While most of the country is battling inclement weather, there are some U.S. Soccer Academy teams that were in action this past weekend.

In the Atlantic Division, Charlotte Soccer Academy took full advantage of its opportunities. The U16 squad posted two shutouts, a 3-0 win over both Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre and Richmond Kickers.

“It was a perfect weekend and we couldn’t really ask for much more,” U16 Head Coach Jeremy Gunn said. “The kids really enjoyed playing some fabulous soccer, and they had a very strong performance from start to finish in both games.”

Saturday saw Roland Minogue, Santiago Patino, and Benjamin Burdon score for Charlotte. On Sunday, it was a new set of forwards that found the back of the net. Jon Kendall, John Givens and Brandon Kardos each scored, with Givens capping the game via a 25-yard strike.

“Having midfielders scoring, strikers scoring, and even a defender score off a set piece, really just added to what was a perfect weekend,” Gunn said.

Charlotte has a large advantage over its opposition since it has played fewer games. Yet, they still remain only four points behind first place with a three-game difference.

“We are chasing teams that have already completed several games,” Gunn said. “It’s a daunting task so it’s really important that we get off to a good start.”

The team’s older counterparts, the U18 squad, also had a great weekend posting a pair of shutout victories. They defeated Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre, 4-0, with goals by Drew Brown, Giuseppe Gentile, Jonathan Grad, and Preston Shahdad. That followed a 1-0 win over the Richmond Kickers.

West coast play saw a dominant performance by Seattle Sounders FC, who traveled to Southern California. Both age groups left weekend play undefeated, and continue separating themselves from the rest of the pack in the West Conference and Northwest Division.

The U16’s defeated Real So Cal, 2-0, and Cosmos Academy West, 3-1. Meanwhile the U18’s had no problem disposing of Real So Cal with a 5-0 goal-fest, but followed that performance by letting Cosmos Academy West slip by with a 1-1 draw.

Chase Hanson, Nick Palodichuk, Troy Peterson, and Darwin Jones each scored against Real So Cal for Seattle Sounders FC U18. With Darwin repeating the task the next day against Cosmos Academy West.

Below are the rest of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy scores.

Saturday January 29, 2011

U15/U16
Pateadores 1 – 0 Nomads SC
Cosmos Academy West 3 – 2 Crossfire Premier
Atlanta Fire United 2 – 1 Richmond Strikers
South Carolina United 3 – 2 McLean Youth Soccer
Real So Cal 0 – 2 Seattle Sounders
Arsenal FC 1 – 1 Irvine Strikers
Charlotte Soccer Academy 3 – 0 Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
North Meck SC 2 – 1 Richmond Kickers

U17/U18

Pateadores 2 – 2 Nomads
Cosmos Academy West 5 – 1 Crossfire Premier
Atlanta Fire United 2 – 5 Richmond Strikers
South Carolina United FC 0 – 1 McLean Youth Soccer
Real So Cal 0 – 5 Seattle Sounders
Charlotte Soccer Academy 4 – 0 Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
North Meck 1 – 0 Richmond Kickers

Sunday January 30, 2011 

U15/U16 
Atlanta Fire United 1 – 2 McLean Youth Soccer
Charlotte Soccer Academy 3 – 0 Richmond Kickers
South Carolina United FC 4 – 2 Richmond Strikers
North Meck 3 – 2 Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
Cosmos Academy West 1 – 3 Seattle Sounders FC
Real So Cal 1 – 1 Crossfire Premier

U17/U18
Atlanta Fire United 0 – 1 McLean Youth Soccer
Charlotte Soccer Academy 1 – 0 Richmond Kickers
South Carolina United FC 5 – 2 Richmond Strikers
North Meck 2 – 1 Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
Cosmos Academy West 1 – 1 Seattle Sounders FC
Real So Cal 0 – 2 Crossfire Premie