As the playoffs approach in the USSF Development Academy U16 age group, it’s becoming clearer who the best teams are.

The Carolinas are well-represented in the South Conference, as CASL and South Carolina United continue separating themselves from the pack.  The top two teams from each of the Academy League’s 10 divisions qualify for the playoffs, along with 12 wildcard teams based on a points per game ration from the overall schedule, including this weekend’s Spring Showcase games in Sarasota, FL.

United Victory: On Saturday against North Meck SC, South Carolina United had a chance to clinch the Southeast division title, but it wouldn’t come easy.

The teams were missing 15 players combined because of various high school commitments, and were forced to play several developmental players on game-day.

But United’s new players were happy to step up to the challenge.

Aidan Myer was stellar in his Academy debut, connecting passes all over the central midfield. United got its first goal when Nestor Jaramillo gathered a poor clearance by North Meck goalkeeper Connor Miller and lobbed it into goal first-touch in the 23rd minute.

North Meck equalized against the grain of play nine minutes later, though, when Erick Suarez headed home a corner from four yards out.

United defenders Braeden Troyer and Timothy Cook clamped down after that and kept the North Meck defenders at bay for the rest of the game, giving the United midfield the chance to score a go-ahead goal.

The midfield did just that in the 84th minute when a nice combination between Ryan Arambula and Dakotah Millard led to a ball slotted through to a cutting Nestor, who whipped the ball into the top corner from 14 yards out.

United had already clinched the division, but this victory helps them move closer to a top eight overall seed in the Academy playoffs, which would make their path to the playoffs slightly more manageable.

CASL Conquering: CASL Chelsea’s Thursday night game against Greensboro had the makings of a classic rivalry grudge match, the game itself failed to live up to its billing.

The game started out at a fast pace, and CASL came out swinging when Jonathan Ray worked the ball up the field and lifted the ball over Greensboro keeper Hunter Joyner to score in the 6th minute.

The pace slowed down considerably, though, and the remainder of the game turned sloppy.

Greensboro got the equalizer when a CASL defender tried to shield the ball out of bounds for a goal kick, only to have the ball stripped by Marco Sunol when the ball slowed in the tall grass. Sunol turned and scored from close range.

CASL got payback in the 42nd minute, though, when left winger Cooper Vandermass-Peeler hit a nice bending shot to the far post. Greensboro goalie Joyner bobbled the save and Bryan Roque was in good position to put the loose ball away.

Substitute Monbo Bokar and other CASL attackers had several chances in the second half to make the score 3-1, but they couldn’t finish and left with the 2-1 win.

Even though it was an ugly win, CASL will take it. The game earned them the Atlantic division crown and secured a playoff spot, and that’s what matters in the end.

Click here for our Texas division review.