The New York Red Bulls U16 Academy team, unbeaten since mid-May, finished its 2011-12 season with the highest of accolades, defeating St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 1-0 on Monday in the Development Academy Finals Week championship at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Alex Muyl’s 16th-minute goal was the difference and New York held on the rest of the way for its first Academy crown. The accomplishment was a fitting bookend for a team that has been red-hot over the past two months, wrapping up the season with a 12-game unbeaten streak and 10-0-2 record during that stretch.

On the winning strike, the Red Bulls found a gap in the St. Louis defense down the right side as Adam Najem played a through ball to Muyl. With nobody from the SLSG defense picking up Muyl on his run, he had an open lane at the goal and took the shot at the near right post, driving it past SLSG Missouri goalkeeper Jacob Leeker for the 1-0 lead on New York’s first shot of the game.

In the early moments of the game, SLSG Missouri had the better run of play. St. Louis had the match’s first shot on goal in the 12th minute when Mark Segbers set up Austin Panchot on the right side. Panchot placed a low shot attempt toward the goal and Red Bulls goalkeeper Evan Louro made the save around his right ankle.

Following the Muyl goal, it took about 10 minutes for St. Louis to get things back on track offensively. The team’s attack improved with a couple of promising chances in the 26th and 29th minutes. In the earlier opportunity, Mark Segbers crossed the ball in and Louro deflected it. SLSG’s Austin Panchot tried to get to the loose ball, but New York’s defense cleared in time. Then in the 29th minute, a Tommy Barlow header was just off the mark on a set piece chance.

New York had a prime chance to add to its lead in the 34th minute when Mike Kapitula drove a dangerous cross from the left side trying to find Muyl in the center of the box. Leeker came out and knocked into Muyl, who took a knock to the head. The ball popped free and New York’s Amando Moreno had a clear path. But he got under the ball and fired just over the crossbar.

With only a combined five shots on frame in the second half, St. Louis and New York did not threaten either side’s net for much of the 40-minute span. SLSG Missouri needed to muster something in the final third, and the club found that moment on a set piece in the 69th minute.

Jason Pesek took a corner kick from the right side, and the well-struck ball bounced off a Red Bulls player in the heart of the box. That deflection forced Louro to stretch to his right to save it from going over the goal line. Then SLSG Missouri’s Nick Jones followed the play with a shot and Louro stuffed the rebound to keep St. Louis off the score sheet.

SLSG had a couple more chances with Justin Graham’s wide-left header in the 72nd minute and Mark Segbers’ 80th-minute header that went directly to Louro for an easy save. But for the most part, fatigue set in for the weary St. Louis side in the second half and New York held its lead.

Louro had a game-high four saves and posted his third straight shutout in support of Muyl’s goal. Muyl capped off his season with a Red Bulls-high 17 goals in 28 appearances.

The Red Bulls played without defender Billy Stevens, who picked up a red card near the end of New York’s 3-0 victory against Charlotte Soccer Academy in the final group match of Academy Finals Week on Saturday, July 21.

Leeker had three saves for St. Louis, which had not been shut out since a 3-0 loss against Sporting Kansas City on June 10. Despite Monday’s loss, SLSG Missouri had an impressive postseason with a 3-0-0 showing in group play of Academy Finals Week.

This year marked the first time two MLS-affiliated teams captured the championship during the same Academy Finals Week. In addition to the New York Red Bulls’ U-15/16 title, FC Dallas earned the U-17/18 championship on Sunday with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

-U.S. Soccer Development Academy Match Report-

Match: New York Red Bulls vs. St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri
Date: July 23, 2012
Competition: 2012 Development Academy Finals Week – U-15/16
Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Kickoff: 8 p.m. CT
Attendance: 200
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
NYRB 1 0 1
SLSG 0 0 0

NYRB – Alex Muyl (Adam Najem) 16th minute

Lineups:
NYRB: 1-Evan Louro; 20-Brandon Tetro, 3-Matt Miazga, 19-Kevin Politz, 6-Mike Kapitula (5-Kaz Boschen, 72); 12-Steven Echevarria, 8-Arun Basuljevic, 11-Adam Najem (13-Vinny Brunetti , 80); 10-Alex Muyl (24-Chris Lema, 61), 14-Amando Moreno (7-Joe Swenson, 67), 9-Ismar Tandir (17-Wesley Wade, 51)
Substitutions Not Used: 18-Joe Ohaus
Head coach: Rob Elliott

SLSG: 1-Jacob Leeker; 6-Austin Ledbetter, 5-Jordan Klipsch, 2-Justin Graham, 11-Jason Pesek; 17-Curtis Schillingsford (19-Blake Gonzalez, 61), 10-Keegan McHugh, 13-Austin Panchot; 27-Mark Segbers, 15-Nick Jones (8-Matt Steurer, 70), 12-Tommy Barlow
Substitutions Not Used: 4-Brett Hodges, 16-Zachary Kavanaugh, 20-Stephen McMillian, 22-David Stoll, 26-Samuel Newman, 30-Edward Starr
Head coach: Tim Leonard

Stats Summary: NYRB / SLSG
Shots: 10 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 1 / 5
Fouls: 6 / 5
Offside: 0 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
SLSG – Keegan McHugh (caution) 64th minute
NYRB – Kevin Politz (caution) 80

Officials:
Referee: Kyle Phillips
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Mariscal
Assistant Referee 2: Danny Thornberry
Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan