Top teams in U.S. collide at Academy Finals

Top teams in U.S. collide at Academy Finals
July 9, 2010
Soccer fans, brace yourselves. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals are upon us.

With only 8 out of 77 teams qualifying for finals week in each the U15/16 and U17/18 age groups, these 16 clubs are truly the best of the best.

The sheer talent on display at the Home Depot Center July 10-17 is pretty overwhelming, but we’re diving right in to bring you daily coverage of all the action.

Academy Finals start this weekend
Here’s a preview of what to expect.

U15/16 – Group One

Chicago Fire Academy
De Anza Force
D.C. United Academy
Sockers FC

Some might call this the group of death, with talent distributed pretty evenly across the four teams. Chicago Fire’s leading goalscorer Victor Pineda is one to watch, while D.C. United has a great attacking pair in Jalen Robinson and Cody Albrecht. Khaliq McKenzie of Sockers FC is also a constant scoring threat.

But we’re picking De Anza Force to advance. Hector Herrera, James Huffer and Hector Joya are as good a trio as you’ll find on any team here, and coach Chris Dangerfield has his team clicking at the right time.

Group Two
CASL Chelsea FC Academy
Internationals
Baltimore Bays Chelsea
Cal Odyssey

{mosimage:300}CASL has one of the tournament’s top scorers on its side in Cooper Vandermass-Peeler, while Nicholas Parianos of the Internationals has been spectacular all season. Cal Odyssey has a lethal scoring duo in Villyan Bijev and Gregory Antognoli, who have combined for 34 goals this season.

The Baltimore Bays must be the favorite here, though. Michael Gamble is a force, with 23 goals, and Malcolm Harris is dynamic on the wing; but defenders Matthew Shinsky, Michael Greene and Seth Moses have been just as crucial to the Bays’ success.

“We’ve continued to improve throughout the season,” said assistant coach Kevin Healey, “but it’s no secret how we win a championship this week: play great defense, execute on offense and set pieces, and have that winning mentality. But for us it all starts from the back.”

U17/18 – Group One
Derby County Wolves
Crossfire Premier
FC Dallas
CASL Chelsea FC Academy

Crossfire Premier has two of the nation’s top scorers on its side in Liam Kelly and Kelyn Rowe, while FC Dallas’ Ruben Luna and CASL’s Charles Root pose a constant threat.

Even though superstud Soony Saad won’t be in uniform for Derby County at finals week, the Wolves have plenty of depth on the attack. After a disappointing finish at last year’s Academy playoffs, the Wolves have the fire burning and are the favorites in the U17/18 Group One.

Group Two
Real So Cal
Concorde Fire
Vardar
Baltimore Bays Chelsea

Real So Cal is absolutely stacked, and Edwin Rivas and Victor Chavez are a potent attacking pair. Concorde has Nikos Papanikolopoulos anchoring the defense and Carlos McCrary generating goals in bunches, while the Baltimore Bays have the incredible achievement of sending finalists to both Academy age groups.

Still, we’re going with the underdog pick here. Vardar has a chance to ride its defense through the group and advance to the final, and assistant coach Eric Pogue agrees.

“Our players are an extremely hard-working, blue collar bunch,” he said. “Our mentality is if teams can’t score on us, they can’t win. So we try to be stingy on defense first, and take advantage of our chances on the attack.”

Vardar will need captain and defensive stalwart Joseph Dillon to continue his stellar play, but also keep your eye on attackers Peter Jacobson and Ezekiel Harris.

The stage is set. The talking is finished, and the games are all that’s left. So stay tuned and check back with us with daily updates from the Home Depot Center.

See you on the field.
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