GREENSBORO, North Carolina – It just got intense.

Thirty-two teams each in both the U15/16 and U17/18 U.S. Development Academy divisions have arrived at the Bryan Park Complex with the goal of reaching the Academy Finals next month in Carson, CA.

Thirty-two teams have been divided into eight groups of four, and only the group winners will move on. Day one featured only U15/U16 action.

Here is the good, the bad and ugly from the opening day’s results.

GROUP A
Arsenal FC 2, FC Westchester 0
Concorde Fire 0, Chicago Fire 0
Best players: Arsenal’s Jonathan Tovar showed great touch and poise and Raul Mendiola made some efficient 1v1 moves; Concorde’s Jordan McCrary showed good feet.
Notes: Concorde’s Tyler Hilliard got away with pulling down Victor Pineda in the box in the second half – but across the board on day one, the refs were letting them play and giving the benefit of the doubt to the defenders.

GROUP B
De Anza Force 1, Texas SC DTH 0
Nomads SC 2, South Carolina 1
Best players: DeAnza defender Christian Dean is a huge body with a great service; Nomads keeper Marco Lujan was alert against the set piece and preserved the win with a late punch out against a service.  
Notes: Nomads SC was accused (by the opposition) of effectively stalling after grabbing a 2-0 lead and holding on despite team-wide injuries.

GROUP C
Real Colorado 1, Vardar 1
DC United 4, LAFC Chelsea 2
Best players: D.C. United F Julian Griggs and M Cody Albrecht
Notes: D.C. United brought a physicality that wasn’t matched by many teams. Griggs is a beast out front with his Rooney-esque build as he ignites a tough group.

GROUP D
Sockers FC 2, New England Revolution 2
Greensboro Youth Soccer 0, Lonestar Aztex Academy 0
Best players: New England’s Felix Debona is lighting fast and scored a goal; Sockers FC forward David Selvaggi was a relentless worker along the left wing.

GROUP E
CASL Chelsea FC Academy 2, Crew Soccer Academy 0
FC Dallas 1,Weston FC 1
Best players: Weston: M Brian James; FC Dallas: M Samuel Coleman and goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes; CASL: striker Cooper Vandermaas-Peeler, who scored his team’s opening goal.
Notes: A frustrated Weston goalkeeper rhetorically asked his team – and everyone else within earshot – “What the (uhh ... heck?) are we doing?!” He had a point, but he also had too many other choice words that were a little excessive for a family audience.

FC Dallas played without leading scorer Jonathan Top was ineligible because of a red card at the Spring Showcase in Sarasota, FL … Weston FC attackers Desmond Gonzales and Steeven Saba, both national team players, also did not play.

GROUP F
PDA 0, Birmingham United 0
Internationals 3, California Development Academy 1
Best player: Birmingham United goalkeeper Brenton Thompson.
Notes: PDA would have scored at least five goals if it weren’t for Thompson, who survived an onslaught of shots and set piece opportunities to earn his team the tie …

CDA’s Seth Casiple took a red card ejection when he tackled high on Vlad Lekarev, sending him crashing to the pitch.

GROUP G
Baltimore Bays Chelsea 2, Kansas City Wizards 1
Dallas Texans 0, Chivas USA 0
Best players: Bays M Michael Gamble and F Malcom Harris; Texans F Caleb Richardson; Wizards GK Jonathan Kempin
Notes: Kempin was absolutely sensational in a loss for his Kansas City Club. Pitted against one of the best teams in the country he clearly held his own against the attack and managed to snuff out a penalty kick attempt.

Richardson is a blazing fast attacker who was slowed late in the game with a cramp that put him on the sidelines.

GROUP H
Cal Odyssey 1, FC Greater Boston 1
Charlotte Soccer Academy 2, Real So Cal 2

Best player: Real So Cal M Erick Esquivel.
Notes: An opportunistic Esquivel notched both goals for Real So Cal.