every day of the event. Check back throughout the competition for daily recaps as well as player standout pieces. 

2006 

TSJ FC Virginia, FC Bay Area, Oklahoma Energy, West Coast FC, Cincinnati United CUP, and IMG Academy were the six teams included in the Showcase 1 Bracket A for the U15 age group at the event. Beyond FC Bay Area, which has only played two games this season, the other five teams in this group lead their respective conferences at this stage of the season. 

Cincinnati United CUP is the only team with an unbeaten record, as the Mid-America leader is 10-0-3 with only four goals conceded from those 13 contests. FC Virginia holds a 10-1 record with 56 goals scored and only five conceded in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. Oklahoma Energy is 14-2 on the season with 65 goals scored and only 14 conceded. West Coast F.C. leads the way in the Southwest with a 8-2 record. IMG Academy holds the top spot in the Southeast at 8-1-2. FC Bay Area is the anomaly of the group. The Northern California squad, which used to be part of the San Jose Earthquakes academy, has a roster of players born in 2007 competing against some of the best 2006 teams in the country, which should be a good test for the young club. 

Oakwood Soccer Club, the leaders of the Northeast Conference, are in Bracket B of Showcase 1 in this age group. Houston Dash, Arlington SA, SC del Sol, FC United, and Palo Alto SC are also in this group. 

2005 

Utah Royals FC - AZ is the lone unbeaten team in the Showcase 1 Bracket A group, which consists of most of the conference leaders at this stage of the season. Utah Royals’ 9-0-3 record will be put to the test on the opening day against SC Wave at 1 pm, which should be considered one of the Games of the Day. Houston Dash, TSJ FC Virginia, Tophat GA Gold, and FC Bay Area are the other teams in this group. 

Colorado Rush, Weston FC, South Shore Select, Lamorinda, Lonestar SC, and Cincinnati United CUP make up the group in Bracket B of Showcase 1. Weston FC has one of the top attacks in the Girls Academy with 47 goals scored in nine league games. Weston opens up the competition against Lamorinda on Friday. 

The Showcase 2 Bracket A might be the group to watch. Cedar Stars Academy - Monmouth has one of the best records in this age group. Sporting Blue Valley has a dynamic attack that provides entertaining soccer. SC del Sol, Oakwood, City SC, and West Coast Soccer should make up a competitive group. That group kicks off on Friday with West Coast Soccer taking on SC del Sol at 1 pm. 

2004 

The 2004 age group has the most teams at the event with 64 signed up. Considering the challenges of recruiting and exposure for the next level, it makes sense that more players would need a national event with game film against some of the best competition to help with this process. 

TSJ FC Virginia, SC Wave, Tophat Gold, and City SC were the four teams selected for the Showcase 1 division. FC Virginia is 10-0-1 in conference play with 65 goals scored and only three conceded. SC Wave enjoyed the return of Kayla Budish to the lineup last weekend and improved to 13-1-3 on the campaign. Tophat Gold is 9-1-1 in conference play. City SC is 6-1-1. 

FC Bay Area, Utah Royals - AZ, IMG Academy, Cincinnati United CUP, Houston Dash, and Sporting Blue Valley make up the bracket in Showcase 2. All six of those teams are among the conference leaders, which should make for a competitive group. The opening tilt between Utah Royals -AZ and Cincinnati United CUP should be among the Games of the Day. 

Showcase 3 has a number of top teams as well. Colorado Rush, Oakwood Soccer Club, Nationals, Michigan Jaguars, Cedar Stars Academy - Monmouth, and OL Reign Academy are the six teams in that group. OL Reign opened up the season with a 9-2 win in February as that team looks to be making a statement. 

2002/2003

SC del Sol, SJEB Rush, FC Bay Area, IMG Academy, Indy Premier SC, and Houston Dash make up the six teams in the U19 Showcase 1 Bracket A. SJEB Rush is 6-0-2 on the season and one of only a few unbeaten teams left in the campaign. FC Bay Area opened up the season with a pair of convincing wins (plus 18 goal differential) and will probably be the team drawing the most eyeballs from this age group. SJEB Rush and FC Bay Area face off on Saturday at 11 am.

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