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The U15/16 USSF Academy League Playoffs this weekend in Greensboro include a mix of some traditional youth soccer powerhouses, a dash of MLS youth clubs and a few upstarts.

The event features eight groups of four teams, with only the group winners advancing the the National Finals scheduled for July at  Home Depot Center in Carson, California. This event was added to the Development Academy format after participants complained of high costs and little reward for last season’s format that featured four showcases and a stand-alone nationals. This weekend’s matches will be much more meaningful for teams and players, but still will serve as a showcase with plenty of Youth National Team, professional and college scouts on hand.

Michigan-based Derby County Wolves, who also had the best record in the U17/18 division, are the top seed and will contest Group A with Columbus Crew, BW Gottschee and the last team to make it into the field, the awkwardly-named Texas Rush AHFC AS Monaco.

MLS clubs New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire are in Group B along with youth veterans FC Westchester and the pre-academy academy – IMG Soccer Academy from Bradenton, Florida.

Carmel United, including some holdovers from last season’s U16 Academy champions, are in Group C along with club giants Chicago Magic AS Monaco, and newcomers LAFC Chelsea and Texas Heat.

In Group D, Oscar Pareja’s FC Dallas team are in along with Dallas-area rivals Andromeda, plus a club that is really coming on in South Charlotte SA and Birmingham United.

Group E has a west coast flavor (groups are made based on spreading the teams via their position 1-32 in regular season standings), with LA-area clubs Arsenal and LA Galaxy plus Northern Californians Cal Odyssey joined by east coast fugitives FC DELCO.

Group F includes a team from each of the old U.S. Youth Soccer regions, Match Fit Chelsea of New Jersey, CASL Chelsea of North Carolina, Vardar of Michigan and Washington Premier from the Pacific Northwest.

Group G is similarly distributed. New Jersey giants PDA, Midwestern club stalwarts Sockers FC, North Meck SC of North Carolina and the pride of the San Fernando Valley, Real So Cal, are the participants.

In Group H, host club Greensboro Youth Soccer will face New Yorkers Albertson SC,  the always-entertaining Miami FC Kendall and Seattle-area giants Crossfire Premier.

Games will be Friday, Saturday and Monday. Watch for TopDrawerSoccer.com LIVE on Friday and Monday , with continuous updates on the matches. If you will be on hand and would like to help us keep track of things, write us at [email protected].

	U15/16 Playoff Groups			U17/U18 Playoff Groups
Seed			Seed
1 16 17 32     8 9 24 25     4 13 20 29     5 12 21 28     2 15 18 31     7 10 23 26     3 14 19 30     6 11 22 27	Group A Derby County Wolves Columbus Crew BW Gottschee Texas Rush AHFC AS Monaco   Group B New York Red Bulls Chicago Fire FC Westchester IMG Soccer Academy   Group C Chicago Magic AS Monaco LAFC Chelsea Texas SC Carmel United SC   Group D FC Dallas South Charlotte SA Andromeda Birmingham United   Group E Arsenal FC LA Galaxy FC DELCO Cal Odyssey   Group F Washington Premier CASL Chelsea FC Academy Vardar Match Fit Chelsea   Group G Sockers FC Real So Cal PDA North Meck SC   Group H Greensboro Youth Soccer Crossfire Premier Albertson SC Miami FC Kendall		1 16 17 32     8 9 24 25     4 13 20 29     5 12 21 28     2 15 18 31     7 10 23 26     3 14 19 30     6 11 22 27	Group A Derby County Wolves FC Dallas Dallas Texans Santa Cruz County Breakers   Group B Colorado Rush AS Monaco Andromeda Met Oval FC Greater Boston   Group C Carmel United SC Chivas USA Clearwater Chargers Potomac   Group D FC DELCO IMG Soccer Academy Vardar Richmond Strikers   Group E CASL Chelsea FC Academy Arsenal FC Miami FC Kendall Real So Cal   Group F Crossfire Premier Real Colorado Virginia Rush AS Monaco Richmond Kickers   Group G Albertson SC PDA Columbus Crew De Anza Force   Group H D.C. United LAFC Chelsea FC Westchester Sockers FC