Predicting your USSF Academy National champions

Predicting your USSF Academy National champions
July 6, 2010

So here we are. After a long season, we’re down to eight teams each in the U15/16 and U17/18 USSF Development Academy divisions set for Finals Week on July 10-17 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

So here’s how it works: each age division is split into two groups, with the winners of each group advancing to the championship match. Second place teams will meet for a third-place match and so on.

Now that the groups have been determined, the prognosticating has begun. And with top players like James Huffer, Jalen Robinson, Gregory Antognoli, Ruben Luna and Victor Chavez battling it out for the title we just can’t wait.

So we’re giving you the winners before they happen. Here’s our clairvoyant peek at Finals Week.
 
U15/U16
Group One

Chicago Fire Academy
De Anza Force
D.C. United Academy
Sockers FC
Group favorite: D.C. United
Group dark horse: Sockers FC
Group winner: De Anza Force. This is kind of a tossup group, but Force performed most consistently at the Academy playoffs and they have a good combination of attacking balance and defensive enforcers.

elite boys youth club soccer playersThe Baltimore Bays are our U15/16 pick to win it all.
Group Two
CASL Chelsea FC Academy
Internationals
Baltimore Bays Chelsea
Cal Odyssey
Group favorite: Baltimore Bays Chelsea
Group dark horse: Internationals
Group winner: Baltimore Bays. During the regular season, the Bays scored more goals than any club in the Academy, save one. They have just enough firepower to nudge through a very competitive group.

U15/16 National Champion: Baltimore Bays. Expect a strong performance from Michael Gamble – he’s delivered all year.  

U17/U18
Group One

Derby County Wolves
Crossfire Premier
FC Dallas
CASL Chelsea FC Academy
Group favorite: Derby County Wolves
Group dark horse: Crossfire Premier
Group winner: Derby County Wolves. Beyond the fact that we predicted them to win the whole thing in December, they’re stacked and have the weight of last year’s disappointing flameout in the playoffs to pull them along. The Wolves have been waiting a long time for this.

Group Two
Real So Cal
Concorde Fire
Vardar
Baltimore Bays Chelsea
Group favorite: Real So Cal
Group dark horse: Vardar
Group winner: Baltimore Bays. This is a really close call. Concorde Fire is a capable group and Real So Cal is lethal. But Baltimore has a knack for prevailing in the close match, and at this stage, so many of these matches will be close ones. Advantage Bays.

U17/U18 National Champion: Derby County Wolves. Read our previous prediction here and here. Enough said.

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