Academy Recap: Solar success
In recent memory, Texas has been a consistent pipeline for top soccer talent, exporting countless professionals both in the United States and abroad.
So when two powerhouse clubs clash in Academy action, it’s usually news. And this past weekend, Solar Chelsea and FC Dallas met, with the former coming away with a pair of wins.
Samuel Hayward scored two first half goals for Solar, as the U18s held on for a 2-1 victory. It was a bit more comfortable for Solar’s U16s, which featured U17 MNT attacker Alan Winn, coming away as 3-1 victors. Winn opened the scoring for Solar in the 12th minute.
With the win, Solar U16s took over top spot in the Frontier Division, while FCD U18s are holding onto first place in the division.
East Conference
It was a good weekend at home for D.C. United, as the MLS side compiled three wins out of four games. The U18s opened the weekend with a 6-1 defeat of Richmond Strikers, while the U16s defeated the Strikers 3-2. Results on Sunday were similar, with the U18s scoring six again, this time against Match Fit Academy – once again getting six different goal scorers. The U16s drew 0-0.
Angel Espana nabbed the game-winning goal for PDA U18s in a 1-0 victory over PA Classics. PDA U16s made it two wins out of two games, as tallies from Jalil Blalock and Jared Stroud secured a 2-0 win.
Baltimore Bays Chelsea picked up two 2-0 wins against McLean Youth Soccer on Sunday, as both the U18s and U16s secured the three points.
Central Conference
Neither side managed to get the edge between the Chicago Fire and Sockers FC. The two local rivals split a pair of matchups, with Chicago U18s winning 1-0, and the Sockers U16s matching that score.
Hosting Crew Academy Wolves on Saturday, Internationals SC picked up a pair of much-needed wins, as both the U18 and U16s delivered 1-0 victories.
West Conference
It was a rampant weekend for the LA Galaxy offense, as the U18s scored six en route to a 6-1 win against San Diego Surf. Paul Arriola, Justin Dhillon and Sebastian Velasquez were among those to get on the score sheet. LA U16s also managed to come away with three points, a 2-1 defeat of the Surf.
A trip up to Seattle didn’t quite yield the results the Portland Timbers Academy went in search of. While they weren’t playing MLS rivals Seattle Sounders, the Timbers came away with no points in two games against Crossfire Premier, as the U18s fell 2-1 and the U16s dropped the result 3-0.
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