FRISCO, Texas — The stage is now set for Houston.

READ: U16 final day recap | U18 final day recap | Dev. Academy Playoff photos

Sixty-four Development Academy squads entered last week’s playoffs with one goal in mind: a first place group finish and spot in Finals Week further south in Texas in mid-July.

De Anza Force U16s celebrate

After a week competing in Frisco, 16 teams successfully navigated the near-100 degree weather to top their groups, with eight teams advancing in each age group to the final competition.

For some teams, club history was made with their success like the U16 Rapids did with their first place finish.

"It's an experience they'll never forget,” head coach Mitch Murray told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I told them coming in they had a chance to be a first, and that's the first U16 Rapids team to make it to nationals. And they've now accomplished that. Now we'll see what we can do in Houston."

The two clubs that perhaps made the most waves were Albertson SC and De Anza Force, the only organizations that will be sending teams to Finals Week in both age groups. 

De Anza Force U16s held on for a 1-0 win to top its group against the Chicago Fire on Friday, gutting out a result that secured a second spot in Houston.

“The players have put a lot of effort, not only this year but a lot of these guys have been in our club a number of years and the players have done an outstanding job,” Technical Director Eric Yamamoto said. 

Meanwhile, Albertson U18s – a talented group lead by Dylan Greenberg, Miguel Polley and Nicholas Gaitan – topped its group by virtue of a draw against FC Dallas, emerging from Group 3 ahead of MLS opposition FCD and Crew Soccer Academy.

Then there are the repeat appearances. Both of last year’s U16 finalists, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri and the New York Red Bulls, will be there as U18 Finals Week competitors. And De Anza Force, Vancouver Whitecaps, the Rapids and Crew Soccer Academy Wolves will be sending teams for a second straight year. 

Of course, capping it off will be a pair of local teams, Texans SC Houston and Houston Dynamo emerging from the U16 ranks, which is sure to give the atmosphere a jolt or two that would otherwise be missing.

"It's very special that it's in our hometown,” Dynamo U16 head coach Eddie Robinson said. “I think that'll be huge for the guys. We'll definitely get good crowds. There will be a lot of support, like the families that were able to drive up [for the Playoffs]. That's huge. There were maybe a couple calls in [the New York Red Bulls game] even that our fans might have encouraged the referee to make. It'll be nice to play at home."

Finals Week Teams:

U18
Vancouver Whitecaps 
Seattle Sounders
Albertson SC 
New York Red Bulls 
Shattuck St. Mary's 
New England Revolution
De Anza Force
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri  

U16
De Anza Force 
Colorado Rapids 
Solar Chelsea 
Crew Soccer Academy Wolves 
Albertson SC 
Real Salt Lake-AZ
Houston Dynamo
Texans SC Houston 

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