Catonsville, MD – U18 Baltimore Bays Chelsea beat NJSA 1-0 in a USSF Development Academy match on a windy day on the campus of UMBC.  It wasn’t a showcase of tremendous soccer, but the team that was better got the victory.

Starting Line-ups:

Baltimore Bays Chelsea: 4-4-1-1. Play a flat central defensive midfield
F:  Michael Gamble
W/D F: Ricky Greensfelder
M: Logan McHugh, Seth Moses, Zachery Wenger, Malcolm Harris
D: Elliott Andelman, Joseph Cahalan, Michael Greene, Matthew Shinsky
GK: Andrew Harris

NJSA: 4-2-3-1. The back 4 plays with Butler as a sweeper with Weinreb
F: Evan Teitelbaum
M: Devin Fuller, Zachary Hicks, Matthew Sawaged
DM: Joseph Cellitti, Julian Plummer
D: Michael Horan, Nick Butler, Jake Weinreb, Nick Villani
GK: Nick Cerrone

Baltimore Observations:

Baltimore is a diminutive team.

Baltimore continues to start three U16 players and these players are making direct impact on the U18 team.  Both of the forward starters and the best attacking wide midfielder are U16 players.  It’s pretty impressive and makes me wonder of how good the U16 team could be if they actually had all of their players (Editor – but then, having players play to the level where they will be sufficiently challenged was always supposed to be a main component of the Development Academy. It’s good to know somebody out there still remembers).

The lone goal was scored in the second half by U16 forward Michael Gamble (one of our top-rated Players To Watch for the 2012 graduating class).  The play started with a long through ball that wasn’t cleared well.  Logan McHugh made a nifty first touch, half-volleying the ball toward the goal and Gamble deflected it to the other side of the goal.

Before the goal, Gamble was having a forgettable game. Early in the first half, with no one marking Gamble in the box on the back post, he made a clean first touch.  NJSA Julian Plummer hurried out to close him down. Gamble took a hurried off-target shot when a player of his caliber should have put it past Plummer before taking a more accurate shot.  Gamble needs to learn how to run off the ball more effectively.

The other U16 forward Ricky Greensfelder is a quick, smart player.  He makes good runs with a high degree of technical skill.  He is a player to keep an eye on for the next couple of years.  Hopefully, he hits a growth spurt, because he is quite small.  I initially was concerned when he didn’t go into a 50/50 with intensity early in the game.  But, he didn’t repeat this later in the game.  If he didn’t have heart, no matter how technical and smart he was, he wouldn’t be a good prospect.  However, I don’t think this is a problem.

I’ve previously commented on U16 starter Malcolm Harris that he’s a very fast, good dribbler.  In his USDA bio, he states his objective is “To play professionally in Europe”.   Second, I believe that he has the talent to achieve his goals IF, big if, he understands that European soccer is more than just the big 4 leagues.  Scandinavian, Dutch and central European leagues may be more applicable at this time though by no means am I an expert on European soccer.

When Joseph Glos (UMBC) came off the bench late in the first half, he provided an offensive spark to the Baltimore attack leading to the best chance in the first half.  Glos stole the ball from Michael Horan and took a shot at the top of the box.  The NJSA goalkeeper made the stop but the rebound was handled by Logan McHugh but his shot on the open goal was high.

Joseph Cahalan (Loyola-MD) made a critical stop on Zachary Hicks’ shot.  However, Cahalan was caught up field and out of position on NJSA best attack in the first half.

Goalkeeper Andrew Harris wasn’t really challenged until the very end of the game.

Seth Moses is back after suffering an injury in the Disney tournament.  He sits back reading the game and snuffing out trouble in the midfield.  He’s quality on the ball, but at times, he’s too casual.  Moses, Malcolm Harris and Greensfelder combine well amongst each other.

NJSA Observations:

NJSA weren’t effective bypassing their midfield in the first half and much of the second.  

Until the waning minutes of the game with a loss pending, NJSA pushed more players forward.  One of these players is sweeper Nick Butler (Richmond recruit).  Butler is a huge target.  But, he is very competent with the ball at his feet.  I think Clint Peay (Richmond coach) has signed a very good player.

Julian Plummer is another big fellow who is good in the air.  I like the way that he closes quickly on attackers with power.

Goalkeeper Nick Cerrone needs to hold low shots better instead of allowing rebounds.

Joseph Cellitti telegraphs his passes.  He was brave on a 50/50 challenge with Matthew Shinsky. Late in the first half, Cellitti stole the ball from Joe Callahan near midfield, drove 40 yards down the sideline before gifting Evan Teitelbaum with a terrific cross that wasn’t converted.

Late in the second half, Cellitti and Teitelbaum combined with Cellitti taking a shot that was blocked and the rebound was poked high by Matthew Sawaged.

Zachary Hicks seems to prefer to try and go through players rather than around.

Michael Horan has a long throw-in especially with Butler as a target to flick the ball on.