Dev. Academy preview: Texans, Dynamo battle
After nearly a month off (excluding a fixture last week), the USSF’s Development returns to regularly scheduled action this weekend.
Games in the East, Central, and West Conference highlight a fairly full docket for Saturday.
The Frontier Division takes the lion’s share of the spotlight with a clash between the Dallas Texans and Houston Dynamo grabbing the main billing. The two clubs are the top two teams in the U18 age group for that division. Neither team has lost a game since October, which should setup a competitive clash at Houston Amateur Sports Park.
East Conference
Two Florida clubs go back to action this weekend when Orlando City hosts Kendall SC on Saturday. Orlando SC is undefeated in both age groups over the last few games, as the first year club has quickly adapted to the rigors of the Development Academy.
In the U18 age group, Orland City is looking to pick up some wins in the Southeast Division, as it sits in the last spot with only two wins. Midfielder Noah Franke and defender Michael O’Sullivan have anchored the squad this season, both players have started every game to this point. Kendall’s Luis Diego tops the team in scoring with four goals from 11 games this season.
From the younger age group, Orlando City is 8-1-1 in division play this year, and trying to hold onto that top spot in the division. Richard Prestridge, one of the top scorers in the nation, is up to 12 goals on the campaign. Kendall SC’s back four and goalkeeper Bryan Alvarez will be hoping to slow Prestridge down.
Central Conference
Beyond the Dynamo-Texans clash, Solar Chelsea SC takes on Andromeda FC at Texas Women’s University. Jesse Miralrio Toledo took over the leading scorer honors for the Dallas club’s U18 team with six goals from his 10 starts.
Solar is top of the division in the U16 age group with a 10-2-1 record this season. Bryson Asher and Nathanael Rennhack have combined to score 12 of the team’s 26 goals this season. Andromeda’s season has not gotten off to the same start, as the Plano club is 2-10-1 on the season.
Fixtures between Texas Rush-Lonestar SC and Classics Elite-Texans SC Houston fill out the rest of the schedule in Texas for Saturday.
West Conference
San Jose Earthquakes, the top team in the Northwest Division U18 age group, hits the road to take on Santa Cruz Breakers Academy on Saturday. The Earthquakes are 7-3-0 on the season, but lost their last two games before the break. Forward Elisama Padilla is up to nine goals this season, which is among the best tallies in the nation.
Elsewhere in Northern California, De Anza Force hosts Cal Odyssey in a bookend matchup for the U16 age group. De Anza sits in the top spot for the younger age group with an 11-2-0 record. Midfield Aravind Sivakumar has anchored the squad this season from the center of the pitch while Carlos Delgadillo has begun to heat up in the attack with six goals to his credit now.
In the Northwest Division, San Juan Soccer Club also is in action this weekend with a game against Vancouver Whitecaps.
Down the coast, Real So Cal takes on San Diego Surf at Pierce College. Real So Cal is fighting for a spot in the top team in the U18 age group for the Southwest Division. A win for Real So Cal would not be enough to take the spot from Real Salt Lake-Arizona, but it would close the gap between the teams. Stanford commit Mark Verso has been on point for Real So Cal this season with five goals to his name to lead the team. New Mexico commit Steve Manios has chipped in four goals.
Also in Southern California on Saturday, Strikers FC host Nomads and Pateadores take on Arsenal.
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