U18 Academy Nationals qualifiers determined

June 28, 2011

FRISCO, TEXAS - The heat got hotter in North Texas Monday, both literally and figuratively.

Temperatures rose above 100 degrees again, and lighter winds made sure the heat could be felt more acutely, but the added pressure of the final day of qualifying for next month’s national finals is what really stoked the cauldron.

The U18 age group teams were playing the third of three matches, with only the winner of each of the eight, 4-team groups, qualifying. This made for some very compelling playoff scenarios, none more so than in Group 6, Where Baltimore Bays Chelsea and Seattle Sounders were both at 6 points.

Sounders held the goal difference advantage in the event of a draw, and that was what was happening midway through the 2nd half. The run of play had gone back and forth, with Seattle perhaps enjoying better quality chances.

But the decisive moment came as Bays’ midfielder Logan McHugh, a high-energy scooter for the entire match, made a tremendous weaving run through the Seattle defense and finished with an equally high-quality strike that just beat the keeper to put Baltimore up 1-0.

Seattle nearly equalized right off the kickoff and created some more chances, including one that hit the bar. In pressing forward they had to leave more space at the back however and Bays managed to kill the game off with a 2nd goal. On that effort, Christian Wulff sent a long ball up the left. Elliott Andleman momentarily lost it then stole it back from an exhausted defender, before rushing toward goal and sending a pass for Ricky Greensfelder who buried it for a final score of 2-0.

Bays were a bit of a hospital ward by the end of this event with starters Zachary Wenger, Justin Breidenstein and Michael Greene all out injured.

There were a number of top performers on the field for this well-played game, which wouldn’t have looked out place as a national championship encounter. Bays’ right back Malcolm Harris played well, while defender Matthew Shinsky blocked a couple of shots inside the penalty area. Michael Gamble, Seth Moses, Chris Somerville and Joseph Glos were active in attack and goalkeeper Andrew Harris came up with good play in front of the net.

For Seattle, Sean Okoli was good at outside back, along with Troy Peterson at holding midfielder, and attackers Aaron Kovar and Jeremy Wentzel.

In Group 4, Dallas Texans advanced by virtue of a superior goal difference over Southern California side Arsenal FC. Texans’ director Hassan Nazari, an outspoken critic of the advantages he believes MLS clubs’ youth teams have in the Academy competition, was exultant afterward that the team is heading to nationals.

Arsenal defeated Crew Soccer Academy 2-0 behind a pair of goals by Henry Rios. The Southern Californians got excellent attacking play from Raul Mendiola, who helped set up the 2nd goal and was fouled for a free kick on the first.

Anthony Perez was good in goal for the Californians, with Jordan Kluz good in defense and Dennis Flores in midfield. For Crew, Akron-bound Will Trapp was good in midfield, Jacob Rice in goal and Rhodes Moore in attack.

The other qualifiers for next month’s national finals include Pateadores (Group 1), New York Red Bulls (Group 2), PDA (Group 3), FC Dallas (Group 5), Weston FC (Group 7) and CASL Chelsea (Group 8).

Tuesday is the final day of U16 play and we will again have full coverage here at TopDrawerSoccer.com.

COMPLETE PLAYOFF COVERAGE:

Day 1 - Red Bulls, Indiana win
Day 2 - 16-year old pro scores winner
Day 3 - U16 playoff picture comes into focus
Day 4 - U18 Nationals qualifiers determined