It’s always a tasty affair when the two Development Academy sides based in Richmond, Virginia square off

The Kickers and Strikers played over the weekend in the early days of this season of the Academy schedule and split the two games.

It was a dominant result for the Kickers’ U18 team, as Finnlay Watt’s pair of goals led the way to a 4-0 win. The Strikers U16s made sure that their city rivals wouldn’t win both games on the day, as they won 2-0. Jesus Duran-Reyes scored, as did Brendan Moyers for the Strikers.

DC United's Jorge Calix

Central Conference

The travel requirements in the middle of the country is a challenge, and the Colorado Rush came away from a trip to Sporting KC empty handed, losing both games against the MLS Academy side. Cole Stevenson and Eduardo Moreno accounted for all the goals in a 3-0 win for KC’s U18s, while the U16s won 2-0. Dakota Karns scored, and SKC also benefitted from an own goal in the win.

Lindo Mfeka found his scoring boots over the weekend, grabbing a hat trick for Indiana United Fire U18s in a 3-2 win over Crew Soccer Academy. Rylee Woods and Nicholas Parianos accounted for the Crew’s goals. The two U16 teams put on a goal-scoring clinic, as Crew on 4-3.

East Conference

Heading on to the road for the first time all season, D.C. United picked up two big wins over the Virginia Rush. Four players found the back of the net for United’s U18s, as Jorge Calix, Rafael Fagundo, James Moreno and Kennedy O’Shea all scored. D.C.’s U16s bossed their game as well, winning 3-0 – Michael Monahan, Justin Robers and Gerson Umana all accounting for the goals.

Domination was the name of the game for Albertson SC over South Central Premier. Traveling north, Albertson’s U18s defeated South Central 3-0 thanks to goals from Eric McKenna, Jeongho Ahn and Brett Nason. It was two wins from two games for Albertson after the U16s upped their counterparts with a 4-0 win.

PA Classics U18s won their second straight game of the season, defeating NJSA 04 thanks to two goals in the first half to win comfortably 2-0. The gap was even further between the two teams at the U16 level, as Christian Pulisic and McKinley Curran each had a brace in a 4-1 win for the Classics.

Speaking of high scoring, North Carolina Fusion traveled down to Florida and were extremely rude to Academy newcomers Orlando City SC. Donovan Japp accounted for all five goals for the Fusion’s U18s, as North Carolina won 5-0. Orlando City snagged a small measure of revenge as their U16s sent the Fusion home with a 3-0 loss.

After a winless opening over the opening weekend, Montreal’s U16s won the club’s first game in the Development Academy, a 3-1 defeat of FC Bolts Celtic. The Impact’s U18s couldn’t find the back of the net however, drawing 0-0.

West Conference

High scoring affairs were the name of the game between the San Diego Surf and De Anza Force. The U16 game ended in a 4-3 shootout, as Ramiro Molina, Luis Nunez, Matthew Powell and Aravind Sivakumar all scored for the Force, holding off a second half charge by the Surf.

The Surf’s U18s captured the other matches between the two, winning by a 3-2 score.

Riggs Lennon and Jose Navarro were too much for San Juan SC U18s to handle, as the RSL Academy pair powered their side to a 4-2 win at home. Steven Wright scored a pair of consolation goals in the second half to make it close before Lennon’s 90th minute goal put the game out of reach. Adolfo Ovalle and Sebastian Saucedo tallied for RSL’s U16s, as they also defeat San Juan by a 2-1 score.

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