Spring Showcase finishes penultimate day

SARASOTA, FLORIDA – Monday was the final day of the US Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase for some of the teams here, with others closing play Tuesday (we will still be here covering the event to its conclusion).

The feature match on Memorial Day saw the U16 Academy Select team playing a nice brand of soccer against a very good Arsenal FC team coached by PJ Brown, which makes a habit of playing a nice brand of soccer.

Edward Arrieta had a nice turn and shot in the early going that narrowly missed for the Southern Californians. The Select team was stringing together some passes more effectively than their counterparts on days 1 and 3. The Baltimore Bays’ duo of Rich Greensfelder in midfield and Mike Gamble in attack created their team’s first opportunity. Gamble in particular was an effective attacker for the Select team, combining size and speed with considerable footskills. Jesse Ham was quick and dangerous up front.

Select fullbacks Alex Frankenfeld (right) and Dylan Greenberg (left) were both effective as defenders and in getting involved with the attack. DC United’s Jalen Robinson played well in central defense.

In the 2nd half midfielder Oscar Montes was an good ballwinner and Devin L’Amoreaux showed some savvy as a slashing attacker.

For Arsenal, the attacking combinations of Raul Mendiola, Henry Rios, Nicolas Camacho-Diaz and Dennis Flores put the Select defense on notice the entire match. Defenders Mykal Riley and Juan Chavez were also strong for Arsenal.

In the end it was a chipped effort from Henry Rios that produced the only goal of the match and a 1-0 win for Arsenal.

Academy Select U16 Team Lineup
GK: Daniel Brennan (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro)
D: Alex Frankenfeld (FC Dallas), Jameson Lochhead (Match Fit Chelsea), Jalen Robinson (DC United), Dylan Greenberg (Albertson SC)
M: Brandon Jordi (North Meck SC), Alex Ranalli (Columbus Crew), Pablo Aguilar (IMG), Rich Greensfelder (Baltimore Bays Chelsea)
F: Mike Gamble (Baltimore Bays Chelsea), Jesse Ham (Real Colorado)
Subs: Ethan Horvath (Real Colorado), Cesar Ceja (FC Westchester), Devin L’Amoreaux (South Carolina United), Oscar Montes (Colorado Rush), Jose Ocampo (Crossfire Premier)

Arsenal FC U16 Starting Lineup
GK: Adam Zepeda
D: Jordan Gibbs, Juan Chavez, Mykal Riley, Cristian Ruelas
M: Nicolas Camacho Diaz, Edward Arrieta, Dennis Flores
F: Henry Rios, Ulises Mosqueda, Raul Mendiola

Some other standouts on the day included Richmond Strikers’ Todd Wharton, who scored two goals and passed with deadly efficiency for the Richmond Strikers’ U18 team. Bryan De La Fuentes played well for Chivas USA all weekend. South Carolina United goalkeeper Robert Beebe was impressive in his team’s first two matches, while Arsenal U18 player Myles Byass scored 4 goals in one game.

Soony Saad and Reed Losee, going to Michigan and Northwestern respectively from the Derby County Wolves team, were both excellent in front of goal. Their club teammate, Josh Gatt, performed well for the Academy Select U18 team, just weeks before he is set to make his professional debut in Austria. Internationals U18 defender Vlad Lekarev has been outstanding in the back line while Birmingham United’s North Carolina recruit Nathan Diehl is effective as both a defender and a midfielder. Juan Delgado of San Diego Surf looks to be a very dangerous player.

Check back tomorrow for more match details and later this week for our interview with Claudio Reyna and our rundown on his initiatives as technical director of U.S. Soccer.

Click here for Showcase video highlights | Click here for more Showcase coverage

 

Monday Results (Courtesy US Soccer)

U16
Match Fit Chelsea 2, Virginia Rush 0
Lonestar Aztex 2, Santa Cruz Breakers 0
PA Classics 3, Irvine Strikers 0
Charlotte SA 5, Andromeda 1
Dallas Texans 2, Mustang SC 0
CASL Chelsea 4, NJSA 1
Greensboro Youth Soccer 2, FC Greater Boston Bolts 1
Solar SC 5, Washington Premier 0
Chivas USA 6, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 1
PDA 4, Classics Elite 0
Sockers FC 4, Richmond Kickers 0
Houston Dynamo 5, Richmond Strikers 2
Mclean Youth Soccer 2, Met Oval 1
Texas SC 4, Potomac SA 1
Weston FC 2, Real So Cal 0

U18
Lonestar Aztex 3, Santa Cruz Breakers 2
Sockers FC 1, Irvine Strikers 0
Match Fit Chelsea 4, Virginia Rush 1
CASL Chelsea 3, NJSA 0
FC Greater Boston Bolts 1, Greensboro Youth Soccer 1
Texas SC 1, Charlotte Soccer Academy 0
Texas Rush 2, Empire United 1
New York Red Bulls 2, Concorde Fire 2
PA Classics 2, Richmond Kickers 1
Houston Dynamo 3, Arsenal FC 0
Mclean Youth Soccer 1, Met Oval 0
Real So Cal 5, Weston SC 1
FC Dallas 3, South Carolina United 2
Academy Select 3, Potomac SA 0
DC United 2, Vardar 2
Cal Odyssey 4, AFC Lightning 2
Birmingham United 1, South Central Premier 1
Derby County Wolves 4, BW Gottschee 1
Columbus Crew 2, Crossfire Premier 0