The calendar says April, but the U.S. Soccer Federation Development Academy season is quickly speeding toward the playoffs. And these next few weeks are going to be very telling for the clubs with postseason ambitions. 

The Baltimore Bays Chelsea U18 squad has certainly read that memo. Since returning from the high school break, Steve Nichols’ team has rattled off an eight-game undefeated streak. 

In Texas, Solar Chelsea SC U18 is running through a 10-game undefeated streak right now in Development Academy games. A matchup against FC Dallas, conference leader, is on the horizon next week. FC Dallas won the first meeting 4-0 in December, which is also the last loss for crosstown rivals Solar. 

Colorado Rapids U18 is the only team in the older age group without a loss on the season. The MLS Academy is 7-0-5 this year.

On the Pacific Coast, LA Galaxy U18 is unbeaten in its last six, which includes a 4-0 win over Strikers FC from Saturday. Galaxy is trying to chase down division leaders Chivas USA, which lost to Pateadores over the weekend. 

In the U16 age group, Crew Soccer Academy Wolves is the toast of the town, as the only undefeated team left. Lars Richters’ team is now going on 12 games without a loss. CSA Wolves enjoyed a pair of victories over the weekend to keep the streak going, which included a 1-0 win over Internationals and 3-2 victory over Crew Soccer Academy. 

Central Conference 

Current U.S. U17 Residency Program player Mukwelle Akale made his debut in the Development Academy on Saturday. The 15-year-old came on in the 25^th minute in 1-1 draw for Minnesota Thunder U18 against Colorado Rapids. Adama Keita scored the lone goal for the Thunder. Idrissa Camara found the back of the net for the MLS Academy. 

Keita scored again on Sunday, but this time his goal held up for the winner in a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City. Eduardo Moreno had the lone goal for visitors, which also dropped a 2-0 result against Shattuck St. Mary’s the day before. 

Chicago Fire U18 improved to 4-0-0 in division play with two shutout victories over the weekend. 

Vardar SC Freiburg’s Zachary Carroll went from goat to hero in the course of 50 minutes on Saturday. The U.S. U17 Men’s National Team veteran netted an own goal in the 37^th minute, but atoned for the mistake with the game-winning tally in the 90^th minute in a 2-1 win over Crew Soccer Academy U18. 

Six days after winning Dallas Cup’s U19 age group, Solar Chelsea SC U18 was back to destroying Development Academy foes. Unfortunately for Classics Elite, it was the first team in the way of the offensive juggernaut. 

Emmanuel Yacho scored three goals in 28 minutes in the first half and Solar cruised to an 8-1 win. Hayden Partain, Ryan Condotta, Samuel Hayward, Jesse Mirairio Toledo, and Colton Missimo all found the back of the net too for Solar. 

Not to be left behind, Solar U16 also crushed Classics Elite on Saturday in a 6-0 result. Omar Banales, Christopher Mendez, Cole Stringer, Cameron Drackett, Toryima Asom, and Nathanael Rennhack were on point for Solar. 

East Conference

Kevin Guzman scored three goals in 26 minutes to help Potomac U16 top Oakwood SC 4-3 on Saturday. Guzman added another on Sunday in a 1-0 win over South Central Premier. After starting the season 0-7-2, Potomac U16 has won three games in a row. 

Thanks to a late goal from Christian Morales, Baltimore Bays Chelsea U18 defeated Players Development Academy on Saturday, which ran Bays’ shutout streak to five games. 

On Sunday, that shutout streak ended quickly when New York Red Bulls scored twice in the opening 20 minutes. Baltimore battled back with a goal from Michael Gamble before half. NYRB restored the two-goal lead five minutes after half when Brandon Allen scored his 12^th of the season. Romilio Hernandez and Tanner Vosvick answered for Bays to capture a point in a 3-3 draw. 

D.C. United U18 pulled off a six-point weekend with wins over South Central Premier and Oakwood Soccer Club. 

In the Northeast Division, Empire United U18 captured victories over NJSA 04 and Match Fit Chelsea. In the NJSA clash, Charlie Cosentino, who was playing up an age, scored twice in a 3-0 win. 

Albertson SC U18 registered two division wins on the weekend with a 1-0 result against NY Cosmos Academy and 3-1 over Met Oval. Edward Viscount scored his first goal of the season in the win over Cosmos. 

The Albertson U16 also won both clashes on the weekend with 1-0 over Cosmos and 3-0 over Met Oval. Jeff Banastey scored in both games.

South Conference:

Kendall SC U18 welcomed visitors from North Carolina with open arms over the weekend . . . and then proceeded to send both home with losses. Kendall started Saturday with a 3-0 win over North Meck, and then capped the weekend with a 3-1 victory over Charlotte SA. 

Kendall SC U16 had four points from the two games with a 1-1 draw against North Meck and a 3-0 victory over Charlotte SA. 

West Conference:

Vancouver Whitecaps started the action this week with a pair of wins on Thursday. Cal Odyssey traveled up to the Pacific Northwest for a three-game swing and left with only one point between the two teams. 

Whitecaps U18 won the midweek meeting 5-0 behind goals from Caleb Clarke, Yassin Essa, and Carlos Marquez. Whitecaps U16 won the night game 3-0. 

In Southern California, Pateadores U18 used a late surge to knock off division leader, Chivas USA. Goals in the 87^th minute and 90+2^nd minute by Samuel Nicanor and Roberto Escudero helped Pats overcome a hat trick by Jose Dheming and beat Chivas USA 4-3. 

Chivas USA U16 defeated Pateadores 3-0 behind goals from Tyler Allen, Adam Arana, and Ever Delatorre. After an inconsistent start to the season, Chivas USA has now rattled off four wins and sits in third place in the division. 

RSL-AZ U16 grabbed a pair of wins with a 1-0 win over San Diego Surf and a 3-0 victory over Nomads SC. Jose Navarro scored in both games to lift his season tally to 11 goals.