The 2013-14 Development Academy season kicks off this weekend with action from coast to coast. The new campaign also brings on the introduction of the U13/U14 age group to the Development Academy fold, which adds a heavy number of games to the schedule.

Check out some of the top fixtures from the opening weekend of the Development Academy.

West

Ahinga Selemani

The much-discussed Chivas USA U14 makes it debut on Saturday with a clash against Santa Barbara Soccer Club at Westmont College. Chivas USA, coached by Brian Kleiban, will be one of the most watched teams this season after previous success under the Barcelona USA brand. Santa Barbara SC is no slouch though, as the club is fresh off a US Youth Soccer National Championship in the U15 age group. Carson Vom Steeg, the son of UC Santa Barbara head coach Tim Vom Steeg, is one of the carryovers from that championship team who is now playing in the Academy.

Chivas USA is not the only U14 team that enters the Academy with some acclaim already attached to the name. Los Angeles Futbol Academy was created solely to gain entry into the Academy at the U14 age group. The well-financed club opens the season against Real So Cal on Saturday. Striker Jason Pacas is one to watch. He’ll likely be in the picture for the next cycle of the U14 Boys National Team.

In Northern California, the restocked San Jose Earthquakes roster takes on Ballistic United U14 on Saturday. The Earthquakes picked up highly coveted U14 Boys National Team defender Edwin Lara in the offseason. While Lara’s level is much higher than the U14 age group, he is on the roster with his age group and it is the only Quakes team playing this weekend.

Central

Chicago Magic PSG takes St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri on Sunday in the anticipated debut of the new-look Magic. The Illinois club brought in some highly ranked players from across the country to fill out the roster for 2013. Keep an eye on Alex Vergara and Tommy Redding, who should both make a big splash for Magic over the weekend.

The always-competitive Crew Soccer Academy Wolves face Internationals this weekend in the U14, U16, and U18 age groups. CSA Wolves have a very strong U18 squad led by 2014 recruits Jimmy Fiscus, Ken Krolicki, Chase Pagani, and Ahinga Selemani.

East

Philadelphia Union makes its debut in the Academy this weekend. After relying on a few academies to provide players for the first team, the Pennsylvania club took up the challenge of running a youth academy under its own emblem in 2013. The Union open the season against Richmond Kickers and Strikers on Saturday and Sunday respectively. PDA will also be hosting the clubs from Virginia over the weekend.

The defending national U18 champions New York Red Bulls start the year with an in-state rivalry clash against Revolution Empire on Saturday. Red Bulls U18 started last season with the same game, and were held to a 1-1 draw – one of the few blemishes on a nearly perfect season.

In the South, a matchup between Georgia United and South Carolina United Battery highlights the schedule. Both teams return impressive rosters from last year’s squads, which should set up a competitive tilt in the U18 fixture.

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